The Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions face off in a preseason matchup between two teams favored to win their divisions this season. But how many key players will get snaps? Lions head coach Dan Campbell already said that they will not be playing their starters, and it has yet to be confirmed whether that’s the case for Doug Pederson and the Jaguars.
Nevertheless, we will see more of Jaguars rookie QB Nathan Rourke after he had the play of the preseason so far last week. Both teams won their opening preseason games last week, but who will continue their streak? We break it down with the betting odds, picks, and more.
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Jacksonville Jaguars (-4) vs. Detroit Lions
Blewis: The Jaguars’ starters got some playing time last week, so my assumption here is that they won’t need to play the rest of the preseason. With Campbell already confirming that the Lions’ starters won’t be playing, I’m expecting this to be a matchup entirely of backups.
The backup quarterbacks for both teams got significant playing time last week and with completely different results. Although C.J. Beathard had a lackluster performance for Jacksonville, Rourke was impressive, going 9 of 17 with 153 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown throw as well as a rushing touchdown.
For the Lions, journeyman QB Nate Sudfeld had a lackluster outing, throwing for zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Undrafted rookie QB Adrian Martinez got limited action late in the game and even scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 remaining.
Veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater will be the primary backup with rookie QB Hendon Hooker recovering from a torn ACL, and after just signing with the team days before their game last week, I’m expecting him to get snaps this week to get more acclimated with the offense.
As good as Rourke was last week, can he repeat the same magic two weeks in a row? How will Bridgewater look in this Lions offense after just signing with the team less than two weeks ago? And when Bridgewater is out of the game, will Sudfeld be his usual self?
I’m going to avoid taking a side in this one and predict it will be a low-scoring affair.
Pick: Under 39.5 (-110)
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Jacksonville Jaguars Roster and Injury Report
The Jaguars are a very healthy team at the moment, which is all you can ask for this time of year. Nearly all of their starters on offense got snaps last week, and none of them suffered an injury.
We don’t know how many of the starters will play against the Lions, but after they got snaps last week, it’s safe to assume we won’t see them for the rest of the preseason.
One positional battle to watch in this game will be the primary backup running back spot behind Travis Etienne. Tank Bigsby, their third-round pick out of Auburn, looks to be leading the competition so far after getting nine carries for 52 yards last week. Veteran D’Ernest Johnson and second-year player Snoop Conner are in the mix as well and should also see snaps in the backfield.
Detroit Lions Roster and Injury Report
Both WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and WR Jameson Williams left Wednesday’s joint practice with the Jaguars with injuries. Campbell told reporters that St. Brown’s lower-leg injury isn’t serious and that he will return to practice next week.
Williams, however, is expected to miss the rest of the preseason due to his hamstring injury.
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In other injury news at wide receiver, former Jets second-round pick Denzel Mims, who the Lions traded for this summer, was waived with an injury designation after suffering both knee and calf injuries.
In last week’s win against the Giants, veteran DE Julian Okwara was the star of the show, putting up three sacks. Okwara has been fighting to keep his roster spot this preseason, but his outing against the Giants certainly improved his chances of staying on the team.
