Two weeks into the 2026 season, the Jaguars already have a few clear calling cards - and a couple of problem spots that are impossible to ignore after a Week 2 loss to the Broncos.
The running game has been one of the early bright spots. Jacksonville sits third in rushing EPA/Play and No. 3 in rushing success rate, and second-year back Bhayshul Tuten has been a big reason why.
He has clearly separated himself from Chris Rodriguez Jr., and the usage tells the story. Per NextGenStats, Tuten "had over double the number of snaps (27 vs. 13) and touches (15 vs. 6) as Chris Rodriguez Jr. en route to totaling 62 total yards to Rodriguez's 13.
In 2026, Tuten has been shiftier with 16 missed tackles forced to Rodriguez's two and a league-high (among RB min. 12 carries) 57.1% missed tackle forced rate on runs vs. Rodriguez's 16.7%.
And he has been more explosive with a clear edge in rush yards over expected per carry (0.2 vs. -0.9) and explosive run rate (17.9% vs. 0.0%)."
The defense against the run has held up too. Through two games, opposing running backs have managed just 110 yards on 34 carries, which comes out to 3.23 yards per carry.
That has helped keep teams from leaning on the ground game for long stretches, even if the Broncos did land a few explosive runs. So far, stopping the run has been the most dependable part of Anthony Campanile’s defense, and that matters with tougher rushing attacks still ahead on the schedule.
Trevor Lawrence, meanwhile, has already shown why the Jaguars can lean on him. The second half against Denver wasn’t spotless - his interception to Riley Moss on a 3rd-and-6 from the 50 was a killer - but for six of the season’s first eight quarters, he has looked every bit like a quarterback capable of carrying a team.
He has beaten pressure, made plays both within structure and off-script, and has been the Jaguars’ best player so far. Right now, Jacksonville looks most dangerous when the ball is in Lawrence’s hands.
That makes the Travis Hunter usage all the more puzzling. He has not played many offensive snaps, which is not shocking, but he has also logged only the third-most snaps among the Jaguars’ cornerbacks.
For a player they moved major assets to acquire, that is a hard number to square. The Jaguars may love their cornerback depth, but Hunter is not just another piece.
If they want the kind of game-changing impact that justified the trade in the first place, they need to get him on the field more.
There is also concern up front on offense after a much tougher Week 2 test for the line. The Broncos, led by Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen, disrupted Jacksonville’s rhythm early and often, combining for four quarterback hits and plenty of pressure. After a strong Week 1 showing, this was a reminder that the line still has work to do, especially with more elite fronts looming.
The pass rush is the other area that needs attention. Jacksonville was blanked with zero sacks against one of the league’s best offensive lines, and that alone can be lived with. The bigger issue is the bigger-picture trend: the Jaguars now sit bottom-five in both pressures and pressure rate after ranking in the top five the week before.
NextGenStats says 10 Jaguars defenders have at least one pressure, and those 10 players have combined for 27 total pressures. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker account for 12 of them. The rest of the group - Danny Striggow, Bryan Thomas Jr., Arik Armstead, Matt Dickerson, and Ruke Orhorhoro - has produced just four combined pressures.
In Other News...
Jaguars Let This One Slip As Trevor Lawrence Faces New Concern
The Jaguars had a chance to turn Week 2 into an early tone-setter, but instead watched Denver walk out with a 20-13 comeback victory that exposed some familiar frustrations. Jacksonville could not hold the lead, and the loss came with the kind of uneven offensive showing that can make even a promising start feel fragile, especially when the defense is asked to carry too much of the load.
Trevor Lawrence and the passing game now face a new layer of concern as the Jaguars move on from a game that slipped away in the second half. Denvers defense tightened up after a rough opener, closing off the run and getting enough pressure to make Jacksonville uncomfortable, while the Broncos found just enough from their own attack to overcome an early mistake and finish strong, even if the offense still left some points on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Film Revealed A Few Bright Spots And Some Real Concerns
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos left plenty to sort through, and the film review brought a mixed bag for a team trying to settle in before New England comes to town in Week 3. There were a few encouraging signs tucked into the tape, most notably Bhayshul Tutens work at running back, Ventrell Millers steady play on defense and Dennis Gardecks impact rushing the passer.
Still, the same film also showed some areas that need cleaner answers quickly. Brian Thomas Jr. had his struggles, Arik Armstead was not as disruptive as Jacksonville needs him to be, and Montaric Brown had issues in coverage. With the Patriots next on the schedule, the Jaguars are getting a clearer picture of where the roster is holding up and where the pressure is already starting to build. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Loss Exposed A Defensive Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Bhayshul Tuten and Parker Washington gave the Jaguars some needed production in the 20-13 loss to Denver, but the bigger story was on the other side of the ball. Jacksonvilles run defense held up, and there were moments where the offense found enough rhythm to stay in the game, yet the Broncos consistently made life difficult up front and forced the Jaguars to work for everything they got.
Jacksonvilles pass rush and secondary never fully settled in, which left the defense vulnerable when the Broncos needed to create separation. The offensive line had its own problems dealing with Denvers front, and the combined effect was a game that kept exposing the same soft spots. For a team trying to build momentum, it was the kind of loss that leaves a clear warning about what still has to get fixed. [Read more 🡒]