A very encouraging development took place for the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense in the preseason game with the Saints.
While Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker will lead the way along the defensive front, the pass rush depth for the Jaguars has been in question this offseason. As a collective unit in 2025, the Jaguars ranked a modest 18th in pressure rate in 2025 and 27th in sacks.
However, in the preseason opener, the Jaguars' defensive line depth was able to stand out, specifically when it came to getting after the quarterback.
Along the interior, Ruke Orhorhoro led the team with three pressures on just 21 pass rush snaps, and he generated a sack, per PFF. Albert Regis also recorded a sack from the nose tackle position.
BJ Green and Danny Striggow combined for three pressures and a sack, with Green also recovering a fumble.
Rookie Wesley Williams showcased his well-rounded skill set, making an impact against both the run and pass. UDFA Bryan Thomas Jr. recorded a sack as well.
The next step for these rotational defenders will be replicating this performance moving forward. One disruptive performance is great, but consistency is the key.
The name of the game for every defense is pressuring the quarterback. When that happens, the rest of the defense benefits and moving the ball becomes very difficult for any offense.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Encouraging development for Jaguars' defense in first preseason game
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