5 biggest winners from Jaguars joint practice with the Panthers

The Jacksonville Jaguars chose to have joint practice with all three of their preseason opponents. Just a couple days before they face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, they welcomed their interconference rival at Miller Electric Center.

While the Jags were missing several offensive linemen, head coach Liam Coen told reporters that he was pleased with the team's effort, noting that they showed improvement in terms of running the football and communication. Moreover, the Jacksonville offense thrived in the red zone, so it's fair to say that the joint practice was a resounding success.

With this in mind, here are five Jaguars who turned heads against the Panthers.

5 Jaguars whose stock is soaring after the Panthers joint practice

Trevor Lawrence, quarterback

Trevor Lawrence had a field day against the Carolina defense, completing touchdown passes to Brenton Strange, Nate Boerkircher, and Jakobi Meyers, according to Mia O'Brien of Action News for Jax.

Given that Lawrence will probably sit out the Week 2 preseason game — Liam Coen originally wanted to play the starters but is having second thoughts — he made the most out of all the work he could get.

Bhayshul Tuten, running back

Liam Coen told the media after the joint practice that he was happy with the progress the team made in terms of communication and toting the rock. It's easy to understand why he's pleased.

According to what different reporters said, Chris Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten turned heads, with John Shipley of Sports Illustrated arguing that this was Tuten's best practice of the summer and maybe his career with Jacksonville.

Shipley notes that Tuten's change of direction was in full display against the Panthers. Gus Logue of SB Nation echoed the sentiment, pointing out that the sophomore had "maybe the best run I've seen him" in a practice setting.

Tuten wasn't the only running back that stood out, though. Rodriguez, J'Mari Taylor, and veteran Ameer Abdullah all had their moments.

Brian Thomas Jr., receiver

Brian Thomas Jr. has done a 180 in the offseason, putting in the work to remind everyone how dominant he was as a rookie. With Parker Washington missing practice, Thomas was the receiver Trevor Lawrence looked for the most against the Carolina secondary.

According to John Shipley, Thomas caught all the passes thrown his way but two, with one being a potential pass deflection and the other an overthrow. Even though the 2024 first-round pick is No. 3 on the second unofficial depth chart, expect him to have a big workload next season.

Ezra Cleveland, right guard

With the Jaguars dealing with injuries on the offensive line, Ezra Cleveland switched from his more familiar left guard spot in the joint practice to the right side. The move paid dividends, as the veteran hog molly set the tone for Jacksonville at the line of scrimmage.

Liam Coen heaped praise on Cleveland after practice, noting that he showed toughness. It's hard to tell he'll make the switch full-time in light of the news that Patrick Mekari just underwent back surgery, but he's showing he'll be ready regardless of where he plays.

B.J. Green II, defensive end

While the Jaguars offense feasted on the Panthers, the defense also brought the heat. In particular, B.J. Green II routinely disrupted the line of scrimmage, bringing Bryce Young down twice in practice.

Of course, Green wasn't the only Jaguars pass rusher who stood out. Josh Hines-Allen and Dennis Gardeck also had sacks in back-to-back plays, so Jacksonville should feel good about the state of the pass rush ahead of Week 2 of the preseason.

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