The preseason grind rolls on tonight with three more NFL games on the board, and that means another round of lineup guesswork, coach tendencies, and finding the spots where the number feels off.
One of the clearest plays comes with the Steelers catching points. The Jets’ first preseason outing didn’t do much to inspire confidence, and the logic here is simple: whether the Jets put starters out there or not, the roster and the coaching situation don’t give much reason to trust them. Their starters are shaky, their backups are even shakier, and that opens the door for another ugly second-half stretch.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has already shown something useful from its young quarterbacks. Both of them were excellent in their preseason debut against a much tougher defense, and there’s reason to think they can follow that up here. That makes the Steelers an attractive underdog bet.
The Jaguars also fit the underdog angle, even though they’re the side expected to be more aggressive with playing time. Dave Canales has made it pretty clear he doesn’t treat preseason wins as a priority, using these games more as evaluation reps and preparation for the regular season. That approach has shown up in the results too, with Canales going just 1-7 against the spread in the preseason since taking over as Panthers head coach.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, already handled Week 1 without using any starters, and now those players are expected to get at least some run. That makes the Jaguars a lot easier to back than Carolina in this matchup.
The one number that stands out most is Denver laying 6 against Green Bay. The Broncos looked dominant in their first preseason game and the Packers were blown out, but that kind of spread feels heavy for a preseason game where starters are set to see action for both teams. With that much uncertainty baked in, the line looks a little too ambitious.
In Other News...
Jaguars Roster Fights Are Suddenly Getting Harder To Ignore
With preseason work turning toward Carolina and the backdrop of ongoing stadium construction, the Jaguars are getting a long look at the parts of the roster that rarely stay quiet in August. The most obvious fights are along the offensive line and at linebacker, where recent trades and signings such as Daniel Faalele and Timothy McKay have only added more names to sort through as the staff tries to settle the depth chart.
Injuries have made the picture even less tidy, and that has pushed the evaluation of backup quarterback options and rookie performances closer to the center of the conversation. With the 53-man roster deadline looming, Jacksonville is still searching for clarity in several spots, and some of these decisions could be harder to separate than the usual preseason cutdown talk. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Decision Puts Jaguars At A Real Preseason Crossroads
The Jaguars are still weighing whether Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the first team will take the field in Saturdays preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, a choice that now feels more meaningful than a typical August tune-up. Liam Coen has left the door open both ways, pointing to recent injuries and what he has seen in practice as the factors shaping the decision, with the team still having more work ahead in practice and joint sessions before the regular season opener.
For a Jacksonville team trying to find the right balance between getting ready and staying healthy, this is the kind of call that can say as much about the staffs priorities as anything on the field. The final answer is expected within 24 hours, and whether Lawrence plays or not, the Jaguars are entering a preseason stretch where every rep seems to carry a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Tight End Battle Is Suddenly Putting Liam Coens Vision To The Test
Training camp has already started to show how Liam Coen wants his offense to look, and the Jaguars tight end room is one of the clearer signs. Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol, the teams two recent draft picks at the position, have both been worked into the mix as Jacksonville sorts out how much value it can get from a group that is being asked to do more than just fill space on the field.
Boerkircher brings a reputation for blocking, but there is also growing belief he can chip in as a receiver, especially around the red zone. Koziol offers a different look as a pass-catching threat who is willing to block, and that combination has already pushed veterans Quintin Morris and Hunter Long further down the depth chart. For a coaching staff trying to build a tight end rotation that fits Coens vision, the competition is starting to say as much as the playbook. [Read more 🡒]