JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Cleveland Browns in a 2024 Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium.
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
- Experience must count. It's too early to call Sunday must win. It's not too early to call it really important. That means the Jaguars this week may need results from one of their more high-profile offseason strategies – i.e., signing multiple playoff-tested veterans. It's a group that included defensive end Arik Armstead, center Mitch Morse, cornerback Darnell Savage and wide receiver Gabe Davis – and the idea was to add veterans who would know how to win and how to respond in difficult, critical situations. Week 2 may seem too early to call critical, but the Jaguars are 0-1 with road games at Buffalo (1-0) and Houston (1-0) in Weeks 3 and 4. That means if Sunday isn't "must win" it's at least really, really important. Especially for a team that has lost six of seven games dating to last season. The Jaguars wanted to be more experience and resilient this season. They paid a lot of money to have those traits. They must show them Sunday.
- Something to believe in. We're moving forward from Week 1 to Week 2. As we do, here's something from Week 1 that could bode well for the Jaguars as they continue a critical – and difficult – first month of the season: The play of the offensive and defensive lines. Not that either unit was perfect Sunday, with the running game stagnating a bit in the fourth quarter and the defense unable to stop the Dolphins from grinding to two fourth-quarter field goals. But the offensive line established the run throughout the game far better than was the case much of last season, and the defensive front registered three sacks and helped hold the Dolphins to 83 yards rushing. What we saw in Week 1 can't be a finished product for either unit. If that's the case, neither unit will be good enough. But if Sunday was a start, then both units could be improved – and that could be a hidden positive from a disappointing regular-season opener.
Turning the page. 📄 Jaguars are spending the week preparing to face the Cleveland Browns at home in EverBank Stadium. Swipe through practice shots and be sure to get your game tickets for this week two matchup.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tre Flowers (37) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Mitch Morse (65) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receivers coach Chad Hall during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell (21) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tre Flowers (37) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma (48) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (98) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (98) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo (90) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma (48) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Tyler Lacy (93) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell (21) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 11, 2024.
Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…
- It's hard to draw too many conclusions about the Browns based on their Week One loss. This was a playoff team last season, one that surged at the end of the season and was playing well. They're a much different team with quarterback Deshaun Watson than they were with Joe Flacco last season. Watson is coming off a shoulder injury that cost him most of last season and hasn't yet recaptured the confidence and level of play that made him a Pro Bowl quarterback in Houston. Remember: The Jaguars were 0-6 against the Texans when Watson for Houston. Take away the Browns' power running game without running back Nick Chubb and you are left without any real sense of the offensive personality that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski carefully built over the last few seasons. They will try and get wide receivers Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy matched up with whoever replaces Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell in the starting lineup, but this looks like an opportunity for the Jaguars defensive front to control the line of scrimmage and the tempo of the game.
- You won't find a coach or player who will call this a must-win game. But that doesn't mean it isn't. Since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, 407 teams have started the season 0-2; of those only 39 made the playoffs, which is less than ten percent. The Jaguars' season won't be over if they lose Sunday, but it will be an uphill climb against a loaded AFC for a team that hasn't exactly overcome adversity since the Bengals game last season. This team needs a win in the worst way – mainly because they need to prove to themselves that they're capable of beating good teams. The Texans were the last good team they beat and that was 290 days ago. They also have good teams ahead with the Bills in Buffalo and the Texans in Houston. Sunday is a critical opportunity to turn the tide and re-start the season. At the very least that makes Sunday seem like a "don't miss this chance" game if not a "must win game."
Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ..
- The injury bug bites once again. Campbell left Sunday's game with an injury to his right hamstring. The frustration on his face was apparent as he walked on the sideline, favoring his injured leg. Head Coach Doug Pederson said he would not put a timetable on Campbell's return, but that the cornerback would definitely "miss some time." Injured reserve remains a possibility. Montaric Brown and Jarrian Jones are the most likely replacements in the secondary as it looks like Campbell won't be returning anytime soon.
- Turning the page may be easier said than done. I've covered professional sports long enough to know that superstitions and mindset play a far larger role than you might think. If a team or player perceives themselves to be on a hot streak, that can positively affect the team's confidence. A losing streak can have the opposite effect. The Jaguars find themselves dealing with the latter and trying to find a way to right the ship. Last year's vibes around the team never gave you confidence that they would figure out how to stop the losing skid at the end of the season. This year, I think things are hitting home for the players in a different way. The team seems more upset this season over one loss than they did over many losses combined last year. I'm hoping that shows the mental evolution that will allow them to get a win this weekend. It only takes one.
