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[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Exclusive: A Day in the Life of NFL Award-Winning Photographer Logan Bowles

Logan Bowles with rookie Travis Hunter at the Jaguars’ Media Day

Logan Bowles did not have aspirations of becoming a professional photographer when he was younger. With a photography career spanning over a decade, he has created an impressive portfolio, featuring multiple pictures in the NFL Hall of Fame and international publications. Bowles strives to create something bigger than himself and the subject matter of his art, weaving together unspoken stories through his camera lens. The Jacksonville native and lifelong Jaguars fan gave me a glimpse into his world by allowing me to shadow him at the Jaguars’ Media Day, where he discussed his career and fandom.

With players set to arrive around 8:30, it was an early start to the day at EverBank Stadium. After checking in and making our way upstairs, Logan began to work. With over 20 media days under his belt, this is like second nature to him. Due to start times that run from 6 am to 11 am, preparation begins weeks in advance. The league sends a template of poses and the necessary shots to various outlets, including Fox, CBS, and NBC, to create graphics, ads, and social media posts. The template includes a style guide and technical specs. The list and research required for the non-Jacksonville teams is shorter, as Bowles aids in capturing every Jaguars player.

Since it is rare for a media day to go smoothly, he ensures that his cameras, camera batteries, and lenses are ready to go. After camera prep, testing lights and flashes, taping cords down, checking the laptop setup, and syncing both stations, we are prepared for the players to arrive. When center Robert Hainsey steps in front of the camera, the room comes alive. Despite a DJ and players screaming while recording hype videos behind the curtain, Bowles controls his station with prompts such as “smile, cross your arms, uncross your arms.” His research comes in handy when speaking to players who appear uncomfortable in front of the camera.

Asking questions about where they went to school, their families, and tattoos, the ease with which he creates rapport with players is that of a consummate professional. When talking with Logan, he stressed the importance of treating players like normal people and being personable so he can make them look as good as possible. As the day progresses, Bowles has captured pictures of 46 Jaguars, including Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, Foye Oluokun, Josh Hines-Allen, Logan Cooke, and Brian Thomas Jr. Once the players are done, the shots are sorted into specific folders, containing both JPEG and raw images, for the teams and league to edit.

After experiencing his tenth Jaguars Media Day, Logan opened up about the man behind the camera. Despite wanting to be in the stands to offer support, he discovered a love for documenting and telling stories. Drawing inspiration from Duval County, Bowles has photographed nearly every sport imaginable, including football, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, surfing, softball, baseball, and a Call of Duty tournament at Disney. His diverse experience, the importance of continually learning, never settling, and ensuring that the following image is better than the last, along with the knowledge that there is always someone better behind him, prevents him from becoming complacent and pushes the constant evolution of his craft.

While the research and shots requested by the NFL for media day are similar to game day, there are some slight differences. Photographers arrive at the stadium a minimum of three hours early, except for bigger games like Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl, they arrive seven to eight hours early. When asked, the importance of staying locked in, knowing his medium, and making educated guesses was noted. The prep work, consisting of checking in and connecting, is more intense because a picture is transmitted from the camera to the desk in roughly 15 seconds, edited, and then posted within one minute. Images have to be chosen quickly, and the atmosphere can be chaotic. To personally prepare for the potential chaos, Bowles takes a quiet moment for himself, texts his mom, and refrains from eating beforehand.

Bowles never wants to let down the people who took a chance on him. While on the sidelines, Logan remains neutral and does not get emotionally invested. He’s there to capture moments and do a job. He stated that it is not hard to focus, that he was told early on by Paul Figura to disconnect and treat people with respect. It would be disrespectful not to treat his position as a job because it is his career, not a hobby. I asked if there were any misconceptions that he would like to address to those who consider professional photographers hobbyists, and he reiterated that it is a business. The NFL is a billion-dollar business that contracts him to shoot images. No matter the scale of recognition, from airports to trading cards, Logan Bowles thinks it is “always cool” to stumble across his work in the wild.

Atlanta holds a special place for Bowles. His first NFL picture was taken there; he has shot a Super Bowl, a National Championship, an SEC Championship, and the Chick-fil-A Bowl in the stadium. Part of his family lived in the city, and his two Hall of Fame pictures were captured in Atlanta. Logan was at home when he received a phone call from Canton, Ohio, informing him that his picture, “Take Off for Six”, had won the Action Category during the 50th Annual NFL Hall of Fame. To set himself up to catch Julio Jones diving, Bowles kneeled between two people by the pylon. His second Hall of Fame win, “Together As One” from the 2023 season, took home first place in the Feature Category. Like with the first win, he was confident that it was worth waiting to capture that moment because you can tell when something is good.

With the diversity of his craft, Bowles finds himself on the road often. This upcoming football season alone, he is scheduled to shoot roughly 50 games. One week requires him to travel to Baltimore on Thursday, Charlotte on Friday, and Jacksonville on Saturday. How does someone with that schedule manage to relax and achieve a work-life balance? When asked, Logan admitted that while he needs to be better at making that balance, he finds solace in watching sports, the movie Friday, and laughing with his friends. He noted that his favorite off-field moment was a road trip with his friend Travis for the Jaguars’ Divisional Round Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

While he has photographed every Jaguars draft pick since 2016, Bowles was with Trevor Lawrence the night he was drafted, and flew back to Jacksonville with him on a private jet. Logan mentioned the character that Lawrence displayed and how humble he was. Bowles also had an encounter with Jags legends Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell after taking a red eye to London. The two were standing at the valet service when Logan stumbled out of his taxi. It was the first time he was on a first-name basis with Taylor. The conversation naturally flowed to Jags players past and present that get overlooked during the “greats of the franchise” conversation. Bowles nominated David Garrard, Rashean Mathis, Ross Matiscik, and Logan Cooke as names that are not discussed enough.

Before his mindset shifted from wanting to be a fan in the stands to preferring the sidelines, the lifelong Jaguars fan was a season ticket holder for seven seasons. With the vantage point that few have, he has witnessed the journey of the Jaguars from the franchise’s inception to today, both as a fan and a professional. Logan mentioned how loud The Bank was in 2023 while “Never Scared” by Bone Crusher played during the Wild Card Playoff game against the Chargers, and related that moment to how quiet the stadium was during the 2017 Patriots playoff game. Apparently, security fought each other after Fournette’s touchdown. With honorable mentions to 2010 and 2011, the 1999 season is his favorite to date, despite the Titans stealing the playbook being the Jacksonville conspiracy theory that he believes the most.

