Christian Gonzalez getting attention from Patriots\u2019 training staff \u2014 1:23 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Amin Touri<\/p>\n
Something to keep an eye on \u2014 Christian Gonzalez is getting a little extra attention from the Patriots\u2019 training staff on the sideline. Gonzalez made a big tackle on third down to force that Jaguars\u2019 punt, but he was a little slow to get up and looked to be having a some trouble with his left shoulder.<\/p>\n
Darius Muasau is all over the field early on \u2014 1:20 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Christopher Price<\/p>\n
Linebacker Darius Muasau getting an awful lot of run here in the first half with the New England linebackers, occasionally in place of Marcus Jones at slot corner. For the most part, Patriots sticking with two safeties: Reed in center field and Byard in the box. (Not exclusively, but more often than not.) Good start, as the Jaguars haven\u2019t really generated a lot of offensive rhythm here in the early going.<\/p>\n
Patriots offense stalls out in their first drive \u2014 1:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Amin Touri<\/p>\n
The Patriots\u2019 first drive stalls out around midfield as Drake Maye steps up under pressure but fires his throw just over Hunter Henry\u2019s head. Tough start for the run game \u2014 TreVeyon Henderson carried it twice for just four yards on the opening drive.<\/p>\n
On the first drive, Christian Gonzalez not trailing any particular Jaguar \u2014 1:07 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Christopher Price<\/p>\n
Christian Gonzalez doesn\u2019t appear to be trailing anyone in particular in the early going, working against different receivers, including Brian Thomas Jr. It\u2019s going to be interesting to see how that game plan develops moving forward.<\/p>\n
Expect Jose Ramirez and Jeremiah Pharms to get some action this afternoon \u2014 1:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Christopher Price<\/p>\n
On 98.5 pregame show, Mike Vrabel hints at Jose Ramirez and Jeremiah Pharms getting some good reps this afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cJose Ramirez has been working extremely hard since he\u2019s gotten here, since the end of camp. He\u2019s ready to go,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cHe\u2019ll play. Pharms will play some out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how the Globe\u2019s writers think this will go \u2014 12:55 p.m.<\/p>\n
Chad Finn: Patriots 24, Jaguars 20.<\/p>\n
Christopher Price: New England 24, Jacksonville 20. The Patriots survive the trip to Florida, and get to cross off another date on the calendar until they get A.J. Brown back in the lineup.<\/p>\n
Tara Sullivan: Jacksonville 21, Patriots 17. A well-played, tough, good game might not get the result, but it will see the Pats continuing to find their stride.<\/p>\n
Nicole Yang: Patriots 23, Jaguars 20.<\/p>\n
The Globe staff\u2019s players to watch \u2014 12:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
Patriots<\/p>\n
Gabe Jacas. One of the Jaguars\u2019 main laments after their loss to the Broncos last Sunday was their offensive line\u2019s recurring failure late in the game to buy enough time for quarterback Trevor Lawrence enough time to make a play. Jacas, the rookie second-round pick, has obvious physical tools as an edge rusher and general menace, two games into his professional career. But his learning curve has been even more impressive than his raw skills. In last Sunday\u2019s win over the Steelers, Jacas had an interception, three tackles, and was in quarterback Aaron Rodgers\u2019s airspace frequently, earning some colorful postgame praise. The Patriots staff seems to have done an excellent job of coaching him up. – Chad Finn<\/p>\n
Drake Maye. It\u2019s all about the Drake. The third-year QB is a story either way, whether he continues to struggle as he has done across the first two games or whether he begins to look again like the MVP runner-up he was a season ago. – Tara Sullivan<\/p>\n
I\u2019m done overthinking this. New England has plenty of elite talent on both sides of the ball, but in a quarterback-driven league, the 2026 Patriots will only go as far as their signal-caller can take them. Can he turn it around against the Jaguars? – Christopher Price<\/p>\n
It\u2019s boring to pick the quarterback, but all eyes are on Maye amid his slow start to the year. The Jaguars have a capable defense, but the unit isn\u2019t on the same level as the Seahawks or Steelers. What\u2019s interesting is that Maye has struggled particularly against Cover-6 defenses and the Jaguars play Cover-6 at the third-highest rate in the NFL. If Maye still cannot establish an offensive rhythm, then the concerns will only grow. -Nicole Yang<\/p>\n
Jaguars<\/p>\n
Travis Hunter. From the moment he was drafted second overall, Travis Hunter has been a fascinating NFL story. From a Jacksonville perspective, he needs to become a much bigger part of the offense to live up to his hype. – Tara Sullivan<\/p>\n
