The Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a wild 24-20 win against the New Orleans Saints this past Saturday, Aug. 15, and rookie running back J’Mari Taylor is the reason everyone is talking. Down a brutal 20-6 at halftime in the Caesars Superdome, it looked like a done deal, but Taylor absolutely flipped the script in the second half of that first preseason game.
Taylor’s Electric Performance
Man, did Taylor turn it on. He racked up 78 yards on 22 carries, spearheading a comeback that nobody saw coming. To kick off the third quarter, this dude took four carries for 32 yards and sparked a touchdown drive right out of the gate. After Carter Bradley hit Hunter Long for a 1-yard TD pass, Taylor then barreled in for the two-point conversion. But he wasn’t done! He capped another scoring drive in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run, putting the Jags ahead for good with just five minutes left in the game. That’s clutch, plain and simple. Get this: his 78 rushing yards were the most by a Jaguars player in a preseason game since Corey Grant dropped 74 yards back on September 3, 2015. That’s a serious stat for a rookie’s first outing.
Roster Spots Just Got a Whole Lot Hotter
This performance didn’t just win a game, it completely rewired the Jaguars’ running back room, especially the battle for that crucial fifth spot. Behind guys like Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, LeQuint Allen Jr., and the veteran Ameer Abdullah, Taylor just made a massive statement. Heading into this game, the smart money was on Abdullah, a 12-year veteran who was actually rested against the Saints due to his experience, to snag the fourth spot. That left Taylor, who was third in the ACC last season with Virginia running for 1,062 yards, battling DeeJay Dallas for a practice squad spot. Dallas, who contributes on special teams, only managed 10 carries for 26 yards and a single 6-yard catch. Taylor, meanwhile, wasn’t even targeted in the passing game, but his ground game was undeniable. Suddenly, the pecking order is looking a lot less certain.
This was just the first of three preseason games, and Taylor just gave the coaching staff a serious headache , the good kind! The competition is fierce, and while Abdullah’s experience is huge, Taylor’s raw talent and ability to ignite an offense are screaming for attention. Will he secure that fifth spot or even push higher? We’ll be watching closely as this preseason battle heats up.
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.
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