The Ron Artest Seattle Seahawks game brought back meaningful late-fall football for Logan. Does he think meaningful football is back? He highlighted the similarities between having real coaches and the opportunity for Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter to emulate Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, while noting that the vibes within the organization are different. He predicts Jacksonville will win the division.

What’s next for Logan Bowles? What goals does someone set when they are already highly accomplished? He is currently sitting at seven Super Bowls and hopes to reach ten. Logan has aspirations to win first place in the Overall category for the Hall of Fame, shoot the World Cup, the Masters, Ryder Cup, Olympics, and the Jumbo Shrimp. He’ll head back to London in a professional capacity, but regarding the Jaguars playing there every year, he doesn’t think the fans deserve to have a game taken away from them. To those looking to get into sports photography, Bowles suggests asking a lot of questions and being open to critiques. If you want to do it, find a way to make it happen. One Jaguars player stated that Bowles is the best, and I am inclined to agree.

Thank you Kam Nedd and the Jaguars for access to Media Day

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/gener...-fame-award-winning-photographer-logan-bowles

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Reacts Survey Results: Jaguars Fans Speak on the 2025 Preseason

This week, we asked Jacksonville Jaguars fans if the 2025 preseason affected their confidence in the direction of the team one way or the other.

About half of fans didn’t get overly swayed and said their confidence is unchanged.

General manager James Gladstone was asked Wednesday about how cool it is to see his stamp on the roster when he watched the team during the preseason.

“That’s certainly a neat thing, but at the end of the day, I think from my vantage point, it’s time to win some football games. That’s really where my focus has fallen, and that’s where the fulfillment will actually come.”

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Jaguars’ win total is set at 7.5 wins. Jacksonville has +270 odds to win the AFC South (Houston is at +115, Indianapolis is at +350, and Tennessee is at +700).

Top comments from Wednesday’s post:

Lake11
First team moved the ball against backups and our backup D kept Miami starters bottled up for a couple drives. One bone-headed call letting Hennigan pass at the end of the Saints tie. All in all, not much to justify moving the needle. A lot of new coaches and schemes, so it coulda been a lot worse I guess. Favored by 3 at home over the lowly Panthers. Sounds about right, unfortunately.
CanAmJagsFan1
This is almost a brand new roster with input from the GM, the coach and the EVP.
I am jaded from the past and hope they do better but I am somewhat skeptical.
JaxSouthsider
If the preseason changed your opinion, I kindly remind you that at this time last year a lot in the fanbase were jacked up because our defense had looked so good in August
the.Panthera.onca
They are who we all thought or expected them to be. Takes more than one offseason to completely overhaul this roster and change the mentality. All I hope to see is improvement from QB1, a comparable season from BTJ and some improvement on the defense, edge rushers and DBs. I don’t expect the world yet, our OL is really weak and the safeties bottom five, easily. So no, this offseason hasn’t raised my confidence, at all. Gearing up for a rough ride.
WestCoastJagwar
If the Jags just don’t just roll the panthers in week 1, I’m going to be concerned. They traded out Thielen and the games after are going to be tough. Hopefully this is like a tune up game in college football.
acedarney
They are who I thought they would be after free agency and the draft. They improved the back half of the roster, and didn’t change much at the top. I think they’ll be a little better on defense and running the ball on offense.
cverbra814
My expectation was that Browns fans will be ecstatic when they get our Top 10 pick next year. Nothing has changed.

I don’t mean to come across as harsh, but I suspect this is a deeply flawed roster whose warts will overwhelm the inexperienced staff rapidly once the season begins.
MCG679
I still expect the Jags to be a near the bottom of the league team.

There’s a SLIM possibility they make the playoffs, but that’s only because someone in the AFC South has to. Not because they’ll be an actual playoff caliber team.
JaxCommenterGuy
I didn’t expect some massive improvement on the field, and didn’t see it.

I also expected our 180 pound unicorn to get dinged up…and he did.

So…neat.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/nfl-r...ults-jaguars-fans-speak-on-the-2025-preseason

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars Practice Report: Panthers’ Banged Up; Jags Announce Team Captains

The regular season is officially here, with the Jacksonville Jaguars opening the Miller Electric Center practice fields for their first practice of the 2025 regular season. Here are our key takeaways from Monday’s Labor Day practice, Head Coach Liam Coen’s post-practice media availability, and some additional updates from the Carolina Panthers.

Jacksonville Team Captains Announced​

Head Coach Liam Coen kicked off Monday’s post-practice media availability with the announcement of the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars permanent team captains.

• QB Trevor Lawrence
• C Robert Hainsey
• DE Josh Hines -Allen
• LB Foye Oluokun
• CB Jourdan Lewis
• P Logan Cooke
• The seventh game day captain spot will be a rotating week-by-week role

Hainsey and Lewis being named as captains is notable, with both being new, free-agent additions to the roster. The remaining four captains have all been with the team for multiple seasons. Coen also confirmed that the captain agreement was reached via team vote:

“Yeah, we did a team vote before we left for the mini-break there and the nice thing is you didn’t have to fudge it to get kind of what you wanted. It was pretty clear. Pretty clear based on the votes and the ballots that these were the six guys that got the most. There was a ton of guys that you could’ve bumped up potentially, you just don’t have enough spots, you only have six of them, but it was cool to acknowledge the amount of people that did receive votes throughout the team. That was nice to see, especially some of the guys that may not have ever been voted for in the past that did receive some votes. It kind of shows that those guys are making an impact. It wasn’t hard to get to the six guys.”

Injuries Hit Carolina Hard​

While Coen did not directly provide an update on the injury front for Jacksonville, neither CB Montaric Brown nor OL Wyatt Milum participated in Monday’s practice, with Brown working out on the sidelines. Cole Van Lanen was again a full participant after returning to practice last Thursday. However, the Panthers have not been as fortunate as Carolina traded veteran WR Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings last week, only to then days later place WR Jalen Corker on IR with a quad injury. The trade and subsequent injury opens the door for significant snaps for rookie Tetairoa McMillan, second-year WR Xavier Legette, and recently re-signed veteran WR Hunter Renfrow. Coach Coen touched on the Panthers’ wide receiver room’s recent shakeup:

“I think T-Mac being a rookie, we know we liked him coming out of the draft, we know what some of those traits are that he can do with some of the one-on-one opportunities as well. And then Legette can really run. Big, physical receiver. Hunter Renfrow has won in the slot here for years. What does that look like? I think they’ll probably remain within what they do. I don’t know if it’ll drastically change how they operate. Maybe we’ll see a little bit more 12, 13 [personnel], just for depth reasons alone, for sure. So, I don’t think it’ll drastically change things for us, but Coker is a good player. He did a lot for them in terms of the run game, blocking, but also, he has some wiggle and can run. Coker and Hunter are different players. I think that’s probably where you’ll see a little bit of a different usage out of those players that will and can affect how we play a little bit, but I’m not sure it’ll have a huge, drastic issue on the gameplan.”

Losing multiple pass catchers in less than five days this close to the start of the regular season is normally a big loss. However, that’s not the end of the injury list for Carolina. Left tackle Ikem Ekwinu also had an appendectomy last week. His healing status is currently up in the air, per Panthers’ Head Coach Dave Canales:

“He had appendicitis. He wasn’t feeling good, and then ultimately went to the hospital and they said, ‘We’ve got to do surgery here. We have to remove this.’ So he had his appendix removed. He’s day-to-day. We’ve seen these things turn around in a little over a week — they can be longer. It just depends on each individual body, how you respond to the surgery, how your body heals the right way.”

Ikem Ekwonu gives details about his recovery process from surgery to remove his appendix recently.#Panthers #NFL pic.twitter.com/ZnQvRLWkC2

— Kevin Tolbert (@livingktstyle) September 1, 2025

Canales advised that the team will consider Ekwonu as “day-to-day” up to gameday. “That’s something that we’re gonna have to keep our eye on as we go,” Canales stated. If Ekwonu is unable to go, Yosh Nijman would be the likely candidate to fill in at left tackle. Nijman, has 25 career starts, with three coming in 2024.

A History with Carolina​

Jacksonville will be opening the 2025 regular season with somewhat of a foreign opponent, as Jacksonville has only faced Carolina eight times, with the series tied 4 to 4. However, Coen faced the in-division Panthers twice while with the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which he discussed:

“We definitely go back and look (at the Panthers’ defense) because I don’t think the overall structure will change. I do believe that we will see some unscouted looks for sure whether it’s a personnel grouping or whether it’s a blitz or coverage or something along those lines. I don’t think they probably altered their entire structure, so yeah, you definitely go back and look at what was successful twice last year playing those guys. What fits, what we’ve done well up to this point and we can kind of use those schemes or concepts to our advantage, but they’ve definitely added some players via pro-free agency and the draft as well. So, you’re just curious to see maybe how they’re going to utilize those players, if that impacts and effects their defensive structure at all.”

Coen’s Buccaneers went 2 and 0 versus the 2024 Panthers, winning a week 13 26-23 overtime thriller in their first matchup before a 48-14 week 17 Tampa Bay demolition over the then three-win Panthers. While Coen may be able to glean a few items from Carolina’s 2024 game film, Coen also believed Carolina would attempt to do the same in reviewing the prior year’s matchups with the Bucs.

“I would think that they probably have an idea of watching the Tampa stuff that it’s probably not going to go too far off of that. It’s just more, ok, what personnel groupings are we going to major in, especially early on in the season in game one. What that looks like for us. And then the personnel is obviously a little bit different. I think that both teams are able to go and look at some of the stuff from last year and be able to use that, either to the advantage or man this is something that we didn’t do well that they took advantage of that we need to improve upon so that it doesn’t happen again.”

Undecided on if Hunter will start​

Rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter, in the early portions of training camp, participated on both sides of the ball religiously, before missing he final two preseason games and was limited in multiple practices after sustaining an upper-body injury on August 14th. While Coen previously advised that the team was treating the injury cautiously and did not want to risk Hunter further aggravating the issue, general manager James Gladstone confirmed on Wednesday that Hunter was full go on the Miller Electric Fields. So, while we know that Hunter will play and will likely not be medically limited, the team is still working through the details to confirm if the Heisman Trophy winner will start on both sides of the ball.

“We’re still working through it right now. He obviously missed a lot of time there that can impact playing anybody, nonetheless a rookie that misses quite a bit of time so what that usage looks like we’re still working through.”

The matchup between Hunter and McMillan will surely be one to watch.

Travis Hunter. TMAC Talks Playing Against #12 in Season Opener

"You know we battled since HS. So it's gonna be a fun one, just playing at 3 different levels. Come Saturday we'll see what happens" https://t.co/MszJDOhw8i pic.twitter.com/WITrZ3NGtl

— JaKi (@JaKiTruth) September 1, 2025

For those interested, the full media availability can be watched here.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...anthers-banged-up-jags-announce-team-captains

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars power rankings roundup before the 2025 season

To get a feel for how the Jacksonville Jaguars are viewed around the league, here’s a look at a handful of national media power rankings.

Yahoo Sports: 15​

From Frank Schwab:

Travis Hunter got banged up before the preseason finale but maybe that’s a good thing. He’ll be used plenty during the season, and missing a bit of time in August isn’t bad. Hunter is going to be a big story in September as he likely plays offense and defense.

CBS Sports: 17​

From Pete Prisco:

The new regime has done a nice job with Trevor Lawrence so far. But this is a major year for him to prove many of the doubters wrong. If not, this team has big problems.

USA Today: 20​

From Nate Davis:

Are we already souring on the grand Travis Hunter experiment after he was sideswiped by injury before the games that count have even started? Will be interesting to see how many snaps he plays Sunday.

NFL.com: 23​

From Eric Edholm:

The Jaguars are suddenly a must-watch team, with Travis Hunter joining Brian Thomas Jr. to form one of the more explosive young WR duos in the league. Hunter also plays defense, as you might have read. And while, yes, of course I want to see how Liam Coen handles what will be one of the league’s most fascinating experiments in a while, that’s not the only thing on Coen’s to-do list. The first-year head coach was also brought in to salvage Trevor Lawrence and reshape this offense in his vision, getting out of it what Doug Pederson could not over the past few years. The schedule lays out nicely, and if the Jaguars’ defense can do a better job of slowing down opponents’ aerial games after finishing 32nd in pass defense in 2024, they might be sneaky wild-card candidates.

