The Jaguars get their second preseason test on Friday night, and this one comes with a little more edge after a chippy week of joint work with Carolina.
Jacksonville hosts the Panthers on Aug. 21 at EverBank Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air locally on WJAX (CBS Channel 47), and it can also be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Both teams enter the matchup as division winners from last season, though the recent records tell two different stories. Jacksonville finished 13-4 and looks a lot more settled heading into 2026, while Carolina came in at 8-9. Bryce Young started the Panthers’ preseason opener, and Trevor Lawrence’s status remains uncertain as Liam Coen weighs whether to hold his starters out until the regular season.
That likely leaves Nick Mullens in line to start again, which means the spotlight should stay on the rookies and the newer faces fighting for roles. The Jaguars’ battered offensive line is especially worth watching after the team traded for 6-foot-8 guard Daniel Faalele to help with the protection issues. How he blends with rookie Emmanuel Pregnon and the rest of the line is one of the key storylines in this game.
Jacksonville opened its preseason with a 24-20 win over New Orleans on Saturday, Aug. 15, and has one more exhibition left after Carolina. The Jaguars close the preseason on Friday, Aug. 28, against Tampa Bay at 7:30 p.m. ET, with that game scheduled for WFOX (Fox Channel 30).
The regular season is right around the corner, too. Jacksonville opens Week 1 at home against Cleveland on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
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 🡒]