7 winners (and 3 losers) for the Jaguars in their preseason win vs. the Falcons

The Jacksonville Jaguars did it. They went 3-0 in the preseason. The feat would be more meaningful if it counted in the standings but the coaching staff should feel pleased with how the team performed in all three phases.

Head coach Doug Pederson told the media before the game that he wanted to see execution and boy, did the Jags deliver. He said in the aftermath that he liked what he saw. Right off the bat, Trevor Lawrence led two scoring drives. Then Mac Jones took over and the offense reached the red zone twice with him at the helm. Cam Little had only one field goal attempt but he was his efficient self and nailed it.

On the other hand, the defense also deserves praise for shutting down the Falcons offense. A shutout in the preseason isn't nearly as great as it would be during the regular season but defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen deserves credit for having his unit ready to go.

Now, Jacksonville will have two weeks to prepare for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins. But before they got into a break, here's a shout-out to those Jaguars players who stepped up against the Falcons, along with three who didn't.

7 Jaguars who stood out vs. the Falcons in Week 3 of the preseason

Trevor Lawrence, quarterback

Before the game, Doug Pederson told the media that he wanted the starters to play two quarterbacks. Then again, it was fair to expect him to pull them from the game if he thought he had seen enough. That's precisely what he did with Trevor Lawrence, who looked in regular-season shape.

Lawrence led two scoring drives to start the game, going 8-of-10 for 92 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. You could even make the case that he would've been better had it not been for a couple of passes his receiver couldn't reel in. Either way, No. 16 is ready to reclaim his place as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Mac Jones, quarterback

Even though Mac Jones is slated to be QB2 behind Trevor Lawrence, he also played like a starting-caliber passer, completing 13 of 18 passes for 113 yards with one touchdown. Along the way, he showed the capability skills that will help him extend plays.

This is the second straight outing in which Jones has played at a high level. The plan is that Lawrence will stay healthy in 2024 but if he needs to miss time, the offense will be in good hands.

Travis Etienne, running back

One of the biggest issues the Jaguars faced last year was that their offensive line couldn't block. This made it very difficult to get the running game going. Against the Falcons, they got a small sample of how Travis Etienne could perform with bigger running lanes to go through.

The former Clemson Tiger toted the rock seven times for 46 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. His backup, Tank Bigsby also averaged 5.0 yards per rush. Based on what the coaching staff saw in the finale, they may be incentivized to run the ball more often in 2024.

Jalen Jackson, running back

Unlike Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby, Jalen Jackson isn't a lock to make the team but he's made the most of his chances to earn a roster spot throughout the offseason. Against Atlanta, the Villanova product had six rushers for 19 yards but he also scored a touchdown.

It's worth noting that the first and second-team offense had left the field when Jackson was thrust into action, so he didn't enjoy the kind of protection that Etienne or Bigsby got. Either way, he's done enough to at least earn consideration for a roster spot.

Elijah Cooks, wide receiver

There's an ongoing battle for the sixth (and maybe the seventh) receiver spot. Tim Jones is leading the way but Elijah Cooks made one last impression in the preseason finale, reeling in two receptions for 23 yards. One of them was a 13-yard touchdown grab where the former San Jose State Spartan managed to keep both feet inside the end zone.

It's hard to tell if the touchdown helped Cooks seize a roster spot but he at least won't go away without a fight.

Brenton Strange, tight end

The Jaguars got an impressive outing from Evan Engram, who hauled in four receptions for 28 yards with two touchdowns. However, they also got a solid performance from tight end Brenton Strange who was targeted two times and managed to reel in both passes for 19 yards.

Engram remains his reliable self but Strange had to show that he's improved after an underwhelming rookie campaign. He didn't necessarily shine against the Falcons but he's on the right path.

Travon Walker, defensive end

Defensive end Travon Walker is coming off a 10-sack campaign, and he's ready to take the next step under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. The former Georgia Bulldog gave everyone a sample of what's to come in 2024, nearly registering a couple of quarterback takedowns in back-to-back plays.

3 Jaguars who failed to impressed vs. the Falcons in Week 3 of the preseason

Joshua Cephus, wide receiver

Undrafted free agent Joshua Cephus is tangled with Elijah Cooks and Tim Jones in a battle for a roster spot. Unfortunately, he's not done nearly enough to show he's deserving to make the team.

After a promising offseason, Cephus struggled to make an impact in the first two preseason games. The finale wasn't much different. The former UTSA Roadrunner had one reception for eight yards, but that's it. At this point, it's hard to see him getting the nod over Jones or even Cooks.

Gabe Davis, wide receiver

Wide receiver Gabe Davis isn't in danger of losing his job anytime soon but it's fair to say that he was unremarkable against the Falcons, failing to reel him a couple passes his way. One of them was at least catchable.

The silver lining is that Davis has played well in both training camp and the preseason, so his lack of stats against the Falcons shouldn't be a cause for concern.

EJ Perry, quarterback

The Jaguars hurried to sign E.J. Perry after C.J. Beathard suffered a groin injury in Week 2 of the preseason. The Brown product had already spent two seasons in the Jacksonville practice squad, so it wouldn't take him long to acclimate to the offense. The trouble is that he was unremarkable when he stepped on the field in the finale, completing two passes for four yards.

In his defense, Perry signed with the Jaguars just a couple days before the game, so expecting him to do play at an All-Pro level would've been unreasonable. Still, the team's brass will surely hope Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones remain healthy in 2024. Otherwise, they could be in trouble if Perry sees extended playing time.

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