The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Carolina Panthers 34-17 in Week 2 of the preseason. At first sight, the score makes it seem like the game was lopsided, but it makes way more sense when you take into account that the Jags sat out virtually all their starters.
Head coach Liam Coen wrestled with the decision in the days prior to the bout but ultimately made the right call, as he avoided exposing the starters to unnecessary injury risk. This is especially true for the offensive line. Jacksonville is dealing with lots of injuries in the trenches and is barely getting healthy.
PW2 ✅#CARvsJAX pic.twitter.com/ecJRBKyh8G
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 22, 2026
With this in mind, there are five winners and four losers from the preseason bout against Carolina.
5 winners from the Jaguars' win vs. the Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason
Josh Cameron, receiver
Josh Cameron has had several opportunities to boost his stock and has taken advantage of every single one of them. After a strong showing in the opener, he had yet another one against the Panthers, reeling in two passes for 41 yards.
At this point, there's nothing else Cameron can do to ensure he'll have a role on offense next season even though he's behind Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Parker Washington on the depth chart.
Trebor Pena, receiver
Josh Cameron wasn't the only Jacksonville receiver who shone in Week 2 of the preseason. Trebor Pena took the field until the second half but made his presence felt, hauling in a team-best four receptions for 72 yards.
As Twitter user Nash Henry pointed out, Pena has shown deep-threat capabilities in the preseason, averaging 19.3 yards and 18.0 yards per catch in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. The undrafted rookie could give the Jags a tough decision come cutdown day.
Ameer Abdullah, running back
The Jaguars really like Ameer Abdullah. When he signed in the offseason, he looked like not much more than a camp body. However, the 2016 second-round pick has managed to work his way up the depth chart with a strong showing in training camp.
Abdullah increased his odds of making the 53-man roster against the Panthers, toting the rock six times for 45 yards. He also averaged 7.5 yards per carry, while no other Jaguars running back managed to average 4.0 yards per carry.
With LeQuint Allen Jr. missing time, Abdullah looks like a good bet to make the team.
Bryan Thomas Jr., defensive end
With the Jaguars starters sitting out the game, the second, third, and fourth teams got ample work against the Panthers. Bryan Thomas Jr. was definitely busy, registering one pressure and a fumble recovery. On top of that, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 81.9 led all the Jacksonville defenders.
Thomas won't make the 53-man roster but most definitely secure his chances of landing on the practice squad, where he could continue to hone his skills in his rookie season.
Joey Aguilar, quarterback
While third-stringer Carter Bradley struggled, Joey Aguilar looked great in the second half, completing 9 of 10 passes. He won't unseat Bradley just yet, but he's increasing his odds of being picked up on the waiver wire if the Jags don't keep him.
4 losers from the Jaguars' loss to the Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason
Corey Ballentine, cornerback
Corey Ballentine's stint in Duval could turn out to be short-lived. The veteran corner struggled in the opener and once again he gave up a big completion against Carolina.
The truth is that Jacksonville is in good shape at cornerback, so cutting ties with Ballentine won't be a tough decision.
Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, safety
After going undrafted in 2025, Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig signed with the Jags. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad. He was Jacksonville's highest-graded defender in the preseason opener, posting a PFF overall score of 84.5. However, the former Colorado Buffalo was stiff-armed and gave up a touchdown late in the Panthers game.
As the last line of defense, Silmon-Craig cannot afford to give up that kind of plays. He could still land on the practice squad next season but will need to have a strong outing in the preseason finale.
Carter Bradley, quarterback
After an encouraging outing in the opener, Bradley struggled in Week 2, going 6-of-13 for 51 yards. He still is QB3 on the depth chart but show that he has his work cut out if he wants to eventually be the primary backup behind Trevor Lawrence in 2027.
Hunter Long, tight end
Last year, Hunter Long signed a two-year deal with the Jags. He was supposed to serve as the backup behind Brenton Strange. That's the role the former Boston College Eagle filled early in 2025 but was eventually phased out in favor of Quintin Morris.
With Morris signing a one-year deal to return in the offseason, Long seemed like a potential roster casualty. It didn't help that Jacksonville used a pair of draft picks on tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol.
Long had a chance in Week 2 of the preseason to show he deserves to stick around. However, he failed to take advantage of it, failing to reel in a pass in the first half that could have been a touchdown. The veteran tight end now finds himself on the outside looking in ahead of the finale.
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