Jaguars vs. Browns: How to watch, what to expect in first of two home preseason games

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
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The Jacksonville Jaguars will play the first of two home preseason games Friday at 7 p.m. when they face the Cleveland Browns for the second time in two seasons.

Jaguars fans will get their first look at the team at home since there have been no public practices. The team has conducted training camp at the Episcopal School's Knight Campus because of the construction of its performance center and renovation to its practice fields adjacent to TIAA Bank Field.

The good news for paying customers is that quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne and most of the other 21 starters who sat in last week's Hall of Fame game against Las Vegas are expected to start and get at least two possessions.

Lawrence got his first NFL snaps last year in a home preseason game against the Browns. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 71 yards in a 23-13 loss.

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How to watch Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns, what to know

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: TIAA Bank Field.

TV: WFOX.

Radio: 1010-AM, 92.5-FM. Pregame shows begin at 4 p.m. Spanish, 930 AM/97.3 FM via Accion.

Line: Jaguars -2.5; over/under 33.5.

Last year: Jaguars 3-14, Browns 8-9.

Preseason: Jaguars 0-1, Browns 0-0.

Series history: Jaguars are 0-1 against the Browns in the preseason and lead 12-6 in the regular season.

Last meeting: Cleveland won 23-13 on Aug. 14, 2021, the Jaguars' only home preseason game last season.

What to expect from Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns

• Lawrence and the first-team offense will get "a couple of series," per coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday. It hopefully goes better than last year's preseason game against the Browns, when Lawrence was sacked on his first NFL snap, fumbled, with the ball recovered by the Jags.

• The preseason battle at right tackle will continue between returning starter Jawaan Taylor and second-year pro Walker Little. Taylor has been hurt much of training camp and Little has moved ahead. This game will be the first look at the Jags' left side of the line starting together, tackle Cam Robinson and guard Brandon Scherff.

• One battle to watch, regardless of who's playing quarterback: depth at wide receiver. Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones, Zay Jones, Laviska Shenault, Jamal Agnew and Laquon Treadwell may have the team made. Jeff Cotton Jr., and Tim Jones are pushing from behind and this may be the last chance for players like Lujuan Winningham, Marvin Hall, Kevin Austin Jr., and Willie Johnson.

• On the other side of the ball, cornerbacks fighting for roster spots behind Shaq Griffin, Darious Williams and Tre Herndon need to bring it. Two drafted rookies, Buster Brown and Gregory Junior, are being fought tooth and nail by veterans Chris Claybrooks and Xavier Crawford, and undrafted rookies Benjie Franklin and Shabari Davis.

About the Browns

As of Wednesday, quarterback Deshaun Watson was eligible to compete in the preseason, although the NFL's efforts to extend his six-game ban to one season also include keeping him off the field against the Jaguars and the other two preseason games.

However, the Browns Tweeted on Wednesday the plan to start Watson and most of their first team offense.

After Watson, the next two quarterbacks to see action are players the Jaguars are familiar with in Jacoby Brissett and Joshua Dobbs.

Brissett has had some nightmarish outings against the Jags, mostly when he played for Indianapolis. Brissett started four games, going 1-3, and was sacked 20 times — 10 in a 27-0 loss in 2017.

Last year, Brissett appeared briefly for the Dolphins against the Jaguars in London, and completed a 25-yard pass on his only attempt.

Dobbs was on the Jaguars' practice squad in 2019.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: How to watch Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Browns on TV, live stream