The Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints had the full Cardiac Cats feel to it. The first half was rough, but Jacksonville settled in, flipped the script after halftime and found a way to pull out a win that went all the way down to the final second.
Even with no starters on the field, a handful of players made sure the game mattered for more than just the final score.
Bryan Thomas Jr. was one of the biggest stock risers of the night. He entered Saturday buried in a crowded edge room with BJ Green, Danny Striggow, Wesley William and Zach Durfee ahead of him on the depth chart, so he needed a strong showing. He delivered exactly that, finishing with a sack, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.
J’Mari Taylor also made his case in a big way. In a deep running back group, he did plenty to stand out, especially as Jacksonville’s offense came alive in the second half.
Taylor carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards, worked as the offense’s main workhorse, punched in a rushing touchdown and added a two-point conversion. He also held up well in pass protection.
Trebor Pena did his damage with one explosive snap. He led the Jaguars in receiving yards, and the highlight came in the fourth quarter when he hauled in a 43-yard deep ball from Joey Aguilar. With Jacksonville’s receiver room stacked, Pena isn’t going to crack the top six, but a play like that can help his push to stick around as the seventh wideout or land on the practice squad.
Ruke Orhorhoro put together one of the better defensive outings of the night. He had already slipped behind Matt Dickerson on the depth chart, but he answered with a disruptive performance against New Orleans. Orhorhoro was active against the run, got to the quarterback for a sack and showed the kind of pass-rush juice the Jaguars want to see more of in 2026.
Wesley Williams rounded out the list of standouts. He may not have gotten the same buzz in camp as BJ Green and Zach Durfee, but he showed up against the Saints. Williams helped create the strip sack of Spencer Rattler that set up the Jaguars’ first score of the night, kept the pressure on throughout the game and held his own against the run.
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Saints Quarterback Battle Just Took An Early Turn Behind Tyler Shough
The Saints first preseason game offered an early look at how the quarterback picture might unfold behind Tyler Shough, and it was Zach Wilson who made the stronger impression against Jacksonville. Spencer Rattler got the start in the opener, but the offense looked more settled once Wilson took over, as New Orleans kept the competition under the microscope in a 24-20 loss.
Rattler did connect on a few throws, but the turnover and limited production left him with an uneven night before Wilson entered and gave the staff something to think about. The bigger point for the Saints is that this battle was never likely to be settled in one August outing, yet the first turn certainly created a clearer line for how the pecking order may look as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Loss May Have Clarified A Roster Battle Coaches Needed To See
The Saints first preseason game offered the kind of snapshot coaches often say they need, even in a loss. It was less about the final result than the opening look at several players trying to force their way onto the roster picture, with defensive back Jayden Price showing up in a big way and Bub Means giving the passing game a steady target.
Prices work in zone coverage stood out throughout the night, and the defense also got a strong push from edge rusher Michael Heldman, who was around the ball repeatedly. Means, meanwhile, made his case with a handful of meaningful grabs and the sort of consistency that can matter in a crowded competition, leaving the Saints with at least a clearer sense of which battles deserve a longer look. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Just Made Several Roster Battles Feel A Lot More Tense
The Saints are still in the thick of several roster battles as training camp and preseason games keep sharpening every edge of the competition. Kellen Moore has made it clear he sees the kicking job as a work in progress, even after Charlie Smyths miss from 52 yards against Jacksonville and Tanner Brown connected on both of his tries in the same game. Add that to the ongoing quarterback, running back and wide receiver competitions, and every snap has started to feel a little heavier.
Some of the pressure has only grown with the way the Jaguars game unfolded, where the top of the depth chart and the back end of the roster both seemed to shift in real time. The Saints are still sorting through who belongs where, and the next few practices and preseason reps will matter just as much for players trying to lock down roles as they do for those trying to stay in the picture at all. [Read more 🡒]