7 winners (and 3 losers) for the Jaguars in their preseason win over the Chiefs

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Kansas City Chiefs 26-13 in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Preseason. The victory would've been even sweeter if it counted in the standings but the coaching staff should be pleased with the team's overall performance.

Before the game, head coach Doug Pederson said that coming out on top would be great. But more than anything, he wanted to see players execute. They did, and then some. Right out of the gate, the defense stepped up, limiting the Chiefs to just three points in their opening drive. Then, when they got the ball, wide receiver Parker Washington had a 73-yard kickoff return. That was just the beginning.

The Jaguars kept making plays the rest of the way at all three levels en route to their win. This begs the question, which players turned heads? Who stood out for the wrong reasons? With that in mind, here are seven winners and three losers from Jacksonville's preseason openers against the Kansas City Chiefs.

7 winners from the Jaguars Week 1 preseason win vs. the Chiefs

Trevis Gipson, defensive end

Defensive end Trevis Gipson is projected to be the No. 3 pass rusher behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker. Having signed a one-year deal in free agency, he could turn out to be a bargain if he keeps having performances like the preseason opener. In Kansas City's first drive, he had a tackle and then pressured Patrick Mahomes. This couple plays were a big reason the Chiefs had to settle for three points to start the game.

Back in 2021, Gipson had seven sacks for the Chicago Bears. However, he only had three the following year and was waived before the start of the 2023 season. He went on to spend an unremarkable campaign with the Tennessee Titans. The Tusla native is now looking to bounce back in Duval and is off to an encouraging start.

Tank Bigsby, running back

After an underwhelming rookie campaign, Tank Bigsby has worked on rehabilitating his stock. A third-round pick in last year's draft, the LaGrange, Georgia native was a downhill runner in college that could gain yards in chunks. However, that ability didn't carry over into his first NFL season. Instead, he was plagued by mistakes and a measly 2.8 yards per carry.

Despite his struggles, the Jaguars' trust in Bigsby didn't waver, and the decision has paid off. He's been able to build off of a promising training camp and made several big plays against the Chiefs. The biggest one was probably a return in which he gained 45 yards. On top of that, he averaged an enticing 9.3 yards per carry.

That's the kind of performance Jacksonville envisioned from the former Auburn Tiger. Hopefully, he can spurn momentum into the regular season.

Parker Washington, wide receiver

Sophomore Parker Washington had a promising offseason and even got positive reviews from coaches and teammates alike. He validated the praise with a 73-yard return early in the first quarterback against the Chiefs. He then had a 10-yard reception.

Head coach Doug Pederson commended Washington's performance after the game, pointing out that the work he put in during training camp was evident in the preseason opener. Following his strong outing, the former Penn State Nittany Lion should be a surefire candidate to make the 53-man roster.

Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver

Parker Washington wasn't the only wideout who showed out for the Jaguars in the opener. While Brian Thomas Jr. had only one play that belongs in the highlight reel, it was a heck of a good one. Not long after Trevor Lawrence left the field, C.J. Beathard found the rookie out of LSU on a 41-yard reception.

Early in training camp, Thomas struggled but got much better as it progressed. In one of the latest practices, Lawrence connected with the Louisiana native for a long gain. The truth is that he's flashing that deep-threat ability the Jaguars drafted him for more and more often.

Christian Braswell, cornerback

Cornerback Christian Braswell wasn't covering wide receiver Nikko Remigio when he hauled in a 29-yard catch but he sure tried to stop him. He even dislodged the football from him and took it to the end zone. Unfortunately, the refs ruled Remigio down, wiping out Braswell's defensive touchdown.

Still, the sophomore cornerback deserves praise for his pursuit and not giving up, two qualities defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen holds in high regard. Expect Braswell to once again get extended time in Week 2 of the preseason.

Josiah Deguara, tight end

Tight end Josiah Deguara might be currently fighting for a roster spot. Given that the Jaguars won't incur significant dead money if they release him, he needs to make the most out of his chances and that's what he did against the Chiefs.

Deguara mostly saw playing time in the second half, meaning that he's currently sitting in the bottom half of the depth chart. That said, he hauled in three receptions on four targets, including one for 28 yards. It's fair to say that the former Cincinnati Bearcat did more than enough to keep his roster hopes alive.

Devin Duvernay, wide receiver/kick returner

Devin Duvernay was signed to return kicks, something he excelled at during his four-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. His two Pro Bowl designations are proof of how effective he was in that role. But against the Chiefs, he showed his receiving prowess, diving for a touchdown reception.

Unlike other players on this list, Duvernay isn't fighting for a roster spot, but he most certainly showed that he can be an effective receiver for the Jaguars in 2024.

3 losers from the Jaguars Week 1 preseason win vs. the Chiefs

Cam Little, kicker

You could argue that Cam Little's place in the loser's column is underserving because went 3-of-4 in his attempts in the opener. The potential issue with that assertion is that he failed one from 62 yards out even though it had the distance.

Head coach Doug Pederson said after the game that he wanted to see how the rookie kicker performed in that kind of situation at that kind of stage, so he's not overly concerned. That said, Little will need to prove he can bounce back from a miss and make the next one.

Breeland Speaks, defensive end

The reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year is attempting an NFL comeback. After logging 13 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks in 10 games for the Michigan Panthers, he signed with the Jags ahead of the preseason opener.

Speaks got playing time in the second half and made a few plays. However, he was also responsible for a facemask penalty. At this point, he's on the fringe, so everything he does, good or bad, could end up tipping the scale. It's fair to say that drawing a penalty won't have a positive impact on his chances of hanging around in Jacksonville.

Keilan Robinson, kick returner

A fifth-round pick in this year's draft, Keilan Robinson made a positive impression in the offseason. However, he's been held back by a sprain and didn't suit up for the preseason opener. When you take into account that availability is a player's most important ability, his stock might've taken a hit, especially after Parker Washington's impressive outing.

Maybe he'll recover and make up for his absence, but it's fair to say that at this point, Robinson has his work cut out to make the team.

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