Jacksonville stunned San Francisco 26-21 on the road, riding a punishing ground game and a swarming defense. Travis Etienne ripped 124 yards on 19 carries as the Jaguars controlled pace, while Devin Lloyd shredded the 49ers with two interceptions. Parker Washington erupted on special teams for an 87-yard return, and Arik Armstead’s late sack-fumble sealed SF’s fate. Jacksonville took advantage of turnovers and miscues, turning them into 14 points and a pivotal road win.

The defense held Christian McCaffrey to under 3.0 yards per carry and capitalized on the short fields, with Trevor Lawrence managing the game efficiently and the run game doing the heavy lifting. Special teams provided the dagger, converting field position and a kickoff-return TD to salt away the victory. It’s a statement win that reshapes expectations for both teams entering a heavy weekly slate.

Jacksonville's four players—Devin Lloyd, Maason Smith, Andrew Wingard and Darnell Savage—along with Antonio Johnson, are active for the Jaguars' preseason finale against the Dolphins. Lloyd, a presumed starter, is getting live reps in Campanile's scheme despite the veteran plan not to play the starters. Smith returns from training-camp absences for extended reps to acclimate to the new defense, while Wingard, Savage and Johnson are likely auditioning for safety-time and depth roles as the competition continues.

For fantasy managers, this game offers a clearer read on how Jacksonville plans to deploy its back seven in Week 1. Watch Lloyd for leadership in run fits and pass coverage, and see how the safety trio shapes the unit behind him. Maason Smith's live reps could foreshadow early-season workload, while Johnson and the Wingard-Savage rotation could influence a safety-rotation dynamic that might matter in deeper leagues.

Jacksonville traded Luke Fortner to New Orleans in a push to shore up the interior of its defensive line, adding Khalen Saunders from the Saints with Arik Armstead sliding back inside and Maason Smith continuing his development. Saunders started in New Orleans’ preseason game against Jacksonville, while Fortner played every snap for the Jaguars as a rookie but struggled in 2023, opening the door for a shift on the line. The move aims to stabilize the run game and pressure up front, a key area the Jaguars have chased this offseason.

Saunders, entering his seventh year, spent time with Kansas City and New Orleans, posting 6.5 career sacks and 181 tackles, and bringing a pedigree that includes two Super Bowl rings and a notable end-zone pick return against the Chiefs. At 6-3, 324 pounds, Saunders brings inside presence and versatility to block and stuff the run, potentially easing pressure on the edges and enabling Armstead to threaten interior gaps. His preseason snap share as a Saint against Jacksonville signaled his readiness for a featured role.

The Jaguars have battled injury and depth along the interior with Armstead dealing with a back issue, Maason Smith coming off the PUP list after a lower-body injury, and DaVon Hamilton’s bounce-back from a back infection that cost him time in 2023. Fortner’s departure clears a center-by-committee path, with the Jaguars likely leaning on Rob Hains for depth, while the Saints receive a promising young interior blocker in Fortner. For fantasy optics, Saunders’ arrival could lift Jacksonville’s IDP upside if he earns a stable nose tackle role and sees enhanced run-stuffing snaps.

Jacksonville landed Khalen Saunders from New Orleans in a swap that sends Luke Fortner to the Saints, instantly shoring up the Jaguars’ interior line. Fortner’s exit opens the center position tempo- and depth-wise for Jacksonville, while Saunders slides into a rotation ready-made for run-stuffing and inside pressure. The move comes after a quiet off-season for interior DL depth, a situation worsened by Armstead and Maason Smith’s training camp injuries across the league.

Saunders brings veteran savvy, 68 NBA? make that 68 NFL games with 32 starts and two Super Bowl rings from his Kansas City days, now adding a tested BPA in a defensive front that needed juice up the middle. For fantasy IDP managers, Saunders could emerge as a meaningful high-floor option in tackles, especially if Jacksonville leans on him in short-yardage packages. Monitor how quickly he earns first-team snaps and how the Jaguars deploy him against the run as training camp transitions to preseason.

Jacksonville’s Sunday showcase against New Orleans is unraveling behind the scenes as 11 starters and key reserves are ruled out with injuries or precautionary rests. Travis Hunter leads the casualty list, listed with an upper‑body issue, as the Jaguars shuffle a rotation that already features Anton Harrison, Chuma Edoga, Tyson Campbell, Arik Armstead, Maason Smith, Cole Van Lanen, Montaric Brown, Jalen McLeod, Caleb Ransaw and Dennis Gardeck among those inactive. Dyami Brown is also out, further squeezing the WR room. Hunter, who has practiced on both sides and logged big practice snaps, remains a focal point of Jacksonville’s depth chart as the team aims to preserve health for Week 1. The Saints, meanwhile, will draw on reserves and evaluative reps, setting a deeper look at Jaguars’ tackle and edge depth, and how the defense adapts without its usual week-to-week starters.