The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to start 2-0 when they face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Aside from a favorable weather forecast, they have a handful of things going in their favor to pull off the upset.
For starters, they have a relatively clean bill of health. They've already ruled out offensive guard Wyatt Milum, but cornerback Montaric Brown was listed as doubtful, while swing tackle Cole Van Lanen is a full-go. All three popped up on the team's final injury report, but Jacksonville may want to play it safe and hold Brown out. After all, they have four capable corners in Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis, and Travis Hunter.
Speaking of Hunter, one of the biggest storylines to watch is how much playing time he'll get at corner after logging just six snaps on defense against the Carolina Panthers. After the game, head coach Liam Coen said the two-way star missed the installs ahead of the game because he was dealing with an upper-body injury at the time. Given that he's at full strength, that shouldn't be an issue, so expect him to have a bigger role in Week 2.
Aside from Hunter's playing time at corner, another thing to watch is whether Maason Smith will suit up. He was a healthy scratch in the opener. Coen cited the fact that he had missed time in training camp as the reason, so after having more time to get up to speed, it will be interesting to see if the sophomore defensive tackle makes his 2025 debut.
On offense, it would be a good idea to feed Travis Etienne the football after gassing Carolina for 143 yards in the opener. Trevor Lawrence must also play better if the Jaguars want to have a shot. The good news is that the offensive line held its own, so protection shouldn't be an issue against Cincy.
On a related note, the Jaguars announced that they promoted tight end Quintin Morris from the practice squad via standard elevation. This could be a matter of matchups or a sign that one of the team's other tight ends may not play.
Of course, beating the Bengals won't be a walk in the park. Like the Jags, they're 1-0 and are coming off a bout against the stout Cleveland Browns defense. While Joe Burrow is coming off a quiet game, Cincy still found a way to win.
Related:Riche Eisen makes a hilarious Liam Coen prediction ahead of Week 2
Jaguars inactives for Week 2:
Jaguars inactives for Week 2:
B.J. Green, defensive end
Montaric Brown, cornerback
Wyatt Milum, offensive lineman
Danny Striggow, defensive end
Cody Schrader, running back
Khalen Saunders Sr., defensive tackle
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