JACKSONVILLE – This was a night for youth and opportunity.

That meant comparatively few starters or front-line players for the Jaguars in their 20-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2024 Preseason Week 2 game in front of 61,570 at EverBank Stadium Saturday.

"It was good for all of us to come together and win," veteran quarterback Mac Jones said.

Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson called the entire week – Saturday's game and two joint practices this week against the Buccaneers – "good work."

Jones started at quarterback for the Jaguars Saturday, with starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and at least 20 other starters and front-line players not playing. This was Pederson's plan from the start of training camp because the starters took significant repetitions when the Buccaneers and Jaguars practiced against one another Wednesday and Thursday at the Miller Electric Center.

"You get starters a chance to get a lot of reps in a controlled environment against another football team," Pederson said. "I thought both teams showed great sportsmanship during the week. I was proud of the way our guys handled themselves."

C.J. Beathard, who started the second half at quarterback for the Jaguars, sustained 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 completing 11 of 18 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown while leading the Jaguars to a 10-7 halftime lead.

"He did some good things," Pederson said of Jones, the No. 15 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft who was 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."

Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke called Jones "an energizer."

"You can't help but notice it," Baalke told the Jaguars' broadcasting team when discussing Jones shortly after halftime Saturday. "He loves the game and it shows in everything he does."

Beathard, Lawrence's backup the past three seasons, completed five of seven passes for 40 yards.

Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington continued a strong preseason, catching a second-quarter touchdown pass from Jones for the game's first points. Running back Tank Bigsby, like Washington a second-year veteran, also continued a strong preseason with 37 yards on 10 carries.

Jones' second touchdown pass went to rookie wide receiver Brevin Easton in the fourth quarter, pushing the Jaguars to a double-digit lead with less than six minutes remaining. Jaguars veteran wide receiver Austin Trammell caught four passes for 75 yards.

The Jaguars' defense registered two sacks – by defensive end Breeland Speaks, defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo and defensive lineman Joe Gaziano.

Jaguars starters played two series in a 26-13 Preseason Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and are expected to play significantly against the Atlanta Falcons in Preseason Week 3 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta Friday.

Notable Game Moments:

• The teams were scoreless in the first quarter, with neither team playing its starting quarterback and both teams resting most starters. Both teams had 50 yards, and the furthest either team drove was when the Jaguars reached the Buccaneers 47 before a punt.
• Jones' 25-yard pass to Washington capped a 17-play, 80-yard, 10:12 drive and gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter. Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask passed six yards to wide receiver Cody Thompson on the ensuing possession to tie the game 7-7 with 2:47 remaining in the second quarter. Rookie kicker Cam Little's 26-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter gave the Jaguars a 10-7 lead.
• Little's 44-yard field goal capped the first drive of the second half and pushed the Jaguars' lead to 13-7 with 8:41 remaining in the third quarter. It moved Little to four of five field goals in the preseason, with his lone miss coming from 62 yards in Preseason Week 1.
• Jones' 31-yard touchdown pass to Easton gave the Jaguars a 20-7 lead with 5:07 remaining.

Notable: The full list of Jaguars players who did not play Saturday, according to the Associated Press, ESPN and Jaguars Media:

• Wide receiver Gabe Davis
• Running back Travis Etienne Jr.
• Safety Andre Cisco
• Cornerback Darnell Savage (shoulder)
• Wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf)
• Quarterback Trevor Lawrence
• Tight end Evan Engram
• Safety Daniel Thomas (heel)
• Linebacker Foye Oluokun
• Cornerback Ronald Darby
• Running back Keilan Robinson (toe)
• Cornerback Tyson Campbell
• Linebacker Devin Lloyd
• Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen
• Safety Andrew Wingard (knee)
• Defensive end Travon Walker
• Safety Tashaun Gipson
• Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton
• Right guard Brandon Scherff
• Left tackle Cam Robinson
• Tight end Luke Farrell
• Defensive end Arik Armstead.

Among the notable front-line players playing were right tackle Anton Harrison, left guard Ezra Cleveland, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris.

Injury report:

• Second-year cornerback Christian Braswell sustained a hip injury in the second half.
• C.J. Beathard was ruled out in the second half with a groin injury.