JACKSONVILLE – Preseason is upon us, for better and not worse.

And make no mistake:

While many fans and observers just want to get through the NFL preseason, these games are important for coaches and players – and the preseason that begins for the Jaguars against the defending Super Bowl champions matters very much.

"It's a good challenge for us," quarterback Trevor Lawrence said as the Jaguars prepared to play the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 Preseason Week 1 at EverBank Stadium Saturday. "They're going to play their guys too, so it'll be a good challenge for us to see how we stack up early.

"There's a long way to go before Week 1 but it is important to kind of test yourself and see how you look against a team that has been the standard the past few years and you shouldn't take it lightly. It is just a preseason game but you're playing, they're keeping score, you want to win it, so I think that's the mindset. We understand what we want to do and what the goal is."

There are roster spots at stake, and position groups to be solidified. The Jaguars, too, are working through the defensive scheme of first-year coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the first time.

These are a few of the preseason storylines to watch as the Jaguars open the '24 preseason Saturday:

PLAYING TIME

Head Coach Doug Pederson early in 2024 Training Camp outlined his likely approach to preseason playing time, saying it could be the same as past preseasons when he played starters in games following weeks when the Jaguars didn't practice during the week against the opponent. The Jaguars did not practice against the Chiefs, so look for the starters to play Saturday. They will hold joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Miller Electric Center in advance of a Preseason Week 2 home game and they will not practice against the Atlanta Falcons in advance of a Preseason Week 3 road game.

THE PLAYCALLING

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor will call plays in the preseason, Pederson said this week. Pederson said it has not yet been determined if he or Taylor will call plays during the regular season.

THE DEFENSIVE SCHEME

Nielsen, in his first season with the Jaguars after serving as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator last season, employs what he calls an attacking/aggressive defense. It's a four-linemen front with multiple looks for the secondary and linebackers. Nielsen has spent the offseason/'24 camp emphasizing that there is no depth chart yet, utilizing multiple players in different roles all around the defense. Until we see the Jaguars play a game, it's difficult to be too specific about roles and schemes. That's one of the major storylines of the preseason.

THE RUNNING GAME

This is another preseason storyline, though it will be difficult to gauge much during the three preseason games. Taylor and Pederson discussed throughout the offseason revamping a running game that struggled at times last season. We may see glimpses early in games, but the running game often is about cohesion, stamina and a willingness to stay with it throughout the course of the game. Those traits usually don't develop until the regular season and sometimes it takes a few regular-season games.

WHO'S OUT

Pederson on Thursday said the following players won't play Saturday: Left guard Ezra Cleveland (heel), right tackle Anton Harrison (concussion), rookie running back Keilan Robinson (toe), rookie offensive lineman Steven Jones (calf), rookie defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (ankle), safety Andrew Wingard (knee), safety Darnell Savage (shoulder) and defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee).

THE POSITION GROUPS

• Quarterback. With Lawrence the clear starter, focus could be on reserves Saturday. Pederson said C.J. Beathard will work Saturday as the second-team quarterback with Mac Jones working with the third team. Beathard has been the backup to Lawrence the past three seasons, with the Jaguars trading with the New England Patriots for Jones this past March.
• Running back. Keep an eye on second-year veteran Tank Bigsby, who struggled at times as a rookie and who has looked good throughout '24 camp. The Jaguars would love him to be productive and ease running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s workload. Rookie Jalen Jackson has flashed at times in camp and could push for a roster spot.
• Wide receiver. A couple of storylines here. One: How veteran Gabe Davis and first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. are meshing with Lawrence. Two: How this group will look after the projected top group of Christian Kirk, Davis and Thomas. Free-agent returner Devin Duvernay will be active on game days, but after that? Second-year veteran Parker Washington has flashed in camp.
• Tight end. This is a solid group with veteran returners Evan Engram, Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell. Veteran free agent Josiah Deguara also has looked solid in camp.
• Offensive line. This group has dealt with some short-term injuries in camp – to left tackle Cam Robinson (shoulder), Harrison and Cleveland. This could give reserves such as veteran tackle Walker Little, rookie tackle Javon Foster, veteran guard/center Tyler Shatley, second-year veteran Cooper Hodges and veteran guard/center Luke Fortner snaps with the starters. "When we're healthy and full strength, there's depth there," Pederson said of the offensive and defensive lines.
• Defensive line. This has proven to be a deep group in camp, with Pederson saying the Jaguars will play eight players along the defensive line with an emphasis on the rotation.
• Linebackers. This is a position to watch, with the Jaguars moving to a new defensive scheme under Nielsen. A storyline to watch is just where Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd will line up, with each capable of playing the weakside and middle position and both working at multiple positions in camp.
• Cornerback. This group has looked strong, fast and aggressive in camp – and the cornerback trio of Tyson Campbell/Ronald Darby/rookie Jarrian Jones has flashed and looked solid. A storyline to watch is the depth at corner, which has looked strong in camp with second-year veteran Christian Braswell, third-year veteran Montaric Brown and rookie De'Antre Prince all impressing. Keep an eye on how this group lines up. The Jaguars figure to employ multiple looks and packages in the secondary, with an emphasis on tight man-to-man coverages and safety help over the top. "Young guys in the secondary have really impressed and improved," Pederson said.
• Safety. Andre Cisco has had a strong camp, with a three-interception practice this week. A storyline to watch here: Where the safeties line up, with players such as Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson possibly playing multiple roles at nickel safety and corner depending on down-and-distance situations.