Are the Jaguars Playing Their Starters vs. the Dolphins? Latest on Jacksonville’s Plans in Week 3 Preseason Game

This offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars made some significant moves to help change the course of their franchise. Liam Coen was brought in to replace Doug Pederson as head coach, and the team also made additional changes in the front office.

Besides Coen, Jacksonville also added dual-threat athlete and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter through the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter has been able to flash his considerable ability during the preseason, yet he’s currently dealing with an upper-body injury. Hunter didn’t play last week against the New Orleans Saints, either.

With final roster cuts just around the corner on Aug. 26 and important decisions still needing to be made, will Coen have the Jaguars’ starters out there against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern?

Will Trevor Lawrence and Other Jaguars Starters Play Against Miami Tonight?

Coen announced on Thursday, Aug. 22, that starters like quarterback Trevor Lawrence will not play at all against Miami.

“We are not going to play our starters,” Coen said at a press conference. “We got them the two weeks of work in the first two games.

“In an ideal world, looking back, if you had the joints earlier on, you wouldn’t play them, wouldn’t play them maybe a series in the third – that’s what we did in Tampa, and I liked it – but, it’ll be a lot of young guys getting some quality work, and there’s a lot of guys that are going to play, that are fighting for a roster spot, or fighting for a roster spot potentially on someone else’s team,” Coen said.

“So this is valuable tape, a great challenge that some are going to obviously go up against… it’s a good opportunity for those guys as well.”

Free-agent pickup Dyami Brown also will reportedly not see action against Miami. With Lawrence watching from the sidelines, look for Nick Mullens to run the Jaguars’ offense. Wide receiver Trenton Irwin has been a solid complementary option so far in the preseason, collecting six catches for 69 yards and one touchdown.

Which Young Jaguars Will Get Their Chance Tonight?

Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten out of Virginia Tech has been active in the preseason. Tuten, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has 16 carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games.

Besides Tuten, other rookies who might get time on the field against Miami include running back LeQuint Allen, cornerback Caleb Ransaw, offensive guard Wyatt Milum, linebackers Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod, safety Rayuan Lane III, and center Jonah Monheim.

Milum looks to provide some depth along the interior offensive line for Jacksonville. Allen wants to nail down a spot in the Jaguars’ backfield should the team end up carrying four running backs.

Lane looks to enhance his candidacy for a roster spot as a special-teams asset.

All of these players and others will do their best to impress Coen and the Jacksonville coaching staff and avoid being cut by the team.