At halftime in Jacksonville, the Jaguars had already turned Week 1 into a statement game, and the biggest reason was the mismatch under center. Trevor Lawrence looked calm and sharp, while Deshaun Watson was having a first half to forget in a 24-0 hole for Cleveland.
Watson’s afternoon went off the rails almost immediately. On the fifth play from scrimmage, he fired an interception to Foyesade Oluokun.
He nearly gave Oluokun another one on the Browns’ second drive, then kept absorbing punishment on the next possession before Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen split a sack. Lawrence, meanwhile, played like a quarterback in full command.
The difference between the two passers was massive, and Jacksonville made sure to cash in on it.
The Jaguars also gave some early clarity to their backfield plan. Bhayshul Tuten opened the game as the first running back on the field and handled the first two carries, while Chris Rodriguez didn’t get his first snap until the fourth offensive play. Through the first four drives, Tuten had six carries and Rodriguez had five, so the split was fairly even.
Even with that balance, the roles were easy to spot. Rodriguez was the short-yardage option, handling the third-and-short, second-and-short and red-zone work.
Tuten, though, looked like the back who helped set the pace. He was the one the Jaguars leaned on when they wanted to get the run game rolling and create bigger plays, averaging more than six yards a carry over those first four drives.
Parker Washington was another bright spot, and he was already making his case before Brian Thomas Jr. left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Washington opened with a 30-yard touchdown catch and kept stacking productive snaps from there. He had 83 yards before the Jaguars’ final drive of the second quarter, and at times it looked like he was running free.
Washington’s day only reinforced how important he can be in this offense. He looked like the Jaguars’ top receiver, and he backed it up with production. If Sunday was any indication, he is not going to be getting cheaper anytime soon.
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 🡒]