Alright, this just dropped, and it’s a big one for any NFL fan keeping tabs on the league as we barrel toward kickoff! Jaguars head coach Liam Coen is “trending toward” putting his starters, including star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, on the field for their preseason showdown against the Carolina Panthers this Friday night. Coen hit reporters on Monday with the news, stating his goal is to play Lawrence “a little bit” in that game. This isn’t your typical sit-back-and-watch preseason decision, folks. This is a strategic pivot, a scramble to squeeze out every ounce of preparation because of what Coen called “very few and far between” padded days left on the schedule before the real games begin.
Coen’s Calculated Risk: Why Lawrence Is Getting the Call
Coen isn’t mincing words about his thought process here. He’s looking at the clock, folks, specifically the amount of full-contact padded days remaining before the regular season actually starts. He laid it out plain: “You just look at the amount of padded days that we actually have left until the game week and it’s very few and far between.” That’s the cold, hard truth of the situation. You can map out a schedule all you want, but when timing and circumstances change, you gotta be ready to pivot. And Coen is pivoting hard, clearly believing his squad desperately needs those crucial, live reps against a real opponent. He wants to see his starters get “a couple drives potentially” on Friday night, a clear signal that he’s not entirely satisfied with where they’re at, and that they need more actual football work. This isn’t just practice; this is about simulating game intensity.
Shaking Off the Saints and Prepping for Week 3
This move isn’t happening in a vacuum, either. Coen openly admitted the team needs “a little bit more work” after their recent joint practice and game with the Saints. Sounds like they got some eye-opening film from those sessions, huh? He’s pushing for “a little bit more padded work against each other, good on good.” That’s the kind of gritty, intense practice that forges a team, right? What’s also super interesting is how this impacts the depth chart. By getting the starters some crucial snaps now, it helps “alleviate some of the depth.” Basically, it means other guys lower on the roster can get their much-needed reps knowing full well that these frontline players won’t be out there in “preseason Week 3.” It’s a calculated chess move to maximize development across the entire roster, ensuring everyone who needs a look, gets one.
So, circle Friday night on your calendar, because Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ starters are hitting the field against the Panthers. This isn’t just another preseason game; it’s a critical moment for Liam Coen to inject some much-needed live contact into his team, prepping them physically and mentally for the battles ahead. You know the regular season is right around the corner, and this kind of preparation is what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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