With Week 1 in the books, it’s time to start thinking about Week 2. There’s one game that stands out, mainly for where it has been tucked into the TV schedule.
The entire slate for the second week of the season has only two games pitting a pair of 2025 playoff teams against each other: Steelers-Patriots in the 1:00 p.m. ET cluster and Jaguars-Broncos in the late-afternoon window.
But Jaguars-Broncos isn’t one of the 4:25 p.m. ET games. It begins at 4:05 p.m., with a regional TV audience. The big window goes to Commanders-Cowboys on Fox (Raiders-Chargers and Seahawks-Cardinals are also in that spot.)
Yes, the Cowboys are the Cowboys. They continue to draw big TV crowds. But the Jaguars went 13-4 last year. They thumped the Broncos in Denver in Week 16, 34-20. This time around, it’s the home opener at Mile High Stadium. And, suddenly, the Broncos will be feeling more than a little antsy, after losing badly to the Chiefs on Monday night.
The scheduling decision fits nicely with Jacksonville coach Liam Coen’s belief that his team is being overlooked. It gives him extra grist for the “disrespect” mill. Which should make it easier to get the players ready for a repeat of last year’s underrated performance against the team that won the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
From a programming standpoint, it makes sense to go with the Cowboys. Still, Jaguars-Broncos should be a better — and more consequential — contest.
The message to Coen and the Jags is clear. To get more attention, you’ll have to command it. The best way to do that in the short term will be to send the Broncos to 0-2.
Jaguars Clips
Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas is managing a shoulder injury after the team’s season-opening win over the Browns.
Thomas left the win due to the injury and head coach Liam Coen told reporters on Monday that the wideout will be limited in practice over the coming days. Coen does not expect the injury to impact Thomas’s availability against the Broncos in Week 2, however.
“I fully imagine him being able to play this game, no issues, just might not be able to get hit throughout the week or something,” Coen said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.
Thomas had three catches for 40 yards on Sunday.
Coen also said that defensive end BJ Green is expected to miss the Broncos game. Green is dealing with an elbow injury.
Jaguars cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter was a starter on defense and a bit player on offense in Week 1 against the Browns.
Hunter played 29 snaps on defense, which was 57 percent of the Jaguars’ defensive plays, and four snaps on offense, or 7 percent. Hunter did not play at all on special teams.
The Jaguars tried to get Hunter the ball when he was on the field on offense, and he got one carry for three yards and one catch for eight yards. On defense, he had one tackle.
When the Jaguars drafted Hunter last year, they thought he could be the NFL’s only full-time starter on both offense and defense. So far in his NFL career, it hasn’t worked out that way. As a rookie last year he had played 67 percent of offensive snaps and 36 percent of defensive snaps when an injury ended his season after seven games, and the early indications this year are that he won’t be a regular contributor on offense.
Hunter is contributing, but not enough to live up to the hype surrounding his status as last year’s second overall pick.
The Jaguars had no trouble spoiling head coach Todd Monken’s debut and quarterback Deshaun Watson’s first game since 2024.
Jacksonville steamrolled Cleveland, 34-10, to open the 2026 season 1-0.
The Jags scored on each of their first four possessions in the first half, taking a 24-0 lead into the break. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had three touchdown passes in the first 30 minutes, adding another to cap Jacksonville’s first drive of the third quarter for a 31-0 lead.
Lawrence finished 18-of-23 for 245 yards with four touchdowns. With the Jags up big, Nick Mullens came in to relieve Lawrence with 8:12 left in the fourth quarter.
Parker Washington, JaKobi Meyers, Brenton Strange, and rookie Josh Cameron were the recipients of Lawrence’s four TD passes.
Running back Bhayshul Tuten did a nice job toting the rock, finishing the contest with…
Before Lawrence was taken out of the game, the Jaguars were averaging 7.2 yards per play.
On the other side, it started ugly for Watson and continued that way throughout the afternoon. He threw an interception to Foyesade Oluokun to end Cleveland’s opening drive. He threw another near interception that was dropped at the end of the Browns’ second possession. He was then strip-sacked, but recovered the fumble.
Rookie KC Concepcion also had a fumble that led to a Jaguars touchdown. He finished with four receptions for 43 yards, which led Cleveland. He also had three carries for 15 yards.
The positive play from Watson came right at the end of the game, as he fired a 46-yard touchdown pass to rookie Denzel Boston for the first score of the wideout’s career.
The Jaguars have now won nine consecutive regular-season games, dating back to Week 11 of last season. They will be on the road to face the Broncos in Week 2.
At 0-1, Cleveland will be back in Florida next week to face Tampa Bay, a matchup that will see Deshaun Watson face Baker Mayfield — that is, if Watson isn’t replaced by then.
The Jaguars are taking it to the Browns in Todd Monken’s debut as head coach and Deshaun Watson’s return to the starting lineup.
Jacksonville scored on each of its first four possessions and is up 24-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was 13-of-18 for 166 yards with three touchdowns in the first half. Parker Washington, Brenton Strange, and rookie Josh Cameron were the recipients of Lawrence’s scoring strikes.
The Jags outgained the Browns 234-95 in the first half. They have 16 first downs to Cleveland’s five. Jacksonville was also 4-of-6 on third down while Cleveland was 0-of-4.
As bad as Watson was the last time he played in 2024, he might be worse now. The quarterback tossed an interception to linebacker Foyesade Oluokun to end Cleveland’s first possession. He nearly threw another pick to end the Browns’ second drive, but the pass fell incomplete. He was strip-sacked on the third possession, but was able to recover the fumble.
He didn’t get anything positive going until a two-minute drive late in the second quarter, with a 20-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy. But then pre-snap and holding penalties derailed the drive and the Browns came away empty handed.
Watson was 8-of-13 for 75 yards with one interception in the first half. Quinshon Judkins had just 14 yards on five carries.
The Jaguars will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Jaguars are rolling the Browns, but they have an injury concern with one of their key players.
Brian Thomas Jr. has a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
Thomas has three catches for 40 yards so far on Sunday. It’s currently unclear when he suffered his injury. But multiple reporters on the scene noted Thomas was walking back to the locker room with trainers.
The Jaguars have taken a 23-0 lead with Cam Little’s 47-yard field goal and Trevor Lawrence’s third touchdown pass. Cleveland rookie receiver KC Concepcion fumbled on a screen pass to set up Jacksonville’s latest score.
Additionally, Browns running back/returner Dylan Sampson has been downgraded to out with a knee injury.
It’s early, but the Jaguars are putting it on the Browns.
Trevor Lawrence has thrown his second touchdown pass of the day, putting his team up 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Lawrence capped a nine-play, 74-yard possession with a 4-yard strike to rookie receiver Josh Cameron.
It was the first catch of the sixth-round pick’s career.
Lawrence is now 8-of-10 passing for 114 yards with two TDs. His only error was throwing an illegal forward pass when he was trying to avoid getting hit, which led to a second-and-18 play.
But that was no matter for the Jaguars, who got a first down on the next play with a 22-yard pass to Parker Washington.
On the other sideline, running back/returner Dylan Sampson is questionable to return with a knee injury. He was shown on the CBS broadcast heading to the locker room for further examination and subsequently came back to the sideline.
Deshaun Watson was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league when he last played in 2024.
He’s picked up where he left off.
Watson tossed an interception to end Cleveland’s first drive of the season. Cleveland had been moving the ball, as Watson hit a few short, safe passes over the middle. But when he tried to hit Jerry Jeudy downfield on the left side, he was intercepted by linebacker Foyesade Oluokun.
Oluokun returned it 22 yards to the Jacksonville 41, setting up his offense with solid field position.
Jacksonville took advantage of the opportunity, with Trevor Lawrence hitting Parker Washington for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Jags a 7-0 lead. Washington had to dive to make the play, but clearly secured the ball while diving into the end zone for the score.
