JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s go time for the Jaguars.
Year 2 for head coach Liam Coen comes equipped with high expectations and some momentum. The Jaguars are coming off a 13-4 season that not even the most teal-hearted optimist could have seen coming.
Recommended Videos
The Jaguars were content with their roster construction and didn’t make significant changes to their core since last year.
Among starters from last season, 10 return on offense (only Travis Etienne left). The bulk of the defensive guys return, too, but there will be new starters at linebacker (Devin Lloyd left in free agency) and cornerback (Travis Hunter in over Greg Newsome). After head coaching overtures, both coordinators are back for Coen. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski interviewed for open jobs in the offseason but ultimately returned to Jacksonville.
That continuity is great for Coen, who brought much sought after stability to Jacksonville. He and Udinski also helped unlock quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s potential. Lawrence had constantly rotated between franchise player and frustratingly inconsistent during his time in Jacksonville. He produced 38 total touchdowns (29 passing) and reached 4,000 passing yards for the third time in his career.
Lawrence was an MVP finalist and should feel more comfortable in Coen’s system in his second season.
Travis Hunter is back
The first year of the Hunter experience was a bit muted. The two-way star whom the Jaguars traded up for in the 2025 draft, has been cleared to return to the practice field after missing all but seven games of his rookie season due to a knee injury.
Hunter had 298 yards receiving on 28 catches (one TD). On defense, Hunter had 15 total tackles. He’s expected to play a larger role at cornerback this year and enters camp as a projected starter opposite Montaric Brown. The team has said it still expects to play him on both sides of the ball.
Who are the backs?
The team’s biggest question mark entering training camp is in the backfield. Jacksonville lost Etienne in free agency and signed Chris Rodriguez in free agency. It drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Alen Jr. in 2025.
Tuten had a solid rookie season and enters as perhaps the guy to earn the starting job. Rodrigeuz has been out of action after foot surgery but is expected to be a full go now. Deejay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah could also play a role if they make the 53. But there is certainly a dearth of experience among the top three backs. Rodriguez has just 198 career carries over three seasons. Tuten had 83 carries and five TDs last year. Allen had 23 carries as a rookie.
Respect? Come get it
Respect for the Jaguars has been fleeting in the national media. Coen made a point to drive that home last year, including the reference of being a “small market team” after going on the road and beating the Broncos late in the season.
Lawrence came in rated as the No. 62 player on the NFL’s Top 100 list. Edge Josh Hines-Allen, coming off an eight-sack season, disappointing from a statistical standpoint. But Hines-Allen had a whopping 80 quarterback pressures, a number that tied for the fourth-most in the league. With better play from the secondary, Hines-Allen should be able to turn more of those pressures into sacks.
Be prepared for a mess …
If you’re going to the stadium. Construction in and around EverBank Stadium has made the area a work in progress. Capacity for the stadium has been reduced to 42,507 in 2026, a total down from 68,300. The current capacity also includes 1,260 standing-room tickets. The majority of the reduced seating comes from the upper deck. No seating is available in the upper deck in 2026, with 22,000 seats removed.
When are practices open?
Jacksonville has opened 10 training camp sessions to fans this year: July 29-30, 31 (only season ticket holders), Aug. 2-3, 7, 9, 19 (joint practice with Panthers), 23 and 25 (joint practice with Buccaneers). Parking lots open at 7 a.m. and gates open at 7:45. Practice is expected to start at 8:30. The only changes are gate open at 8:45 on the joint practice days. There is free parking available in Lot Z. Free tickets for Aug. 2 and 9 dates have already been claimed. Tickets can be claimed here.
The schedule
Preseason 1, Aug. 15, at New Orleans Saints, 4 p.m.
Preseason 2, Aug. 21, vs. Carolina Panthers, 7:30 p.m.
Preseason 3, Aug. 28, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m.
Week 1, Sept. 13, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Week 2, Sept. 20, at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m.
Week 3, Sept. 27, vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Week 4, Oct. 4, at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Week 5, Oct. 11, vs. Philadelphia Eagles (at Tottenham Hotspur, London), 9:30 a.m.
Week 6, Oct. 18, vs. Houston Texans (at Wembley Stadium, London), 9:30 a.m.
Week 7, Oct. 25, OFF
Week 8, Nov. 1, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Week 9, Nov. 5, at Baltimore Ravens, Thursday Night Football, 8:15 p.m.
Week 10, Nov. 15, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Week 11, Nov. 22, at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Week 12, Nov. 29, vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:05 p.m.
Week 13, Dec. 6, at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Week 14, Dec. 14, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m.
Week 15, Dec. 20, at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Week 16, Dec. 27, at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday Night Football, 8:20 p.m.
Week 17, TBD, vs. Washington Commanders, TBD
Week 18, TBD, at Indianapolis Colts, TBD