The Ringer: 23​

From Diante Lee:

Rookie receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will draw more casual fans to turn on Jaguars games, but the actual story of the team still revolves around quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Whatever goodwill Lawrence still had going into last season evaporated after his awful start, and now he needs to show that he can once again lead an efficient offense, as he did a few years ago.

Lawrence took a big step back in his accuracy, his feel for pressure, and his ability to create out of structure. New head coach Liam Coen did an excellent job of improving each of those things with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last season, and Mayfield is a much less physically gifted passer than Lawrence. If we see similar improvements from Lawrence this season, I might be willing to buy back in on the Jags.

Sports Illustrated: 24​

From Conor Orr:

The Jaguars are either going to be a breath of fresh air with youth dotting every corner of this facility in major decision-making positions, or a textbook example of how to bungle a frenzied hiring process, first by sticking with embattled GM Trent Baalke, costing the team interviews with top candidates, and then making a hard right turn at the last moment. I hope for the latter, because this team has so many exciting players that haven’t gotten the opportunity to break out … yet.

Bleacher Report: 24​

From Gary Davenport:

There’s a new head coach in Jacksonville in Liam Coen. A wildly exciting rookie wide receiver/cornerback in Travis Hunter. But make no mistake, the Jaguars will go as far in 2025 as their highest-paid player takes them. After signing a five-year, $275 million extension last year, Lawrence suffered through a miserable season. The fifth-year veteran missed seven games, barely cleared 2,000 passing yards and threw just 11 touchdown passes.

The Athletic: 25​

From Josh Kendall:

Jacksonville is going to lean into Travis Hunter’s two-way potential. Hunter played 11 snaps on offense and eight on defense in his only preseason game, and his snaps have been basically even on offense and defense in practice. The No. 2 pick missed the second preseason game due to an upper-body injury but is expected to be full speed Sunday, wherever he happens to be lined up.

ESPN: 27​

From Mike Clay:

The Jaguars drafted one of the league’s most interesting players in Travis Hunter, but the rookie will be hard-pressed to make up for the voids this roster has on both sides of the ball. Little (no pun intended, Walker Little ) was done to address perhaps the league’s shakiest offensive line, which puts added pressure on quarterback Trevor Lawrence under new coach Liam Coen. The defense should be solid, with edge Josh Hines- Allen, LB Foyesade Oluokun and CB Tyson Campbell among the impact players.

Pro Football Talk: 28​

From Mike Florio:

It all comes down to whether Trevor Lawrence can become what, after two seasons, it seemed like he was starting to be.

Where would you rank the team, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...power-rankings-roundup-before-the-2025-season

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Revealing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ All-Time Team as Voted on by Fans

The Jacksonville Jaguars are just a few days away from the start of their 31st season as an NFL franchise.

To commemorate their history, we asked for your help to name the team’s greatest players at every position.

Here are the final results.

Offense​

• Quarterback: Mark Brunell (1995-03)
• Running back: Fred Taylor (1998-08)
• Wide receivers: Jimmy Smith (1995-05), Keenan McCardell (1996-01), Brian Thomas Jr. (2024-present)
• Tight end: Marcedes Lewis (2006-17)
• Offensive tackles: Tony Boselli (1995-01), Leon Searcy (1996-99)
• Interior offensive line: Vince Manuwai (2003-10), Brad Meester (2000-13), Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Defense​

• Defensive ends: Tony Brackens (1996-03), Josh Hines-Allen (2019-present)
• Defensive tackles: John Henderson (2002-09), Marcus Stroud (2001-07)
• Linebackers: Daryl Smith (2004-12), Paul Posluszny (2011-17)
• Cornerbacks: Rashean Mathis (2003-12), Jalen Ramsey (2016-19), Aaron Beasley (1996-01)
• Safeties: Donovin Darius (1998-06), Tashaun Gipson (2016-18)

Special Teams​

• Kicker: Josh Scobee (2004-14)
• Punter: Logan Cooke (2018-present)
• Long snapper: Ross Matiscik (2020-present)
• Return specialist: Jamal Agnew (2021-23)

Let us know what you’re surprised by, who got snubbed, and the rest of your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...lle-jaguars-all-time-team-as-voted-on-by-fans

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars Reacts Survey: What are you watching for in Week 1?

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen looks on during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jaguars fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Jaguars fans — are you confident the team is headed in the right direction?

And which storyline are you most looking forward to in Week 1?

On Monday, Liam Coen spoke about Sunday being his first game as an NFL head coach.

“Obviously you’ve done so much work to get to this point, and then now you’re into, the results truly matter. We’ve talked so much about the process that drives results, that’s got us to this point. We can’t lose sight of that process, and we used to kind of talk about process over results, well, those results matter. So, the process in which we get to the games and the way that we gameplan, the way that we operate throughout the week, the way that we communicate on gameday, that’s the part that you’re kind of anxious to see how we handle a true game.”

“You’re definitely anxious as a head coach to kind of get the ball kicked off and get into it. So, you’re really just more so anxious and excited to see how the guys go out and play. You want to see perfect football, but we all know, it’s football, it’s not perfect. It’s an imperfect game and you’re striving for perfection, which is probably the chase obviously. We’re all excited. I’m excited to kind of get in that stadium and see how much we can pack it.”

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...ts-survey-what-are-you-watching-for-in-week-1

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Power ranking the coolest Jaguars gear on Homage

Pay homage to the history of the Jacksonville Jaguars with this heavyweight satin jacket.

If you don’t have any Homage products in your closet, you’re missing out. Their sports apparel is officially licensed, well-designed, and above all, SUPER comfortable.

Homage recently released a pair of products that are essential for chilly gamedays: a pullover jacket and a heavyweight satin jacket.

The Starter x Homage pullover is a stitched, color-blocked time capsule of team loyalty. Crafted in 100% nylon Oxford with a vintage crinkle finish, these half-zip pullovers combine Starter’s iconic sportswear design with Homage’s deep respect for team identity. Every detail is designed to honor the golden era of NFL fan gear… color blocking, twill appliqué wordmarks, oversized back logos, and that embroidered Starter star… This is the real stuff. The kind of jacket your older brother never let you borrow. The one with the big patch. The bold front. The crackle that meant you were ready for kickoff.

