With the NFL’s deadline for teams to solidify a 53-man roster coming Sunday at 6 p.m., multiple Jaguars made their case for a spot on Jacksonville’s roster in a 19-0 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday at EverBank Stadium.
Jacksonville logged five sacks and allowed just 87 total yards as the Jaguars handed the Buccaneers their first and only loss of the preseason.
Though Jacksonville’s offense struggled with consistency and failed to convert a third down in the first half, the physical play of its defense stood out. The Jaguars never relented, consistently pressuring Tampa Bay quarterback Jalon Daniels and offering minimal opportunity for the Buccaneers to log an explosive play.
The Jaguars mustered just 19 points in the win – six of which came on a punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter – but their quarterbacks provided enough chunk yardage to keep the game out of reach.
After completing 6 of 7 passes for 65 yards against Carolina, Nick Mullins continued to showcase accuracy and patience in Friday’s win. His first pass found tight end Hunter Long for a 34-yard gain, and Mullins finished the first quarter 5 of 7 for 62 yards. He also showed poise under center, converting a fourth-and-3 with a 13-yard pass to receiver Austin Trammell during Jacksonville’s first drive.
Despite tossing an interception and going 6 of 13 for 51 yards against Carolina, Carter Bradley concluded the preseason with a strong performance. He went 8 of 15 for 77 yards and a touchdown, and he ran in a two-point conversion during the third quarter. Bradley also went 10 of 17 for 105 yards against the Saints with a touchdown and an interception.
Rookie receiver Michael Worthman was the offensive playmaker who flashed in the second half. He nabbed three receptions for 47 yards and added 124 yards and a touchdown as a shifty punt returner.
In the backfield, DeeJay Dallas shouldered the workload in the Jaguars’ final preseason game much like he did in Jacksonville’s win over New Orleans. With his 34-yard performance against the Buccaneers, Dallas tallied 87 yards on 33 carries through the preseason. He also showcased his ability as a pass-catching running back in all three games, adding four receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Though the running back room is headlined by Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr., Dallas could see an opportunity to slot in as a valuable depth piece in the backfield.
The Jaguars' defense is arguably the unit to be most excited about entering the regular season. Jacksonville has continued to display strong defensive depth and a tenacious scheme that limits opponents both on the ground and in the passing game.
The Jaguars held the Buccaneers to just 81 yards of total offense through the first half and kept Tampa Bay scoreless throughout.
Jabbar Muhammad continued his clean play in Jacksonville’s secondary and added a pair of tackles early on. He didn’t see a heavy workload in the Jaguars’ final preseason win, but Muhammad is poised to serve as a valuable piece in the secondary.
Defensive back Jalen Huskey also made the most of his opportunity, logging 10 tackles and a pass deflection through the preseason. His blanket-like coverage and ability to make strong tackles highlighted his value as a rookie defensive back.
Christian Braswell tallied eight total tackles through the Jaguars’ first two preseason games, and he added two more and a pass deflection in Friday’s win. In the second quarter, Braswell broke up a third-down pass from Daniels that nearly resulted in a Jacksonville interception.
Rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. showcased explosiveness off the edge and made a convincing case to see his name etched into Jacksonville’s 53-man roster. He logged two solo tackles, a sack and a pass deflection in the first half and finished with five tackles, two-and-a-half sacks and four QB hits.
“His playstyle is the right way, it’s a lot of the things that we preach and that we’re about as a team,” head coach Liam Coen said postgame. “When you have a gift of rushing the passer, man, it’s something that you can’t ignore. And I thought he did some nice things against the run tonight as well.”
Despite his strong performance, Thomas is fighting an uphill battle with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker having locked up a starting role and B.J. Green II, Zach Durfee, Danny Striggow and Wesley Williams expected to round out the edge.
Linebacker Jahlani Tavai continued to display his veteran presence in Friday’s win. He tallied 10 total tackles through Jacksonville’s first two preseason games and added four more against Tampa Bay.
Amari Burney is another linebacker with a chance to break into Jacksonville’s 53-man roster. The Florida product logged 12 tackles, a sack and a pass deflection through three solid preseason outings. Though Dennis Gardeck, Branson Combs, Ventrell Miller and Foyesade Oluokun provide ample talent at linebacker, Burney showcased his versatility and could be a viable option to roster in the linebacker room.
Regardless of who the Jaguars decide to roster at the heart of their defense, there are many mouths to feed at linebacker. Jalen McLeod and Baylon Spector carried the brunt of the load in Jacksonville’s stifling first half. Spector logged three solo tackles in the first quarter alone, while McLeod led the team with seven tackles in the first half.
Following a 2025 season in which Jacksonville’s defense allowed a league-best 85.6 rushing yards per game, the multitude of playmakers the Jaguars rotated into their defensive scheme this preseason showcased the competitive depth still present on their roster and bodes well for 2026.
Finishing the preseason with a 2-1 record, the Jaguars will finalize their 2026 roster by 6 p.m. Sunday, cutting down their total player count from 91 to 53.
Jacksonville will open its season at home against Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his sixth semester at The Alligator. He is currently a sports editor and football beat reporter for the Gators and the Jaguars. He previously served as a men's tennis and sports enterprise reporter, and he is pursuing a public relations minor.
