Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young were both first overall picks, tasked with turning the fortunes of both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers around. As part of the 2026 NFL Preseason, both teams will face off, but does that mean their quarterbacks will be part of the showdown?
Per Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, starters will get some action. Trevor Lawrence and others will get “a couple drives, potentially” against the Panthers. While that might be less than a quarter, at least Lawrence and company will get a football feel out of the game.
“You set a schedule, and timing and circumstances, things change and you have to pivot a little bit… I think we need a little bit more padded work against each other, good on good,” Coen said.
Will Bryce Young play for Panthers vs Jaguars?
It’s expected that Bryce Young plays for the Panthers vs Jaguars on a snap count as well, alongside other starters. Dave Canales saw Young and Offensive Rookie of the Year wideout Tet McMillan shine vs Jaguars in joint practice, so he might want to keep that momentum rolling.
“We gotta stop trying to be cute.”
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) August 19, 2026
Tetairoa McMillan and Bryce Young talk offense recovering from slow start during joint practice with Jaguars pic.twitter.com/FlAnXCYnS8
It also looks like the offense might be taking another approach. As McMillan said, “We gotta stop trying to be cute.” And that is true, the Panthers don’t have a reputation for being an aggressive offense, though a change of pace could serve them well.
Both quarterbacks have pressure on their shoulders
Trevor Lawrence has had two great years in the NFL and a lot of bad ones. The Jags know both the highs and lows of Lawrence, and still plaid him. However, Lawrence needs to prove that he can sustain the level he showed last year in a consistent basis.
Meanwhile, Bryce Young is playing to remain as the Panthers QB1, as he is in his fourth year, but if he wants to get a huge extension, he must deliver and guide the Panthers into the NFL playoffs once again.
