The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Stadium this Sunday within the first preseason motion of the 2025 season for each groups. Listed below are three key matchups to look out for:
Travis Hunter vs Brandin Echols, Robert Woods
Having to double up opponents for Travis Hunter will undoubtedly turn out to be a theme of this season’s matchups collection. With head coach Liam Coen confirming that the Jaguars’ starters will all see motion on Sunday, we all know that Hunter is about to make his debut in black & teal. The quantity two decide on this 12 months’s NFL Draft is essentially the most anticipated rookie to return into the league in a while, a real two-way participant that might earn Professional Bowl and even All-Professional honors on both aspect of the ball. Having impressed in coaching camp so far, you may really feel the thrill rising in Jacksonville; the Jags have one other famous person on their palms, and Hunter will little doubt wish to meet expectations with a robust efficiency this weekend.
Figuring out who he will probably be going up in opposition to is tough. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that roughly 20 gamers will probably be held out of the sport on Sunday, the vast majority of whom could be thought-about starters. Daunting cornerback trio Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey are all out, which means that the large receiver model of Travis Hunter will seemingly be going up in opposition to Brandin Echols. Echols is a current addition to the Steelers roster, coming over from the New York Jets this offseason. He racked up 57 video games with Gang Inexperienced – solely beginning 19, however 122 tackles tells you he’s no slouch. A Fifth-year veteran, he ought to have the ability to give Hunter a minimum of one thing to consider after they go head-to-head on Sunday.
Hunter’s introduction on protection may be a much bigger problem. DK Metcalfe is out, however Robert Woods seems set to play; with eleven seasons, 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns below his belt and a Tremendous Bowl ring on his finger, Woods has made a residing beating cornerbacks regardless of not possessing elite measurement or pace. So far as getting acclimated to the NFL stage, Woods will present a wonderful barometer for simply how particular Hunter will be within the secondary.
Walker Little vs Alex Highsmith
It’s formally Walker Little season in Jacksonville. After being drafted out of Stanford within the second spherical 4 years in the past, Little has largely performed understudy to Cam Robinson while deputizing at different spots on the offensive line. His versatility has proved helpful, his damage proneness much less so. However with the workforce inking him to a 3-year, $45m extension final December and James Gladstone not going out and buying a brand new blindside protector, it’s an illustration in belief that Little will be the long-term reply at left deal with.
We have now a reasonably good thought of what Walker Little is, even when he nonetheless has to show some doubters incorrect and handle to remain on the sector for a full season. On Sunday, he’s one of many few prone to be going through a starter, with edge rusher Alex Highsmith set to swimsuit up. Highsmith has confirmed to be a steal for the reason that Steelers took him with the 102nd decide within the 2020 NFL Draft, providing a harmful foil to TJ Watt and chipping in with 287 tackles and 35 sacks in 5 years. If Little can look comfy in opposition to an opponent of Highsmith’s calibre, then it’s signal heading into the season.
Jack Kiser vs Kaleb Johnson
With it being preseason, the chance of us seeing the starters in for too lengthy is distant. And actually, August is for followers to get a glimpse of the brand new additions to the workforce proper? So I assumed it will be attention-grabbing to give attention to a pair of rookies who will each fancy themselves to problem the depth chart this season.
Jack Kiser was certainly one of my favorite draft choices this 12 months. A high-character, high-production linebacker, James Gladstone praised Kiser for his psychological acumen and pre-game preparation, calling him ‘intangibly wealthy’. As an older rookie I think about the step as much as the professional stage won’t faze him within the slightest, and when you play a record-setting 70 video games for Notre Dame you’re attuned to the requirements demanded from an elite stage of soccer. With some query marks over the linebacker group and preseason affording alternative, Kiser ought to get a wholesome quantity of snaps on Sunday.
With Jaylen Warren one other Steelers veteran not enjoying, Kiser’s first style of NFL soccer needs to be in opposition to Kaleb Johnson. Johnson has impressed in Pittsburgh by means of coaching camp, already entrenching himself as RB2 forward of veterans Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon. ‘Bruising’ could be a great way to explain Johnson, who at 6’1” and 224 lbs is a giant man to carry to the bottom when he will get going. In his closing season at Iowa State, Johnson posted 1,537 speeding yards and 21 TDs in simply 12 video games at a impolite 6.4 yards per carry. He’s additionally no slouch within the passing sport both, and as such ought to provide Kiser a stern, various take a look at. I count on each these names to make their mark in 2025, and all of it begins on Sunday.