When the Jaguars open against the Browns on Sunday afternoon, this is the kind of game where the supporting cast can’t just show up - it has to matter.
Jacksonville is the favorite entering Week 1, but that edge only holds if the Jaguars get real production from players beyond the obvious headliners. And in a matchup like this, the role guys can tilt the day.
One of the most important names to watch is Matt Dickerson. His rise at defensive tackle has been steady and dramatic since he first arrived last season, moving from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and then into the defensive tackle rotation a year ago.
The Jaguars clearly believe he’s ready for more, and this is exactly the kind of game where that matters. Cleveland’s offense is most likely to lean on the run, with Quinshon Judkins the type of back built to carry an attack.
If Jacksonville wants to make Deshaun Watson win through the air, Dickerson’s work on run downs could be a big part of that.
The rookie who may end up carrying the most Week 1 responsibility outside of Emmanuel Pregnon is Nate Boerkircher. Pregnon is already set to start at left guard, but Boerkircher is the one the Jaguars appear likely to lean on when they move into two-tight end looks.
He’s expected to be on the field with Brenton Strange in those packages, even if Jacksonville doesn’t abandon 11 personnel very often. Boerkircher showed some late camp momentum as a pass catcher, but his biggest value may come as a blocker who helps Strange work with more room.
There’s also a chance the Jaguars design a red-zone shot for him, similar to the touchdown they schemed up for Hunter Long in Week 1 last year.
Up front, the tackle situation is worth watching closely. There has been optimism about Cole Van Lanen being available against the Browns, which matters given Cleveland’s history of pass-rush success.
Van Lanen was limited during the week while recovering from a knee injury suffered in January, and Anton Harrison did not practice Friday. Neither player carries an injury designation into the game, and that leaves Little as the healthiest tackle of the group.
The expectation is that Harrison and Van Lanen both start, though Van Lanen still has to get through his pregame workout. However it shakes out, Little’s versatility could end up shaping how Jacksonville handles the tackle spots.
There’s also a defensive back to keep an eye on in Caleb Ransaw. He won’t start in Week 1, but the Jaguars are expected to spend plenty of time with multiple safeties on the field.
Whether that means Ransaw or Jalen Huskey gets the nod in certain looks is still to be determined, but Jacksonville seems prepared to give Ransaw real snaps in what will be his NFL debut. Against a Browns skill group that calls for safeties who can handle tight ends and slot receivers, that’s where his value could show up right away.
The backfield has its own wrinkle, too. The Jaguars’ running back room has looked different since camp opened, and LeQuint Allen’s injury over the past few weeks only increases the importance of the depth behind him.
That puts veteran Ameer Abdullah in position to matter. He could be the back who steps into some of the spots that otherwise would have gone to Allen, and right now he may be Jacksonville’s best pass-catching option at running back with Allen sidelined.
It may not translate to a huge workload, but a handful of snaps could still swing a drive or two.
In Other News...
Brian Thomas Jr. Just Put Jacksonvilles Biggest Passing Game Concern Back In Focus
Brian Thomas Jr. briefly sent a ripple through the Jaguars opener when he went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter against the Browns and was first listed as questionable to return. He made his way back to the sideline and then re-entered the game in the second quarter, which offered an immediate sense of relief for a team counting on him to be a major part of the passing attack this season.
The episode still brought back the questions that followed him through training camp, where the shoulder issue had already been part of the background. For Jacksonville, that is the kind of scare that matters beyond one series or one game, because Thomas is expected to be one of the key pieces in a passing game that cannot afford many more reminders of how fragile its early-season outlook can be. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Defense Flipped Deshaun Watsons Return In Just One Drive
Deshaun Watsons return to a regular-season game came with plenty of buildup, but Jacksonville wasted no time turning the opener into a test. On Clevelands first drive, Watson threw an interception on his first regular-season snap in nearly two years, and Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun brought it back to set up a touchdown for Jacksonville.
Watson had won the Browns Week 1 job after a full-camp competition, and the game marked his first regular-season start since October 2024. For the Jaguars, it was the kind of fast start that can reshape an opener in an instant, especially when the defense is the one delivering the early jolt. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Week 1 Opener Could Bring A Problem Fans Dread
Week 1 brings the usual opening-day buzz, but for fans heading to Jacksonvilles opener against Cleveland on Sunday, Sept. 13, the forecast adds a familiar late-summer wrinkle. Weather across the NFL slate could be unsettled, and the game is among the ones drawing attention as conditions are expected to be the kind that can turn a clean September afternoon into a messy one in a hurry.
For the Jaguars, the concern is less about the calendar and more about the experience, since rain delays and slippery conditions can quickly change how a season opener feels in the stands and on the field. Fans planning to be there should keep an eye on local weather updates and follow safety guidance if storms move in, because this is the sort of situation that can linger right up until kickoff. [Read more 🡒]