JAGUARS BEAT VIKINGS: 5 THINGS

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Here's five takeaways from the Jaguars preseason win over the Vikings. 

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1. The Jaguars offensive line needs to get healthy

For the second straight preseason game the Jaguars were missing key pieces on the offensive line. Andrew Norwell has yet to play a down in the preseason and Jermey Parnell remained out as well. Brandon Linder suffered a minor knee injury and missed much of the game. The offensive line let up way too much pressure on the day and struggled to create push against a stout Vikings defense. This group needs to get healthy in order for the Jaguars offense to be at their best come the start of the regular season. 

2. TJ Yeldon is one of the best complimentary backs in football

TJ Yeldon has been considered an excellent third down back for a couple of years now. He enters a contract year and is clearly looking to make the most of it. He was the Jaguars leading rusher with 39 yards but his biggest impact came as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught five of his six targets and racked up 73 receiving yards on the day. He's a perfect complimentary piece to Leonard Fournette and should be in line for a big season as a third down back. 


3. The penalties must be reduced

The Jaguars struggled, at times, last year with dumb penalties. That struggle reared it's ugly head today after a fairly clean first preseason game by the team in terms of penalties. But against the Vikings the Jaguars committed 13 penalties that resulted in 140 yards. That type of performance just can't continue to happen if this team hopes to reach the pinnacle of the sport in 2018. 


4. Rashad Greene took a step forward in the competition for final WR spot

Of the players competing for the sixth wide receiver spot Rashad Greene has been the most impressive from a receiving standpoint throughout training camp. But the job will likely go to whichever player ends up proving the most as a returner. Jaydon Mickens showed last season just how valuable he can be as a punt returner. But after muffing a punt in the first game Greene made up for it in a big way against the Vikings. In the waning minutes of the game Greene returned a punt 56 yards to the Vikings five yard line, setting up the winning score for the Jags. 

5. The Jaguars pass defense is ready for another dominant season 

The Vikings offense is about as talented as they come. Sure, they were missing some key pieces on the offensive line and were without starting running back Dalvin Cook, who has yet to make his return from a torn ACL suffered last season. But with Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Kyle Rudolph all in the lineup the Jaguars pass defense was impressive, even with out the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Tashaun Gipson. Kirk Cousins completed just three of eight passes for 12 yards and finished with a quarterback rating of 45.8. This group is as good as it gets against the pass and will be fun to watch in 2018.