4 Winners and 4 losers from Jaguars' comeback win vs. Saints in preseason opener

The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of the New Orleans Saints in the preseason opener, beating their interconference foe 24-20. That said, it wasn't easy. Heck, for a good chunk of the game, it looked like the Jags were going to lose. However, they caught fire in the second half and successfully stopped a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.

Looking back, there were lots of like, but also a handful of reasons for concern. Jacksonville lost yet another lineman when Chuma Edoga left the field. Moreover, the New Orleans defense exposed the underwhelming depth at quarterback. Then again, not everything was doom and gloom.

Carter Bradley played much better in the second half after a slow start. Similarly, several players made the most of their chances to increase their stock. The Jaguars will next take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, but for the time being, here are five winners and four losers from the preseason opener.

4 winners from the Jaguars win vs. the Saints in the preseason opener

J'Mari Taylor, running back

Although J'Mari Taylor struggled to gain many yards in the first half, something clicked, and he finished the game with 78 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries. Sure, the undrafted rookie averaged just 3.5 yards per tote, but that's not necessarily a bad staline for a fourth-stringer.

Of course, Taylor went against second and third-stringers most of the game. Yet, it was encouraging to see him come through on a day in which Jacksonville struggled with injuries on the offensive line.

B.J. Green II, defensive end

B.J. Green II was making a bid for the No. 3 job behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in training camp. He boosted his chances of getting the nod in the preseason when he scooped a football that linebacker Yasir Abdullah forced out of Saints quarterback Spence Rattler.

With Hines-Allen and Walker sitting out the preseason opener, Green got plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent. He made the most out of them.

Yasir Abdullah, linebacker

Yasir Abdullah is competing for a roster spot. While he's been a fine backup and a contributor on special teams the past two years, the former Louisiana Cardinal is part of a crowded linebacker corps. But with his strong outing against New Orleans, he helped himself immensely.

Aside from a tackle on special teams, Abdullah forced the aforementioned fumble. While he will need to continue to make plays, he should feel good about his chances of making the team.

Trevor Pena, receiver

For a moment, it looked like Trevor Pena was going to be a dud. After all, he dropped a pass that could've counted for a touchdown. However, the undrafted rookie managed to bounce back, reeling in a team-best three catches for 58 yards.

Despite his impressive outing, Pena remains on the outside looking in, but if he keeps flashing in the preseason, he might land on the practice squad.

4 losers from the Jaguars preseason win vs. the Saints

Corey Ballentine, cornerback

The Jaguars weren't in immediate need of help at cornerback in training camp, but they still wanted to give Corey Ballentine a look. They did, and the results weren't great.

The Saints targeted Ballentine often, and they had success more often than not. To make matters worse, a good chunk of the passes he allowed were for massive gains, so nobody will bat an eye if Jacksonville gives him the boot before cutdown day.

Geron Christian, offensive lineman

In light of the injuries the Jaguars suffered on the offensive line during the preseason, they signed Geron Christian. He got an extended look against the Saints, but wasn't able to get the most out of his chances, drawing a pair of penalties in the first half of the opener.

Already, Christian had an uphill battle before the opener, and his odds of sticking around in Duval decreased substantially afterwards.

DeeJay Dallas, running back

The Jaguars have a crowded running back room, so DeeJay Dallas was always going to be a long shot to make the team. After the opener, he could be the victim of the numbers game. While J'Mari Taylor shined, Dallas wasn't able to stand out with the chances he got, toting the rock 10 times for 26 carries.

Jacksonville may decide to hold onto Dallas the remainder of the preseason to see whether he can bounce back. If that's the case, he'll need to play better.

Nick Mullens, quarterback

The biggest dud from the Jaguars' sideline was probably Nick Mullens. With Trevor Lawrence sitting out the game, Mullens got the starting nod. He came crashing down, going 3-of-7 for 33 yards with one interception.

Even worse, this wasn't a one-time deal, as Mullens routinely struggled during the offseason program. It's hard to tell whether the Jaguars are worried about their quarterback depth, but they should start considering external options to bolster the position.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow