The Jacksonville Jaguars clawed their way to a hard-fought preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints, but that’s not even the biggest story. What really got the whole stadium buzzing was the absolute rookie takeover. These young guns, from the 2026 draft class to those undrafted free agents fighting for a spot, came to play, and running back J’Mari Taylor absolutely led the charge. The dude was undeniable, lighting up the stat sheet when it mattered most.
Rookies Running Wild on Offense
You wanna talk about making a statement? J’Mari Taylor was the clear standout, plain and simple. He ended the game with 22 carries for a whopping 78 yards , the most rushing yards for either team by far. Oh, and he scored a touchdown. He was a key part of the Jags’ second-half turnaround, getting it done in the run game and in pass protection. The kid showed up! WR Trebor Pena put in a strong performance too, snagging three catches for 58 yards and even adding an eight-yard run. QB Joey Aguilar flashed potential with a major 43-yard bomb to Pena. We also saw solid outings from WRs Josh Cameron and CJ Williams. Cameron had a nice 25-yard kick return on special teams and caught one pass for 17 yards. Williams pulled in two receptions for 28 yards. They combined for three catches on eight targets. Brady Boyd and Michael Wortham each got one target and turned them into 19 and nine receiving yards, respectively. Even OL Emmanuel Pregnon, battling injury and missing practice, put in an encouraging performance, holding his own in both pass protection and run blocking with a heavy workload. That’s grit, man.
Making Plays When It Counts
The rookies weren’t just about offense, though. The defensive line brought some serious heat. DL Albert Regis was a wrecking ball, creating chaos with a monster sack of Zach Wilson for a 14-yard loss! He also had a tackle for loss in the run game. Rookie DEs Bryan Thomas Jr. and Wesley Williams were relentless. Thomas Jr. had one of the strongest performances on defense, with a sack, two quarterback hits, and a tackle for loss. Williams was in on a strip sack of Spencer Rattler and kept the pressure coming all game, impacting the run game too. Safety Jalen Huskey’s five total tackles are good, but his biggest play was tracking down Ty Chandler on the 10-yard line, stopping an 86-yard kickoff return from becoming a touchdown. That’s a game-changer! LB Parker Hughes had a less-than-stellar debut, especially with his tackle angle contributing to that big 86-yard kickoff return. But hey, it’s preseason, and the kid will learn.
These rookies certainly came out swinging. While it’s only preseason, you can’t ignore the kind of impact players like J’Mari Taylor, Albert Regis, and Jalen Huskey had on that game. They’re making a strong case to earn their spots, and you know these guys are hungry for more. It’s exciting to see what else they’ll bring to the field as they continue to fight for their future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply