JACKSONVILLE – This was a night of youth and opportunity.
That meant the Jaguars had relatively few regular or front-line players in their 20-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second week of the 2024 preseason game in front of 61,570 spectators at EverBank Stadium on Saturday.
Veteran backup Mac Jones started at quarterback for the Jaguars because starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and at least 20 other starters and frontline players were out. This was head coach Doug Pederson’s plan from the start of training camp, as the starters got plenty of reps when the Buccaneers and Jaguars practiced against each other on Wednesday and Thursday at Miller Electric Center.
“He’s an energy booster,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke told the Jaguars commentary team when speaking about Jones shortly after halftime on Saturday. “It’s obvious. He loves the game and you can see that in everything he does.”
CJ Beathard, who started at quarterback for the Jaguars in the second half, suffered a groin injury in the second half and did not finish the game. Jones returned to the game after Beathard’s injury.
Jones completed 16 of 23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, including 11 of 18 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown, leading the Jaguars to a 10-7 halftime lead.
“He did some good things,” Pederson said of Jones, who was selected No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft and acquired from the New England Patriots in a trade in March. “He stayed composed. He saw the field and made good, strong, accurate throws. He played well.”
Beathard, Lawrence’s backup for the past three seasons, has completed five of seven passes over 40 yards.
Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington continued his strong preseason, catching a touchdown pass from Jones in the second quarter for the game’s first points. Running back Tank Bigsby, like Washington a second-year veteran, also continued his strong preseason with 37 yards on 10 carries.
Jones’ second touchdown pass came to rookie wide receiver Brevin Easton in the fourth quarter, helping the Jaguars take a double-digit lead with less than six minutes left to play. Jaguars veteran wide receiver Austin Trammell caught four passes for 75 yards.
The Jaguars defense recorded two sacks – by defensive end Breeland Speaks, defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo and defensive lineman Joe Gaziano.
The Jaguars starters played two series in the first week of preseason, winning 26-13 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and are expected to play a major role in the third week of preseason against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
