We’re providing live updates, highlights and news from the Detroit Lions’ preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Detroit Lions are in Ford Field for the last time until the regular season begins. On Saturday afternoon, they welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars for each team’s second preseason game. Last year, the Lions handed the Jaguars one of their most humbling losses, but it was Jacksonville who eventually snuck into the playoffs and even won a playoff game.
After a week of joint practices, the teams are ready to take the field for a critical preseason game for depth. The Lions still have a few positional battles they need to work out, while it appears the Jaguars may play their starters a bit to make sure they don’t enter the season with any rust.
This is a live-updating post that will provide drive-by-drive updates for each team, post highlights of the game, and offer any new and injury updates, if necessary. Simply stick to this post and refresh at several points throughout the game. When the contest concludes, this post will turn into a full game recap.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET and the game is nationally-televised on NFL Network. See you then.
First quarter
Somewhat surprisingly, Teddy Bridgewater got the start for the Lions offense, who took the field first. Unfortunately, it was short lived, as a sack and a false start set up a third-and-20. After scrambling and almost getting sacked again, Bridgewater threw it away for a three-and-out.
The Jaguars, too, went three-and-out with C.J. Beathard starting the game at quarterback. Romeo Okwara helped draw a holding penalty, and a draw play on third-and-long came up well short.
After a nice punt return from Chase Cota, Bridgewater took back over at his own 42-yard line. The good field position proved irrelevant, as the Lions went three-and-out again. Bridgewater badly missed tight end Brock Wright for what would have been an easy third-down conversion.
Jacksonville got on the board first. Bolstered by a 48-yard pass to Tim Jones over Steven Gilmore, the Jaguars were quickly into Lions territory.
.@Timnjones5 with a great contested grab!#JAXvsDET on FOX pic.twitter.com/923rKxykOE
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 19, 2023
But Gilmore rebounded nicely by batting a ball away from Jacob Harris on a third-and-9 to force a field goal attempt. Brandon McManus was good from 40. 3-0 Jaguars.
Detroit got another solid special teams play as Starling Thomas V took the ensuing kickoff to the Lions’ 42-yard line. It looked like the Lions offense was finally able to move the sticks with an impressive 11-yard fingertip catch from Chase Cota, but review showed he didn’t get a second foot inbounds and the call was overturned for yet another three-and-out.
The Lions defense responded with a turnover. Tracy Walker anticipated a deep pass, cut in front of it, and while he couldn’t corral the interception, the ball bounced to Gilmore, who returned it to the Jaguars’ 43-yard line.
Gilmore comes down with the INT!#JAXvsDET
Lions TV Network pic.twitter.com/wnfQ8V65Un— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 19, 2023
But Jacksonville would get the ball right back after Bridgewater fumbled on a draw play that was blown up before the exchange could even happen.
As the first quarter came to an end, the Lions defense got another stop, forcing a fourth-and-3 for the Jaguars.