Jaguars' Lawrence, rookies stand out in preseason game vs. Cowboys. Here are our takeaways
The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't start the way they wanted to in the team's 28-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the first preseason game of the 2023 season.
On the team's second offensive play of the day, quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw an ill-advised interception to Cowboys defender Juanyeh Thomas.
The team found a way to rebound, though, scoring on their third drive of the game following a Cowboys fumble on the Jaguars' first punt of the day.
The Jaguars ultimately scored on four drives. Throughout the contest, Jacksonville was forced to go for it on fourth down in obvious field-goal territory due to a shoulder injury long snapper Ross Matisick suffered during the first half of the contest.
Backup quarterbacks Nathan Rourke and C.J. Beathard handled the majority of the reps throughout the evening.
Beathard finished by completing 6 of 13 passes for 80 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Rourke completed 9 of 17 passes for 153 yards, one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown.
That included an incredible 21-yard touchdown pass to veteran RB Qadree Ollison. Sometimes seeing is believing after Rourke escaped three or four should-have-been sacks to make the play.
It's not over until Nathan says it's over.@nathan_rourke | #JAXvsDAL on CBS pic.twitter.com/LGOpiBRvOw
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 12, 2023
Though NFL teams are not required to have an official inactive list during the preseason, a few players were ruled out before the contest including cornerback Tyson Campbell, tight end Sammis Reyes, outside linebacker Willie Taylor III, linebacker Foye Oluokun and guard Tyler Shatley.
Campbell and Reyes are in the concussion protocol, while Taylor has spent the majority of practices over the last two weeks on the exercise bike. Shatley is ruled out due to an afib issue experienced a couple of weeks ago but he has been on the practice field participating in light workloads during individual drills.
Olokun's status is unknown and the team has not made any indication of an injury he may have.
More Jaguars coverage:
Jaguars vs. Cowboys: Full game updates
Frenette: 2023 schedule convenient for Jaguars to finally get off to fast start
Where's Jamal Agnew? Jaguars foes will be spending time asking themselves that very question
The Jaguars' first game of the 2023 season is officially in the books. Here are our takeaways.
Trevor Lawrence starts cold, finishes hot in 2023 preseason debut
As expected, Lawrence played just three drives before being pulled Saturday against the Cowboys.
After a shaky start in which he tossed an interception on the second play of the game, Lawrence quickly rebounded.
The third-year QB found Kirk in the back of the end zone for a touchdown and found Jones in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion.
Lawrence ultimately finished the night by completing five of six passes for 36 yards one touchdown and one interception. He and the majority of the starting offense tallied 13 plays, including the two-point attempt.
Calvin Ridley ends first game back with two catches, 21 yards
The much-anticipated debut of receiver Calvin Ridley was a success Saturday. Ridley hauled in two passes for 21 yards in three series for the team.
He missed all of last season after being suspended indefinitely in the spring of 2022 for gambling on NFL games. Ridley also missed the majority of the 2021 season due to mental health reasons.
Calvin Ridley's first catch as a Jaguar pic.twitter.com/PZyouSrQmj
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 12, 2023
Ridley has cemented himself as one of the team's top receivers throughout training camp and continues to build on his chemistry with Lawrence.
Jaguars starting defense excels against Cowboys backups
The Jaguars' starting defense was too much for the Cowboys' reserves. Jacksonville sacked starting Cowboys QB Cooper Rush once and held the Cowboys to just seven net yards while they were on the field.
The starting-unit sack came from defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. Safety Andre Cisco blitzed off the edge to cause Rush to feel pressure.
Jacksonville's defensive starters played roughly nine snaps.
Gregory Junior makes plays on special teams and defense
Drafted in the sixth round of last year's draft out of Ouachita Baptist, CB Gregory Junior made a couple of standout plays early on in the contest.
On the team's first punt of the evening, Junior came up big after recovering a forced fumble caused by both Matisick and WR Tim Jones. Cowboys return specialist KaVontae Turpin fumbled the football.
Junior's second big play came at the end of the first quarter as Dallas looked to score from 26 yards out. Junior forced a fumble at the Jacksonville four-yard-line, which was recovered by safety Daniel Thomas.
Rookie Roundup: Several rookies stand out, including RB Tank Bigsby
Most eyes were centered on the Jaguars' rookies after the front-line players exited the contest.
One notable standout was rookie third-round pick running back Tank Bigsby. Bigsby started the game slowly but picked up as the contest continued including a 34-yard gain to set up the second scoring drive of the game for Jacksonville.
Gain of 34 yards for Tank Bigsby, Cowboys totally lost the edge pic.twitter.com/ITLVODAWHX
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 12, 2023
Bigsby finished the game with nine rushes for 52 yards (5.8 yards per carry).
OLB Yasir Abdullah, drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, made his presence known against the Cowboys, tallying a sack early on in the contest.
TE Brenton Strange, a second-round pick, hauled in two passes for eight yards.
WR Parker Washington, drafted in the sixth round of the draft, returned all punts and kicks against Dallas (four returns for 44 yards with one fair catch). Washington caught one pass for 16 yards and added one rush for two yards.
CB Christian Braswell, drafted in the sixth round of the draft, picked off Cowboys backup QB Will Grier with just over three minutes remaining in the contest.
LB Ventrell Miller recorded a sack with around three minutes remaining in the contest
Up next: The Jaguars will travel to Detroit to face off against the Lions in Week 2 of preseason action. They'll travel to Detroit a couple of days earlier than normal, participating in joint practices before their game on Aug. 19.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Takeaways from the Jaguars' 28-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys
