Now that July has arrived, the Carolina Panthers are preparing for the 2025 season by reviewing their opponents’ offseason activities. First on their list is the Jacksonville Jaguars, whom they will face in Week 1 on September 7.
The all-time series between these two teams is tied at 4-4. The Panthers have a better record when playing in Charlotte, while the Jaguars have been more successful at home. Last year, they did not play against each other but met in Jacksonville during the penultimate regular season game of 2023. In that matchup, Bryce Young was sacked six times as the Jaguars won decisively with a score of 26-0.
Reflecting on past encounters, one memorable moment occurred in 2015 when Josh Norman intercepted Blake Bortles and returned it for a touchdown during an opening win for the Panthers.
In terms of performance last year, the Jaguars ended with a record of 4-13. They ranked 25th in total offense and were near the bottom in total defense at 31st.
This offseason saw significant personnel changes for Jacksonville. They added several players through free agency and drafted new talent to bolster their roster. Key additions include wide receiver Dyami Brown and cornerback Jourdan Lewis among others. Notably, they released tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Josh Reynolds while trading Christian Kirk.
Jacksonville also made leadership changes by appointing James Gladstone as general manager and Liam Coen as head coach after parting ways with Doug Pederson. Both offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile are new to their roles this year.
Looking ahead to this season, much attention will be on Trevor Lawrence’s connection with younger receivers like Brian Thomas Jr., who had an impressive rookie season with over 1,200 receiving yards and ten touchdowns. Additionally, Travis Hunter may play both wide receiver and defensive back roles following his Heisman-winning college career.
The upcoming game against Carolina presents an opportunity for Jacksonville to test these changes early in the season.
