3 things to keep an eye on when the Jaguars play the Lions in Preseason Week 2
• Which receiver will separate himself from the bunch?
• How will the pass rush fare against the Lions' 2nd team?
There isn't an inherent right or wrong approach to the preseason. Some clubs like to give extended playing time to their starters to shake off the rust and work on things such as timing. Others like to hold them back and rest them for the regular season. Heading into Week 2, the Detroit Lions have announced they'll sit their starters (and many of their rookies). On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars haven't made a decision as of this writing.
The Jags already ruled out defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, defensive back Antonio Johnson and outside linebacker Josh Wells. However, head coach Doug Pederson hasn't made an announcement in regard to the starters and how many snaps they'll get against the Lions.
Keep in mind that teams often rest most of their starters in the preseason finale and use the game to evaluate the roster. With this in mind, here are three things to watch when the Jaguars face off against Detroit.
How much playing time will Jaguars RT Anton Harrison get vs. the Lions?
Anton Harrison, a first-round pick in this year's draft, is making the transition from left tackle to the right side and is expected to start on Day 1. This is why the more reps he get ahead of the regular season but faster he will get acclimated to his new position.
So far, Harrison's transition to right tackle is coming well. He had a pretty encouraging out in Week 1 and made headlines when he managed to contain sophomore defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in joint practice this week.
The issue is that Harrison has been dealing with a shoulder injury for the last few days. Although he's managed to play through the injury, it's currently unknown whether he will play Saturday. If he's good enough to go, the coaching staff must then monitor him closely, so he doesn't aggravate the injury.