How should fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars feel going into the 2026 NFL season?
On one hand, high hopes abound heading into the second year under coach Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone. The Jags won the AFC South and won 13 games, second-most in the franchise's 31-year history. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemed rejuvenated after an injury-plagued 2024, finishing fifth in MVP voting and throwing a career-high 29 touchdowns. The defense, fueled by edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, ranked among the league's best, forcing the second-most turnovers in football.
But as training camp opens, there's reason to be doubtful. Last season ended without a playoff win with Lawrence throwing an interception — he also
set a career high with 12 picks — to start the final drive. Two of the biggest members of that ball-hawking defense, Devin Lloyd and Andrew Wingard, left in free agency. And a whopping 10 draft picks didn't produce near the type of star power that Travis Hunter did the year prior (how he plays after knee surgery and a switch to primary cornerback will determine the Jags' fate).
That paired with the perceived ascent of the other AFC powers, including the division-rival Houston Texans, led to tepid projections around the Jaguars' chances in 2026. ESPN's Football Power Index pegged them as the No. 17 team in the NFL, while BetMGM gives them +1300 odds to reach their first Super Bowl, ninth in the 16-team AFC.
To the rapid fans in "DUUUVAL," that just means plenty of chances to prove the haters wrong. The front end of the schedule offers plenty of opportunities to generate buzz around the Jags, with games against the Broncos and Patriots — the two teams that played for the conference's Super Bowl spot — in Weeks 2 and 3. Unfortunately, Jacksonville won't get to host Houston this year, as the presumed battle for division supremacy will begin in London.
There are about three weeks until the Jags play in their first preseason game. Here's a look at the schedule, as well as the Jaguars' roster to open the 2026 season.
Jaguars preseason schedule 2026
All times Eastern.
- Saturday, Aug. 15: at New Orleans | 4 p.m. | Fox Channel 30
- Friday, Aug. 21: vs. Carolina | 7:30 p.m. | CBS Channel 47
- Friday, Aug. 28: vs. Tampa Bay | 7:30 p.m. | Fox Channel 30
Jaguars schedule 2026
All times Eastern.
- Week 1: vs. Cleveland | 1 p.m. Sept. 13 | CBS
- Week 2: at Denver | 4:05 p.m. Sept. 20 | CBS
- Week 3: vs. New England | 1 p.m. Sept. 27 | CBS
- Week 4: at Cincinnati | 1 p.m. Oct. 4 | CBS
- Week 5: vs. Philadelphia (in London) | 9:30 a.m. Oct. 11 | NFL Network (Fox Channel 30 in Jacksonville)
- Week 6: vs. Houston (in London) | 9:30 a.m. Oct. 18 | NFL Network (Fox Channel 30 in Jacksonville)
- Week 7: Bye
- Week 8: vs. Indianapolis | 1 p.m. Nov. 1 | CBS
- Week 9: at Baltimore | 8:15 p.m. Nov. 5 | Amazon Prime
- Week 10: at Tennessee | 1 p.m. Nov. 15 | Fox
- Week 11: at NY Giants | 1 p.m. Nov. 22 | CBS
- Week 12: vs. Tennessee | 4:05 p.m. Nov. 29 | CBS
- Week 13: at Chicago | 1 p.m. Dec. 6 | Fox
- Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh | 8:15 p.m. Dec. 13 | ESPN
- Week 15: at Houston | 1 p.m. Dec. 20 | CBS
- Week 16: at Dallas | 8:20 p.m. Dec. 27 | NBC
- Week 17: vs. Washington | TBD
- Week 18: at Indianapolis | TBD
Jaguars roster
Here's a look at the Jaguars' potential depth chart, according to Ourlads. Players added from last year's team are marked with how they arrived in Jacksonville.
Offense
- QB: Trevor Lawrence, Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley, Joey Aguilar (UDFA)
- RB: Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. (FA), LeQuint Allen Jr., Ameer Abdullah (FA), DeeJay Dallas, J'Mari Taylor (UDFA)
- WR1: Brian Thomas Jr., CJ Williams (rookie), Tim Jones, Brady Boyd (UDFA)
- WR2: Jakobi Meyers, Josh Cameron (rookie), Chandler Brayboy, Ben Patterson (UDFA)
- Slot WR: Parker Washington, Travis Hunter, Austin Trammell, Trebor Peña (UDFA), Michael Wortham (UDFA)
- TE: Brenton Strange, Nate Boerkircher (rookie), Tanner Koziol (rookie), Quintin Morris, Hunter Long, Patrick Herbert, Ethan Conner (UDFA)
- LT: Cole Van Lanen, Walker Little, Kilian Zierer
- LG: Ezra Cleveland, Emmanuel Pregnon (rookie), Trystan Colon (FA)
- C: Robert Hainsey, Jonah Monheim, Jerome Carvin
- RG: Patrick Mekari, Wyatt Milum, Garrett DiGiorgio (UDFA)
- RT: Anton Harrison, Chuma Edoga, Ricky Lee
Defense
- RE: Josh Hines-Allen, Wesley Williams (rookie), Danny Striggow, Bryan Thomas Jr. (UDFA)
- DT: Arik Armstead, Ruki Orhorhoro (trade), Matt Dickerson, T.J. Bollers (UDFA)
- NT: DaVon Hamilton, Albert Regis (rookie), Keivie Rose, Jalen Hunt (UDFA), Quinton Bohanna (FA)
- LE: Travon Walker, B.J. Green II, Zach Durfee (rookie), Quindarius Dunnigan (UDFA)
- MLB: Foyesade Oluokun, Jack Kiser, Jalen McLeod, Branson Combs
- WLB: Ventrell Miller, Dennis Gardeck, Yasir Abdullah, Parker Hughes (rookie)
- CB1: Montaric Brown, Dane Jackson (FA), Keni-H Lovely
- CB2: Travis Hunter, Christian Braswell, Devon Marshall (UDFA)
- NB: Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, Jabbar Muhammad, Preston Hodge (UDFA)
- SS: Antonio Johnson, Caleb Ransaw, Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, Trevian Thomas
- FS: Eric Murray, Jalen Huskey (rookie), Rayuan Lane III, Devin Neal Jr. (UDFA)
Special teams
- K: Cam Little
- P: Logan Cooke
- LS: Ross Matiscik
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: As training camp opens, how much can Jaguars fans hope for in 2026?
