Jacksonville Jaguars Winners And Losers Preseason Week Two: An Uninspiring Battle For Backup Positions

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 21: C.J. Williams #18 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against Princely Umanmielen #3 of the Carolina Panthers during the first half at EverBank Field on August 21, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On a rainy Friday evening at home, in the first home football game during the new stadium renovations, the Jacksonville Jaguars fell to the visiting Carolina Panthers 34-17 in a boring, ugly affair.

The big questions from the Week One game - the backup quarterback spot and the shaky backup secondary - were mostly far from answered against the Panthers but there were still bright spots from the Jaguar depth chart.

No starters played Friday night which was just as well, giving way to guys like Josh Cameron and CJ Williams to put together yet another week of good tape.It also paved the way for guys like Carter Bradley and anyone in the defensive secondary to put up equally as bad film.

WINNERS

Ameer Abdullah

Last week it was J'Mari Taylor running the pill to lead the running backs room. This week it was veteran Ameer Abdullah.

Abdullah led the contest in total rushing yards with 45 to his name on six carries. He also caught three passes for 37 yards, the big blemish being his dropped touchdown pass. Still, it was a respectable night for Abdullah who was a driving force for the offense most of the evening.

The running back room still belongs to Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr., but Abdullah showed his veteran football status might be worthy enough of the RB3 role.

ANKLES

Ameer Abdullah goes for 23!#CARvsJAX on CBS47 pic.twitter.com/aJsTiDA5Bx

- Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 22, 2026

Linebackers

Friday was a heck of a way to respond for a guy like Branson Combs. After whiffing on a touchdown-saving tackle last week, Combs was all over the place against the Panthers. On the stat sheet, he recorded just one tackle but did force a third-down incompletion after storming into the backfield and barreling over Carolina running back Jonathon Brooks.

Like Combs, Ventrell Miller played well. Miller finished with three total tackles but a quick run stuff early in the game led to Combs' third-down stop. The pair were a good one-two punch for Jacksonville. The secondary was bad, but the linebackers played perfectly fine.

Jonathon Brooks isn't going to see the field on 3rd down much if he can't pass protect pic.twitter.com/cNuQfEic7v

- Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 21, 2026

The Wide Receivers

It's some weird Jaguars preseason ritual to obsess over the backup wide receiver position and this year is no different.

Josh Cameron and CJ Williams, dueling sixth round picks from this past year, were a big asset in the dubious passing game yet again. Cameron was second on the team with two catches for 41 yards which Williams hauled in four catches for 22. Both guys caught all the targets thrown their way. Also, watch number 18 in the above Abdullah video. That is how you play some football.

No, the Jags are not one Cameron or Williams away from unlocking something within the offense but the depth is never bad to have. And they certainly weren't the only guys to stand out.

Trebor Pena led the squad in receiving with 72 yards and a score. Quietly, he has led the Jags in receiving through two preseason games. Head coach Liam Coen even said after the game that Pena is doing all the right things expected of a receiver. He has a good connection with Joey Aguilar, and with how the backup QBs are playing, it might earn both Pena and Aguilar a roster spot.

LOSERS

Carter Bradley

It brings me no joy to pile on Bradley after Friday night, but he was awful. To Nick Mullens' credit, he put together one solid drive before being subbed out for the Jacksonville native. All Bradley had to do was just keep getting the team in field goal range and take care of the ball which was something neither guy did last week. Mullens did his part. Bradley not so much.

Between Aguilar and Mullens, the two quarterbacks had just two incompletions. Bradley had seven including a pick.

It doesn't look great for him at the moment. I'm not so sure one more preseason game will really be the difference maker in Bradley being rostered.

The Secondary

Speaking of bad nights, the Jags backup secondary had a tough one all game. Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig looks completely out of whack and for as many flashes as Jabbar Muhammad has, he has twice as many errors. This unit constantly gave up big plays and had the NFL Twitter account saying Kenny Pickett was dropping absolute dime(s)" on the head of corner Corey Ballentine, who played poorly last week.

Giving up 238 passing yards and two touchdowns in the preseason isn't damming, but it isn't inspiring. None of the backup secondary guys are really stepping up outside of maybe rookie Jalen Huskey. Not ideal.

Kenny Pickett with an absolute dime to Roc Taylor for 6

Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/UVyedsQhA0

- NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

Let us know your thoughts of the depth in Jacksonville and if you think you could stop a Kenny Pickett pass in the year 2026. We will see you back next week for the final tune-up of preseason as the Jags take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.