The Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the Carolina Panthers to EverBank Stadium on Sunday because the 2025 NFL season will get underway. Listed below are three key battles to control:
Brian Thomas vs Jaycee Horn
You’ll be able to inform actual soccer has returned! Preseason whetted the urge for food, however now’s when outcomes actually matter, and as such we will have way more confidence in who we see on the sector. And because it’s Week 1, we’re going to have a heavy concentrate on the star gamers on either side of the ball…
After an unbelievable school profession that completed with him hoisting the Heisman Trophy in New York, there are large expectations for Travis Hunter, and little question he’ll have the cameras on him for his NFL debut. However one of the best matchup to be discovered involving the Jaguars’ offense shall be second yr receiver Brian Thomas going up towards Jaycee Horn. Thomas took only one season to stake his declare as one of many prime ten move catchers within the league, posting almost 1,300 yards and 10 TD’s as he developed a robust chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. With some vital change on the place and Hunter making the step up, there’s a heap of stress on Thomas to copy a 2024 season that noticed him earn All-Rookie and Professional Bowl honors.
He begins with a troublesome job. Regardless of some lean years in Charlotte, Jaycee Horn has shined for the Panthers. 2024 was his greatest season so far, seeing Horn be part of Thomas on the Professional Bowl after registering a formidable 68 tackles and 13 move breakups in 15 video games. Carolina are present process one thing of a metamorphosis as they try to discover their id, however confirmed simply how a lot they valued their star quarterback by tying him right down to a 4 yr, $100m deal again in March. Horn is the chief of a younger secondary with comparable management duties to Thomas, and whoever comes out on prime of this battle doubtless swings the likelihood of a victory of their group’s favor on Sunday.
Chuba Hubbard vs Foye Oluokun
Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales and his offensive coordinator Brad Idzik labored tirelessly to vary the tradition of the Panthers in 2024, the primary season of their reign in Carolina. And by the top of the season, this Panthers offense was quietly one of the vital potent within the NFL. There are nonetheless some query marks concerning the passing recreation, with Bryce Love nonetheless to win over some doubters; however this unit succeeds when they’re able to run the soccer, they usually lean closely on Chuba Hubbard to do exactly that.
After a formidable school profession at Oklahoma State, Hubbard flew below the radar within the 2021 NFL Draft, lastly coming off the board within the 4th spherical. He was an efficient contributor to the Panthers his first three years within the league, however his manufacturing EXPLODED in 2024 when Canales entered the constructing; Hubbard had one of the best yr of his professional profession, having fun with almost 1,200 speeding yards and 10 TD’s at a formidable 4.8 yards per carry. Dependable out of the backfield as a receiving possibility too, Hubbard has advanced into one of many extra harmful ball carriers within the league with a 3-down recreation set to check the Jaguars on Sunday.
There have been questions levelled at Jacksonville’s linebacker corps the previous twelve months, some with benefit. However no one can counsel that Foye Oluokun hasn’t pulled his weight since coming to the group from the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. Previously 5 years alone, Olukon has made an astonishing 774 tackles, by no means as soon as falling under 100 a season (and in some instances pushing 200, main the league in 2022 and 2023). Final yr, he missed 4 video games with a foot damage however nonetheless cleared 100 takedowns, displaying his worth to the group and justifying the 4 yr, $45m deal he signed previous to the season. If Foye can maintain Hubbard quiet and put the stress on Younger to win the sport for the Panthers, the Jags will really feel assured of a Week 1 win.
Josh Hines-Allen vs Brady Christensen?
The information that beginning left sort out Ikem Ekwonu has undergone emergency appendectomy surgical procedure must be of curiosity to Jags followers. The fourth yr professional has been a mainstay on the blindside for the Panthers since being taken within the first spherical in 2022. As a rookie, Ekwonu began all 17 video games for Carolina and allowed the fewest pressures by any rookie that season. Since then Ekwonu has been a rock on the offensive line, with 49 begins in three years. However his current surgical procedure means the Panthers have listed him as ‘day after day’ heading into Sunday’s conflict. Contemplating it’s been lower than seven days since surgical procedure, it’s unsurprising to listen to Ekwonu hasn’t skilled in any respect this week, and a outstanding restoration can be required to see him swimsuit up towards the Jags.
That implies that Brady Christensen is prone to step in. Christensen, who has spent all his profession with the Panthers, has seen loads of motion his 4 years within the league. However the former BYU lineman hasn’t been in a position to lock down a beginning job, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero appears to choose him inside at left guard. Not the best of conditions once you’re going up towards a Professional Bowl edge rusher with 53 sacks to his identify…
Josh Hines-Allen noticed a regression in his numbers final yr after an unbelievable 2023 marketing campaign noticed him set the franchise report for sacks in a season (17.5). That manufacturing earned him a 5 yr, $150m contract, and he shall be chomping on the bit to hit these kinds of highs in black and teal as soon as extra. Sunday’s battle towards Christensen might be an actual benefit for the Jaguars, and assist their star move rusher get the 2025 season off to a flying begin.