The Jaguars will look for their first win of the young NFL season Sunday when they host the Miami Dolphins. Jacksonville is coming off a 20-9 loss to Carolina.
An interception returned for a score, dropped passes and a missed field goal were some of the lowlights witnessed by an opening day crowd of 60,733 at EverBank Field.
“I thought that as an offense we played very cautiously. We didn’t want to make mistakes,” said Jaguars’ head coach Gus Bradley in his Monday press conference. ”I didn’t think we adjusted well. I don’t think we quickly recovered. We talked about adversity is going to come our way.”
• QB Blake Bortles was intercepted by Carolina corner Josh Norman who scored on the play. Bortles was 22 of 40 for 183 yards, with a touchdown, two interceptions and sacked five times.
• Free agent rookie kicker Jason Myers missed a 44-yard field goal and became the first NFL kicker to miss an extra point from the extended distance - equivalent to a 33-yard field goal.
• Jaguars rookie wide receiver Rashad Greene sustained a back contusion against the Panthers, but the fifth-round draft pick totaled 28 yards on seven catches including a one-yard TD pass in the second quarter.
• Receivers Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson and Greene dropped passes. Hurns also fumbled but had five catches for 60 yards. No balls were thrown to the tight ends.
“When they (tight ends) don’t catch any balls that’s something to take a look at. I know we had some plays, five or six, really designed to go to Marcedes and to utilize our tight ends. The read took him away from it so it wasn’t that they weren’t called, the read just took him away from that particular play,” Bradley said.
Jacksonville rookie T.J. Yeldon saw his regular season first action. The running back out of Alabama carried 12 times for 51 yards for an above-average 4.3 yards per carry
“I thought he did a nice job. For him, we felt like it was an opportunity where you should see him become more and more involved as the games go on,” Bradley commented. For him to get as many carries as he did in the yards I think it was a good start for him and I think he will gain confidence through it.”
Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny had a game-high nine tackles, including eight solo, and had the Jaguars’ first interception. It was Posluszny’s 12th career interception and first since 2013.
CAROLINA GAME NOTES
Panthers QB Cam Newton completed 18 of 31 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards….The Jaguars have lost four consecutive openers…. Carolina held Jacksonville to 265 yards, 75 in the second half…. Former Florida State and Panthers’ kicker Graham Gano, who has led the NFL in touchback percentage the last three seasons, kicked four out of five through the end zone…Bortles has now has thrown five pick-sixes in 14 career starts…. On Sunday Posluszny appeared in his 100th career game, all starts…The Jaguars got a 40-yard kickoff return by rookie running back Corey Grant.
JAGS INJURY UPDATE
Wide receiver Marqise Lee was expected to return to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in August. Lee did not play in any of the preseason games and missed the opener. Defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks will also return to practice on a limited basis. Running back Toby Gerhart continues to progress with his abdominal strain. He may return to practice. Offensive lineman Luke Joeckel left the Carolina game twice with a sprained ankle injury.
UP NEXT
It’s the Miami Dolphins (1-0) Sunday for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff at EverBank Field. QB Ryan Tannehill was 22-for-34 passing for 226 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 17-10 win over Washington.
