Saturday’s Week 2 NFL Preseason schedule is jam-packed with contests, including the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0).
Jacksonville, who’s already got two preseason games under their belt, looks to notch its first victory. The Steelers look to build upon their opening victory and improve to 2-0.
The kickoff for the contest is at 7 p.m. EST inside TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars are a 2.5-point favorite, and the over-under total is 42.0 points.
What to Know – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers will have a new starting quarterback this season for the first time in nearly two decades when Week 1 rolls around. Mike Tolin returns for his 16th season as Pittsburgh’s head coach and first without Ben Roethlisberger under center.
Three quarterbacks are vying for the job under center, with former Chicago Bears starting QB Mitch Trubisky the likely Week 1 starter. Rookie Kenny Pickett looked good in his debut, completing 13-of-15 passes for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Backup Mason Rudolph is also in consideration for the starting role.
Najee Harris will man the backfield after a solid rookie season but don’t expect to see the starting rusher much on Saturday. The rushing duties will go to the backups Anthony McFarland Jr., Jaylen Warren, and Benny Snell Jr.
Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool give the starting quarterback two above-average options on the outside, while the emergence of rookie wideout George Pickens has gotten Steelers’ camp taking. Pickens, a former Georgia Bulldog, hauled in three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown last week.
What to Know – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has dropped its first two preseason contests under first-year head coach Doug Pederson. The Jaguars kicked off the 2022 season with a 27-11 setback to the Las Vegas Raiders and dropped last week’s contest to Cleveland, 24-13.
Expect starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence to see more action under center Saturday. Lawrence didn’t play in the preseason opener and went 6-for-12 with a touchdown in last week’s defeat.
James Robinson is listed as RB No. 1 for the Jaguars but is still recovering from an Achilles injury and won’t see any action during the preseason.
Travis Etienne Jr., who missed all of last season, made his NFL debut last week carrying the ball nine times for 23 yards and hauling in one pass for ten yards.
The receiving core got a boost in the offseason with the addition of former Arizona Cardinal Christian Kirk. Kirk is expected to make his preseason debut Saturday night along with wideout No. 2 Marvin Jones Jr.
The Pick is In
Jacksonville is in their third week of the preseason and should play a majority of their starters for a good portion of the contest, with final preparations taking place before the NFL season begins. With the Jaguars a week ahead, the Steelers will still be cautious with their starters and rotating the quarterback play, and hold out many of its starters on defense.
Saturday is a prime spot for Jacksonville to get into the win column.
The Pick: Jacksonville -2.5