The Starter satin jacket rose to fame in the 1980s. Bright, bold, and impossible to ignore, it quickly became the crown jewel of fan gear. Worn by coaches under stadium lights, players post-game, and fans everywhere. In the ‘90s, it crossed over. From sportswear to streetwear. Starter is a signal. Of team pride. Of cultural clout. Of belonging to something bigger than yourself. The HOMAGE x Starter Satin Jacket is our tribute to an era. That feeling. That statement piece that always meant more than just style. It’s made for cold games and hot takes.

These items are immediately some of the best available for Jaguars fans on Homage.com.

Here’s a quick list of my favorite apparel they have in stock:

1. HOMAGE X Starter Jaguars Heavyweight Satin Jacket
2. HOMAGE X Starter Jaguars Pullover Jacket
3. NFL Jam Jaguars Travis Hunter T-Shirt
4. Jacksonville Jaguars Victory Monday Hoodie
5. NFL Blitz Jaguars Trevor Lawrence T-Shirt

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/general/76695/power-ranking-the-coolest-jaguars-gear-on-homage

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars vs Panthers Key Matchups: Pro Bowlers set to lock Horns

The Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the Carolina Panthers to EverBank Stadium on Sunday as the 2025 NFL season gets underway. Here are three key battles to keep an eye on:

Brian Thomas vs Jaycee Horn​

Brian Thomas Jr. posted a preposterous 6.71 yards per route run on in-breakers last year

That ranked 1st among 72 WRs with 70+ such routes… but he only ranked 20th in targets

More on how Thomas isn’t close to his ceiling: https://t.co/z4HuQa7b2H pic.twitter.com/YxCj8AIZml

— Gus Logue (@gus_logue) September 2, 2025

You can tell real football has returned! Preseason whetted the appetite, but now is when results really matter, and as such we can have much more confidence in who we see on the field. And as it’s Week 1, we’re going to have a heavy focus on the star players on both sides of the ball…

After an incredible college career that finished with him hoisting the Heisman Trophy in New York, there are big expectations for Travis Hunter, and no doubt he’ll have the cameras on him for his NFL debut. But the best matchup to be found involving the Jaguars’ offense will be second year receiver Brian Thomas going up against Jaycee Horn. Thomas took just one season to stake his claim as one of the top ten pass catchers in the league, posting nearly 1,300 yards and 10 TD’s as he developed a strong chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. With some significant change at the position and Hunter making the step up, there’s a heap of pressure on Thomas to replicate a 2024 season that saw him earn All-Rookie and Pro Bowl honors.

He starts with a tough task. Despite some lean years in Charlotte, Jaycee Horn has shined for the Panthers. 2024 was his best season to date, seeing Horn join Thomas at the Pro Bowl after registering an impressive 68 tackles and 13 pass breakups in 15 games. Carolina are undergoing something of a transformation as they try and find their identity, but showed just how much they valued their star quarterback by tying him down to a 4 year, $100m deal back in March. Horn is the leader of a young secondary with similar leadership responsibilities to Thomas, and whoever comes out on top of this battle likely swings the probability of a victory in their team’s favor on Sunday.

Chuba Hubbard vs Foye Oluokun​

PSA: Chuba Hubbard is the heart and soul of the offense. It’s easy to forget. Especially with all the WR talk. The stats don’t lie. The film doesn’t lie. The practice habits are ungodly.

Here’s my favorite play from 30 last year. Doesn’t get better.

pic.twitter.com/9MYqZP3O4W

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) August 27, 2025

Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales and his offensive coordinator Brad Idzik worked tirelessly to change the culture of the Panthers in 2024, the first season of their reign in Carolina. And by the end of the season, this Panthers offense was quietly one of the most potent in the NFL. There are still some question marks about the passing game, with Bryce Love still to win over some doubters; but this unit succeeds when they are able to run the football, and they lean heavily on Chuba Hubbard to do just that.

After an impressive college career at Oklahoma State, Hubbard flew under the radar in the 2021 NFL Draft, finally coming off the board in the 4th round. He was an effective contributor to the Panthers his first three years in the league, but his production EXPLODED in 2024 when Canales entered the building; Hubbard had the best year of his pro career, enjoying nearly 1,200 rushing yards and 10 TD’s at an impressive 4.8 yards per carry. Reliable out of the backfield as a receiving option too, Hubbard has evolved into one of the more dangerous ball carriers in the league with a 3-down game set to test the Jaguars on Sunday.

There have been questions levelled at Jacksonville’s linebacker corps the past twelve months, some with merit. But nobody can suggest that Foye Oluokun hasn’t pulled his weight since coming to the team from the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. In the past five years alone, Olukon has made an astonishing 774 tackles, never once falling below 100 a season (and in some cases pushing 200, leading the league in 2022 and 2023). Last year, he missed four games with a foot injury but still cleared 100 takedowns, showing his value to the team and justifying the four year, $45m deal he signed prior to the season. If Foye can keep Hubbard quiet and put the pressure on Young to win the game for the Panthers, the Jags will feel confident of a Week 1 win.

Josh Hines-Allen vs Brady Christensen?​

Dave Canales said #Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is day to day, after an emergency appendectomy last week.

Ekwonu was working off to the side during practice today. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/YeqBzyjoK3

— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) September 1, 2025

The news that starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu has undergone emergency appendectomy surgery should be of interest to Jags fans. The fourth year pro has been a mainstay on the blindside for the Panthers since being taken in the first round in 2022. As a rookie, Ekwonu started all 17 games for Carolina and allowed the fewest pressures by any rookie that season. Since then Ekwonu has been a rock on the offensive line, with 49 starts in three years. But his recent surgery means the Panthers have listed him as ‘day to day’ heading into Sunday’s clash. Considering it’s been less than seven days since surgery, it’s unsurprising to hear Ekwonu hasn’t trained at all this week, and a remarkable recovery would be required to see him suit up against the Jags.

That suggests that Brady Christensen is likely to step in. Christensen, who has spent all his career with the Panthers, has seen plenty of action his four years in the league. But the former BYU lineman hasn’t been able to lock down a starting job, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero seems to prefer him inside at left guard. Not the greatest of situations when you’re going up against a Pro Bowl edge rusher with 53 sacks to his name…

Josh Hines-Allen saw a regression in his numbers last year after an incredible 2023 campaign saw him set the franchise record for sacks in a season (17.5). That production earned him a five year, $150m contract, and he will be chomping at the bit to hit those sorts of highs in black and teal once more. Sunday’s battle against Christensen could be a real advantage for the Jaguars, and help their star pass rusher get the 2025 season off to a flying start.

