The Jacksonville Jaguars faced the New Orleans Saints in the preseason opener. The first half of the game was filled with mistakes, but the Jags showed signs of life after halftime. They eventually came back from behind and got their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter. However, New Orleans didn't give up without a fight.
The Saints attempted a comeback late in the game, but cornerback Jabbar Muhammad brought it to a halt with a pass deflection in the last second of the game to help Jacksonville win 24-20.
Although the win won't count in the standings, the Jaguars prove that they're a resilient bunch that won't throw in the towel even when things aren't looking great. On the other hand, several players failed to come through when thrust into action. These five, in particular, left much to be desired in the opener.
5 Jaguars who watched their stock plummet after the preseason opener
Corey Ballentine, cornerback
The Jaguars may have one roster spot open at cornerback. Jabbar Muhammad and Christian Braswell are competing for it. This is why Corey Ballentine was always going to be a long shot to make the team. After the preseason opener, his chances of sticking around in Duval have severely diminished.
The Saints targeted Ballentine often with good results more often than not. He gave up four receptions on six targets for 80 yards. On top of that, he posted a dreadful Pro Football Focus overall grade of 29.7. At this point, his days with the Jags are all but over.
Ricky Lee, offensive lineman
The Jaguars are dealing with a rash of injuries on the offensive line, so they surely wanted to see some of their backup hog mollies stand out against the Saints. Some of them did, but Rick Lee wasn't one of them.
Leaving aside that Lee gave up two sacks, he also drew two penalty flags. When you take into account that Liam Coen puts an emphasis on execution, the veteran offensive lineman probably won't be around after cutdown day.
Geron Christian, offensive lineman
Ricky Lee wasn't the only big who struggled in the opener. The Jags just signed Geron Christian, and he had a prime opportunity to show he deserves a chance to make the team or maybe land on special teams. He squandered it, giving up one sack and two total pressures.
Coupled with the two penalty flags he was credited with, Christian's days in Jacksonville are numbered.
Tim Jones, wide receiver
Some of the Jaguars' young receivers stood out against the Saints. That made it difficult for Tim Jones to make a strong impression. The former Southern Miss Golden Eagle logged seven snaps on offense and ran five targets. However, he wasn't targeted.
Jones is a heck of a blocker and can contribute on special teams, but Jacksonville may be looking for younger receivers with bigger upside. That could make him the victim of the numbers game.
Nick Mullens, quarterback
No other Jaguar struggled as much as Nick Mullens in the preseason opener. He looked indecisive and made several mistakes in his limited playing time. The backup quarterback completed three of seven passes for 33 yards with one interception.
If Trevor Lawrence has to miss time and Mullens is thrust into action, Jacksonville will be in trouble... unless the team's brass looks for external help.
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