A report on Sunday morning indicated cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was unlikely to be in the Steelers’ lineup for their season-opening game against the Falcons and official word on his status came 90 minutes before kickoff in Pittsburgh.
Porter is officially inactive for the game. Porter was listed as questionable with a back injury after spending all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Porter’s inactivity this summer was also thought to be connected to his desire for a contract extension that never came together. That has reportedly opened the door to a trade as the Steelers have a team policy against negotiating contracts during the regular season.
Updates on where things stand with Porter for Week 2’s game against the Patriots and beyond will likely come this week. For Sunday, though, he’ll just be a spectator.
Falcons at Steelers
Falcons: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Michael Penix, DB Billy Bowman, DB Malcom DeWalt, LB Christian Harris, OL Ethan Onianwa
Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., QB Drew Allar, G Gennings Dunker, DL Kevin Jobity, DL Gabe Rubio, QB Will Howard
Bears at Panthers
Bears: QB Tyson Bagent, S Xavier Woods, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OL Jordan McFadden, DL Jayden Loving, DL Jamree Kromah, QB Miller Moss.
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, WR John Metchie, QB Haynes King, S Zakee Wheatley, OT Albert Reese, LB Patrick Jones, DT Cam Jackson
Buccaneers at Bengals
Buccaneers: DL DeMonte Capehart, CB Ayden Garnes, WR Jalen McMillan, G Billy Schrauth, DL Elijah Simmons, OT Justin Skule, RB Sean Tucker
Bengals: WR Ke’Shawn Williams, CB Josh Newton, OT Myles Hinton, C Connor Lew, TE Jack Endries, DT Landon Robinson, DE Shemar Stewart
Saints at Lions
Saints: TE Oscar Delp, RB Alvin Kamara, OT Mason Murphy, DE Cam Jordan, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd, QB Zach Wilson
Lions: CB Christian Izien, LB Jimmy Rolder, DE Ahmed Hassanein, CB Ennis Rakestraw, DL Mekhi Wingo
Bills at Texans
Bills: RB Ty Johnson, WR Skyler Bell, OT Jude Bowry, G Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL T.J. Sanders, LB Mike Danna, S Jalon Kilgore
Texans: OL Febechi Nwaiwu, CB Collin Wright, LB Aiden Fisher, OL Nate Thomas, DL Jaden Crumedy, TE Brevin Jordan
Ravens at Colts
Ravens: QB Joe Fagnano, WR Devontez Walker, WR Elijah Sarratt, G Emery Jones, CB Chandler Rivers, DT Nnamdi Madubuike, LB Teddye Buchanan
Colts: LB Austin Ajiake, CB Jonathan Edwards, RB DJ Giddens, DE George Gumbs, QB Riley Leonard, G Dalton Tucker
Browns at Jaguars
Browns: QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, CB Noah Igbinoghene, S Daniel Thomas, CB Toriano Pride, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Jaguars: QB Quinn Ewers, S Jalen Huskey, DE Bryan Thomas, OL Daniel Faalele, TE Tanner Koziol, DE Wesley Williams
Jets at Titans
Jets: CB D’Angelo Ponds, RB Kene Nwangwu, K Blake Grupe, LB Trevin Wallace, LB Joseph Ossai
Titans: CB Jaylon Jones, OL Atonio Mafi, RB Nick Singleton, LB Cedric Gray, DT Jackie Marshall, OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, LB Owen Pappoe
The Jaguars and wide receiver Parker Washington are unlikely to reach a contract extension before the start of the season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports.
The Jaguars explored a deal in the range of the three-year, $75 million deal that Michael Wilson signed with the Cardinals, per Washington.
Washington is in the final year of his rookie deal, scheduled to make $3.722 million this season.
The 2023 sixth-round pick posted career highs last season with 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns.
He also returned a pair of punts for touchdowns.