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...rs-key-matchups-pro-bowlers-set-to-lock-horns

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Playoffs?! Jaguars 2025 Record Prediction

The NFL draft and free agency are in the books. The offseason is complete. In the immortal words of Gus Bradley, it’s built.” With the season set to kick off on Sunday, let’s break down how the Jacksonville Jaguars will perform in 2025.

Here’s how I forecast Liam Coen’s inaugural season to go in Jacksonville.

Game by game prediction:​

️ Week 1 vs. Carolina Panthers (Home)

While I expect that Carolina may be somewhat improved under Dave Caneles in 2025, I predict a strong opening day showing from Coen’s roster to kick off his tenure. While Carolina will be a reasonably stout test for the offensive line (against Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown), Coen’s offense will no doubt find space to maneuver against this Panther’s defense. Starting off strong.

Prediction: Win (1–0)

️ Week 2 at Cincinnati Bengals

Jacksonville’s first tough matchup of the season will come on the road against the Bengals in what I expect to be a lower-scoring affair. Joe Burrow historically has played down to the level of his competition early into the season, so this is in no way an impossible game for Jacksonville to steal. However, the offensive firepower of Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins, plus the end of Trey Hendrickson’s holdout spell trouble from my perspective. The Jaguars will have a prime opportunity to earn this one on the field, turning doubters into early believers.

Prediction: Loss (1–1)

️ Week 3 vs. Houston Texans (Home)

Houston will likely be playing without their starting running back Joe Mixon, wide receiver Tank Dell, and possibly Christian Kirk for their week three matchup. With Houston’s already questionable offseason decisions at offensive line, this is another prime opportunity for Jacksonville to steal a game at home. However, this victory is an all-important season opener into AFC South play. Fortune favors the healthy. Jags win.

Prediction: Win (2–1; 1-0 in the AFC South)

Week 4 at San Francisco 49ers

In what I expect to be a higher-scoring affair, the Jaguars may have a tough time heading from the East to the West Coast in this one. Even with their offseason losses on defense, it’s hard to vote against Kyle Shannahan as long as Christian McCaffrey is injury-free. With Brandon Aiyuk also on the PUP List, however, the Jaguars could have a puncher’s chance in California.

Prediction: Loss (2–2)

️ Week 5 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Monday Night Football at Home)

The Jaguars, in primetime?! This team will have to prove that the long-suffering curse has been lifted before I believe it blindly. I see this one being an ugly, low scoring game resulting in another Kansas City victory. That’s the script until it’s proven otherwise.

Prediction: Loss (2–3)

️ Week 6 vs. Seattle Seahawks (Home)

It seems that most in Duval County have marked this matchup as an automatic win, due to Seattle’s historic struggles traveling coast to coast. While I may personally still be unsure on Klint Kubiak as an OC, Sam Darnold plus a few weapons in Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Nijigba, and Kenneth Walker III makes this matchup more of a pick-em in my book. This may end up as a higher scoring game, but I truly would not be shocked if Jacksonville were to miss out on this prime opportunity to be .500. I predict that Jacksonville loses this one that they should win, while working through being consistent early on.

Prediction: Loss (2–4)

️ Week 7 vs. Los Angeles Rams (London)

Family reunion in the UK! James Gladstone and General Manager Liam Coen face off against their former franchise. The students face the teachers in McVay and Sneed. While Jacksonville is in the early phases of building their own “LA East,“ the already built version will be on display.

Prediction: Loss (2–5)

️ Week 8: Bye Week

With the easier portion of their schedule to come, the Jaguars take their mid-season break to regroup and prepare for the list of away games to come. Jacksonville fans and media will without a doubt take the 2-5 bye week record in stride.

️ Week 9 at Las Vegas Raiders

With both teams coming off from their bye weeks, I see this Jaguars offense firing on all cylinders in this one. Maxx Crosby, Geno Smith, Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty will undoubtedly make their plays too. But limited playmakers in the Vegas secondary and receiving core will leave the Raiders looking for answers in this one. I think the Jags score 30 or more, flying home with a win.

Prediction: Win (3–5)

️ Week 10 at Houston Texans

For the first time since 2017, the Jaguars will sweep the Texans. Houston will make this one closer than their week three matchup, now with a healthier roster. However, it’s not enough as Jacksonville pulls away to 2 and 0 in AFC South play, with both victories coming from the reigning AFC South Champions.

Prediction: Win (4–5; 2-0 in the AFC South)

️ Week 11 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Home)

The Jaguars smell blood in the water. With the season seemingly slipping away from them before the bye, now the playoffs and potentially the AFC South division all seem to be within reach. Confidence breeds success, and the Jaguars upset the Chargers at home in a lower scoring matchup.

Prediction: Win (5–5)

️ Week 12 at Arizona Cardinals

The music stops as Jacksonville’s second half winning streak ends at three after the bye. The Cardinals are a very dangerous team, especially with Jacksonville traveling out West, coast to coast. I expect a high-scoring game with Jacksonville struggling to contain the scrambles of Kyler Murray and James Conner in the run-pass option game. The Zay Jones and Calais Campbell reunion game doesn’t fall Jacksonville’s’ way.

Prediction: Loss (5–6)

️ Week 13 at Tennessee Titans

Tennessee looks to be building a capable roster for the future. But this simply isn’t their week. While Cam Ward may eventually be able to lift up a subpar roster, 2025 is not that time. The Jaguars control this one from start to finish.

Prediction: Win (6–6; 3-0 in the AFC South)

️ Week 14 vs. Indianapolis Colts (Home)

Daniel Jones versus Jacksonville in Duval. While Jones did upset Jacksonville in 2022, this isn’t that roster or staff. I expect history not to repeat itself (other than the Colts continuing to lose in Jacksonville).

Prediction: Win (7–6; 4-0 in the AFC South)

️ Week 15 vs. New York Jets (Home)

Prediction: Win (8–6)

The Jacksonville faithful begin to have legitimate playoff conversations as Jacksonville wins the matchups they are supposed to, dominating the Jets at EverBank. The Justin Fields/Tyrod Taylor quarterback room continues to limit the Jets in this lower-scoring Jacksonville win.

