A new era of Jaguars football began with a lightning delay, a dominant rushing attack, and a defense that made life miserable for Carolina’s quarterback. By the end of Sunday afternoon, Jacksonville had given its revamped leadership team plenty to celebrate.
Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass, Travis Etienne ran for 143 yards, and the Jaguars rolled to a 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, snapping open their 2025 season with authority. It was the franchise’s first game under head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone, and executive vice president Tony Boselli, and the new regime’s complementary approach drew rave reviews.
“This was the tone-setter we wanted,” Coen said afterward. “Everyone contributed — offense, defense, special teams. That’s how you build something sustainable.”
The game was delayed 1 hour, 16 minutes because of nearby lightning strikes, sending both teams back to the locker room with Jacksonville leading 10-3. When play resumed, the Jaguars seized full control.
Lawrence stayed clean behind an offensive line that kept him upright all afternoon. He finished 20 of 29 for 198 yards and a touchdown, while Etienne’s 16 carries highlighted a balanced offense. His 71-yard burst in the second quarter set up a score by rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who later added a short touchdown run.
Jacksonville’s defense looked as fresh as its leadership. Newcomers Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray made immediate impacts — Lewis’ first-half pass breakup led to a Foye Oluokun interception, while Murray batted down two key passes on third downs. The Panthers managed just 275 total yards and were stuffed twice on fourth down in the second half.
“This defense is fast, physical, and opportunistic,” Oluokun said. “We wanted to come out and prove that right away.”
For Carolina, second-year head coach Dave Canales saw his offense sputter behind another shaky opener from quarterback Bryce Young. The former No. 1 overall pick completed just 18 of 35 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions, and a lost fumble.
It marked the third straight season that Young has struggled in a Week 1 start, a trend that left him slamming his helmet after an errant fourth-down throw sailed out of the back of the end zone.
“It starts with me,” Young said. “I’ve got to be better. This can’t keep happening.”
Carolina rookie Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick, showed flashes of his unique two-way potential. Hunter played 39 snaps on offense and caught six passes for 33 yards while logging six snaps as an outside cornerback.
He nearly hauled in his first career touchdown before Jaguars corner Jaycee Horn ripped away an interception with a highlight-reel, one-handed grab.
The game also doubled as a family showdown. Jaguars star Travis Etienne not only gashed the Panthers on the ground but also got bragging rights over his younger brother, Trevor Etienne, who debuted as Carolina’s backup running back and return specialist.
Trevor finished with 47 all-purpose yards, while Travis eclipsed 100 rushing yards for just the second time in his last 28 games — both times against Carolina. After the final whistle, the brothers exchanged jerseys at midfield.
The Panthers (0-1) will look to rebound next Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. The Jaguars (1-0) face a tougher test when they travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