Prediction: Win (8–6; 4-0 in the AFC South)

️ Week 16 at Denver Broncos

Jacksonville, coming off a highpoint in the season is upset by the physical Broncos defense. Back-to-back matchups against aggressive front sevens with sticky secondaries finally takes its’ toll in Denver. While Jacksonville, in no way, should be automatically counted out, Denver just has “trap-game” written all over it for me.

Prediction: Loss (8–7)

️ Week 17 at Indianapolis Colts

I expect that the Colts will be out of playoff contention at this time, evaluating 2026 quarterback prospects. Jacksonville understands the assignment, securing the rare victory in Indianapolis, locking in their opportunity to secure the division in week 18.

Prediction: Win (9–7; 5-0 in the AFC South)

️ Week 18 vs. Tennessee Titans (Home)

In a matchup for the soul of the AFC South (and Jacksonville’s playoff chances), the Jaguars avoid the Titan’s attempt to spoil their hopes, in dominant fashion. The Jaguars sweep the Titans for the third time in the past four years and become the first team to go 6-0 in AFC South play since the 2014 Andrew Luck-led Indianapolis Colts.

Prediction: Win

Final Regular Season Record: 10–7 and 6-0 in AFC South play

So, playoffs? Absolutely. I believe that the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars will reclaim their AFC South Division crown from a rebuilding Houston Texans offense with major early season questions at offensive line, injuries at running back (Joe Mixon), and receiver (Christian Kirk and Tank Dell), and running a new offensive scheme.

With a weaker 2025 AFC South, the Jaguars are in prime position to secure a division crown with just ten wins. Nine wins could possibly even do the trick, with things going their way. I absolutely expect this team to win a game or two unexpectedly, (IE: the Bengals matchup, who historically start slow) while surprisingly losing against a team who may be unexpectedly good (maybe the Cardinals). But, in whole, I expect the better coached and better assembled rosters to rise to the top more often than not. I believe this roster, while not good enough to consistently challenge those at the top of the NFL world – IE: the Eagles, Lions, Bills etc – it is good enough, and possibly explosive enough to play with most on a week in and week out basis.

But what say you, BigCatCountry? Where would you predict differently? Playoffs, or bust? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/nfl-playoffs/76717/playoffs-jaguars-2025-record-prediction

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Jaguars vs Panthers: Staff roundtable and game picks for Week 1

Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable! Today, we’re previewing Week 1’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium.

What is the biggest question about the Jaguars you want to have answered after Week 1?

Dillon Appleman: Who is going to separate themselves from the pack in a crowded running back room? There is still a lot of uncertainty about what the usage will look like among the Jaguars’ running backs. It feels like the plan is for Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby to split most of the work, but it’s possible we see rookies Bhayshul Tuten or LeQuint Allen Jr. get some touches as well. No matter the splits, Week 1 is an opportunity for somebody to prove they deserve more of a workload going forward.

Travis Holmes: The Jaguars recently named center Robert Hainsey as a team captain for the 2025 season. After wrapping up a preseason where the Jacksonville offense never faced a starting defensive unit, I’m interested in seeing how Hainsey performs this week against nose tackle Bobby Brown III, the dominant run-stopping plug in the middle of Carolina’s defense. Hainsey was signed in Jacksonville after losing his starting role in Tampa Bay, primarily due to struggles in dealing with the more powerful DTs, so this should be a great opening test for the newly designated captain.

Gus Logue: What will Anthony Campanile’s defense look like? According to Daniel Griffis of Action News Jax, the 2024 Jaguars ranked top-three in man coverage rate and press coverage rate, and bottom-three in blitz rate and stunt rate. Ryan Nielsen deployed a predictable, vanilla scheme. Expect Campanile to do a complete 180 and turn up the heat by sending extra rushers and disguising zone coverages.

Henry Zimmer: I think in Week 1 I would just like to see a clean game from Trevor Lawrence. He looked great in the preseason but that was limited. Now it’s time to see it in full action and all signs are pointing to yielding great things. The Panthers aren’t world beaters, but it would be a great sign heading into Cincinnati if Lawrence played a clean game.

If you could ‘steal’ a player from the Panthers and place them on the Jaguars’ roster, who would it be?

Dillon: I’m taking the Panthers’ shiny new free agency addition, Tre’von Moehrig. The veteran safety would instantly provide this defense with a tone-setter on the backend that they do not currently have. Moehrig’s 5 TFLs last year are equal to the entire Jaguars safety depth’s total in 2024, which goes to show how impactful he is when getting downhill. That type of player has been missing for the Jacksonville secondary for a while.

Travis: I think Jacksonville would thrive with a player like Tre’von Moehrig roaming the Jaguars’ secondary. The recently signed Moehrig came over from Las Vegas, where he rarely missed tackles, ranking sixth among safeties in PFF run defense grade (87.5). Despite the Raiders’ pass rush taking a hit and the defense losing half of their starters in the second half of the season, Moehrig’s coverage grades on passes over 3 seconds (62.9) and in the slot (64.2) both remained above average. With Jacksonville’s looming questions at the safety positions currently filled by Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard, Moehrig would provide slightly more stability.

Gus: There are a few tempting options on Carolina’s defensive roster, but I’d address perhaps the Jaguars’ biggest weakness by nabbing right guard Robert Hunt. The five-year NFL veteran finished second in ESPN’s run block win rate among interior linemen last season, and he enters 2025 as Brandon Thorn’s 10th-ranked right guard. He’d be a huge boost for Liam Coen’s run game.

Henry: Derrick Brown would be at the top of my list. As good as DaVon Hamilton or even Arik Armstead can be, having a guy like Brown would level up this defense significantly. Jaycee Horn also couldn’t hurt.

Who will be the biggest X-factor on Sunday?

Dillon: Josh Hines-Allen. With the status of Panthers starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu in question (appendectomy), the Jags’ star pass rusher could be in for a huge day. Not to mention the added incentive of JHA being just 2.5 sacks away from setting the franchise’s all-time sack record.

Travis: Carolina defensive end Derrick Brown is the player to watch from my perspective. Brown is easily the best player on the Panthers’ roster. The last time he was healthy for the season, he collected over 100 tackles, setting an NFL record for the position. In 2023, he led all interior defenders in defensive stops and solo tackles, and PFF had his run-defense grade at 90.0 in that Pro Bowl season. Sliding him back in next to Bobby Brown III could be a challenge for the Jaguars’ offensive line. I think the fans in Duval could be sleeping on that improvement over the Panthers’ 2024 run defense results.

Gus: Tetairoa McMillan. With Adam Thielen shipped to Minnesota and Jalen Coker placed on injured reserve, the Panthers suddenly have a shallow receiver room behind their eighth overall draft pick. The Jaguars should put all their efforts into slowing McMillan because the Panthers don’t have any other notable threats. I don’t see Carolina walking out of the Bank with a win unless their rookie receiver makes an instant impact.

Henry: The biggest X-Factor could be Bryce Young. Much like Lawrence, all signs are pointing up for Young and he has the receivers to help him out. If he plays well, and the Jags defense reverts to its old ways, it could be a long day for Jacksonville and a big day for the former Heisman winner.

Final score prediction?

Dillon: Jaguars 27, Panthers 21

Travis: Jaguars 27, Panthers 23

Gus: Jaguars 30, Panthers 24

Henry: Jaguars 24, Panthers 17

What are your Week 1 predictions, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...rs-staff-roundtable-and-game-picks-for-week-1

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

5 Questions with Cat Scratch Reader: What we learned about the Panthers

As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare to play the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, we sat down with Walker Clement of Cat Scratch Reader to learn more about the opposing side.

Question 1: What does a successful 2025 season look like for the Panthers, and how much of it has to do with quarterback Bryce Young?

A lot of fans have said six wins would be a successful season. That’s a step up from last year and more than we’ve seen from a full-time head coach since 2018. I don’t think that’s enough. We’re tired of losing and I think 11 losses would be too heavy. Seven to nine wins, Young continuing on his progress at the end of last season, and more competitive losses than blowouts are the bar for a successful season. An opening day win wouldn’t hurt, either.

Question 2: Carolina got a fourth-round pick by trading 35-year-old Adam Thielen to Minnesota. It’s a clear on-paper win, but was it worth losing Young’s most trusted target?

It’s a harder trade to judge now that we lost his second-most reliable target, second year receiver Jalen Coker, to a quad injury for 4-6 weeks. Long story short, we’re going to have to see how Xavier Legette, Tetairoa McMillan, and Hunter Renfrow step up. They’re all either young, new to the team, or both. There’s a lot of chemistry there that we haven’t really seen on the field, good or bad.

Long story long, the last time the Panthers opened at Jacksonville, in 2015, they went to the Super Bowl. Cam Newton lost his leading receiver and favorite target from 2014, Kelvin Benjamin, right before the start of the season. He leveled up and dragged a corps of no-name receivers and an aged Jerricho Cotchery to a dominant 15-1 regular season record. Once is history, but if Young can do it again then it becomes a tradition. These are the kinds of realistic expectations that we’re placing on the shoulders of our quarterback.

Question 3: How concerning are the injuries to WR Jalen Coker (on injured reserve) and OT Ikem Ekwonu (in danger of missing Week 1)?

Coker is on IR, as linked above, and will miss a minimum of four weeks. Ekwonu is a bigger question. He hasn’t practiced this week (as of Wednesday) and is not yet two weeks removed from an emergency appendectomy. Even laparoscopically, that’s still major abdominal surgery with risks of complications (and further time lost) if he rushes back to the field. My expectation is that we’ll see Brady Christensen, an extremely capable backup, fill in at left tackle. Yosh Nijman, also a capable backup, is the other option. You can read more on the decision the Panthers may have to make at left tackle here.

Question 4: Who’s an under-the-radar player that Jaguars fans should watch out for in this game?

It’s weird to call a Pro Bowl player “under-the-radar” but I have to go with Derrick Brown here. I personally think the 27-year-old defensive tackle/defensive end is capable of having an All-Pro year. However, playing often on the interior and having missed the entire 2024 season, Brown’s name may not be the most familiar to folks outside of the Carolinas. He is an incredibly disruptive player. He may not get every sack, but look for him to be involved in most of them and in most plays that get blown up behind the line of scrimmage.

On offense, fans have high hopes for second-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. He flashed some explosive skills last season before hitting the rookie wall. Tight ends are not heavily featured in Dave Canales’ offense, but targets with proven chemistry with Young are also few and far between. We’re all curious to see how that dynamic plays out.

Question 5: Do you expect the Panthers to cover as 3.5-point underdogs, and do you have a favorite player prop for the game?

I think the Panthers cover. If I were even a smidge more optimistic by nature then I would call for them to outright win, but let’s not go that far today. This team is too young to be predictable, which is why I’m also staying away from player props until we have more data. Well, that, and as one of our commenters keeps pointing out: our mascot is literally a black cat. It’s bad luck to make assumptions about this team.

Thanks to Walker for taking the time to answer our questions!

What are your thoughts on Week 1’s matchup, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/jacks...tch-reader-what-we-learned-about-the-panthers

 

[Jacksonville Jaguars]

Reacts Survey Results: What Jaguars fans are watching for in Week 1

This week, we asked Jacksonville Jaguars fans which storyline they’re most looking forward to ahead of the season opener against Carolina.

40% of fans are eager to watch the team play for the first time under Liam Coen, who’s entering his debut season as an NFL head coach.

As for the confidence survey, a whopping 84% of fans are confident in the direction of the team.

That number was all the way down at 7% immediately following the 2024 season.

“There’s nothing like it,” Trevor Lawrence said Wednesday of his excitement for the season opener. “First game of the year, obviously. Even the preseason games, I still get the little butterflies before you go out because it still means something, but this is the first one that counts. It does have a different feel to it.”

“You obviously have a whole gameplan, you put in all the work the week before but really all offseason builds up to that because you know who that first opponent is. So, not that you’re game planning four months ago, but you still are thinking about that first opponent and what’s coming up. So a lot that’s built to this moment … it’ll be fun.”

Top comments from Wednesday’s post:

acedarney
I think the most important storyline is whether the coach is any good. The players can come and go, but if the team is still broken at the top, then it doesn’t matter. We’ll be going through all this again in a few years. If the coach can maintain success, that’s the key. Of course, we won’t get a conclusive answer after one game against the lowly Panthers.
JaxCommenterGuy
Ideally, for us to have more points than the other team when the game is over.
Jaguardian
A lack of separation from the corners during pass plays, courtesy of a relentless rush from our defensive ends. (an expected thirty sacks minimum combined) HUNT!!!

Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/nfl-r...-what-jaguars-fans-are-watching-for-in-week-1