The Jaguars drafted the former Heisman Trophy winner No. 2 overall in 2025 after a trade with the Browns, anticipating he\u2019d be a dynamic two-way player as a receiver and cornerback. But Hunter he hasn\u2019t established himself as a reliable one-way player yet \u2014 he\u2019s played 58 percent of the defensive snaps through two games and just 10 percent of the offensive snaps, with one catch for 8 yards this season. He will be playing just the 10th game of his career Sunday after a knee injury abbreviated his rookie season. With Christian Gonzalez likely spending his Sunday shadowing underrated Jaguars receiver Parker Washington, Hunter could get an opportunity to make a big play or two. – Chad Finn<\/p>\n
Trevor Lawrence. I\u2019m once again picking the quarterback because the Patriots will be down two defensive starters in edge rusher Dre\u2019Mont Jones (shoulder) and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder). New England\u2019s pass rush was already a concern prior to Jones\u2019s injury, so Lawrence may have some extra time in the pocket. And Woodson\u2019s absence could open up opportunities in the secondary. – Nicole Yang<\/p>\n
Parker Washington. A dynamic playmaker who will stress the New England defense, if he\u2019s able to get cranked up, it could be a long afternoon for the Patriots. – Christopher Price<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what the Patriots offensive line looks like in warmups \u2014 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
From left to right on the line: LT Will Campbell, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Greg Van Roten, RT Morgan Moses.<\/p>\n
From Australia to Jacksonville, Alex Kemp is today\u2019s official \u2014 12:20 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Christopher Price<\/p>\n
Alex Kemp is lead official today. His crew had last week off after working Week 1 in Australia.<\/p>\n
Last year, Kemp\u2019s crew was about middle of the pack in flags thrown; they averaged 14.12 per game, the eighth-fewest.<\/p>\n
Terrell Williams is back with the Patriots after beating prostate cancer. He has a message for everyone. \u2014 12:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
By Christopher L. Gasper<\/p>\n
If Terrell Williams possesses a superpower as a football coach, it\u2019s his ability to connect with people from any side of the ball and all walks of life. He talks, people listen.<\/p>\n
In a sport defined by tough guys, no one embodies toughness for the Patriots more than their assistant head coach, who is back coaching full time\u00a0after prostate cancer rocked his world and reduced his role last season<\/a>. The message from Coach T, a man adept at delivering them, is one that resonates beyond football and beyond September, prostate cancer awareness month.<\/p>\n The most heroic thing you can do is listen to your body.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n DeMario Douglas hopes to make the Patriots\u2019 trip to Jacksonville a triumphant homecoming \u2014 12:00 p.m.<\/p>\n By Christopher Price<\/p>\n DeMario Douglas\u00a0has a nice problem.<\/p>\n The Patriots receiver, who was born in Jacksonville, is headed back to Florida to play in front of friends and family this Sunday. It\u2019s a group that includes his mother,\u00a0Angie Oxendine, and 82-year-old great-grandmother,\u00a0Glennie James, who rarely gets a chance to see Douglas play in person.<\/p>\n Asked this week how his ticket requests were coming, Douglas shook his head and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mom is handling all of that,\u201d he said. \u201cGot a lot of people coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a highly anticipated weekend for Douglas, who grew up rooting for the Jaguars.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n Patriots inactives: who\u2019s out and who New England will turn to \u2014 11:40 a.m.<\/p>\n By Christopher Price<\/p>\n JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Patriots announced that the following players are inactivated for today\u2019s game. Here\u2019s a look at what the moves mean. <\/p>\n Inactives for the Patriots today:<\/p>\n Safety Craig WoodsonEdge Dre\u2019Mont JonesOT Dametrious CrownoverTE Eli RaridonDT Leonard TaylorBehren Morton (emergency QB)<\/p>\n Jones (shoulder) was downgraded on Friday. Without Jones (and Harold Landry), youngster Elijah Ponder and rookie Gabe Jacas figure to get a ton of action on the edges this afternoon. <\/p>\n Tight end Eli Raridon (thigh), who didn\u2019t finish last week\u2019s game against the Steelers, didn\u2019t practice on Thursday and Friday, so it\u2019s not a surprise he\u2019s down this afternoon. Without him in the lineup, the Patriots will likely turn to undrafted rookie Tanner Arkin. <\/p>\n Safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) was listed as questionable on Friday after sustaining an injury against Pittsburgh. While he was at practice later in the week, he\u2019ll miss his first game of the season this afternoon. Mike Brown, who was elevated off the practice squad Saturday, will likely be counted on for depth at the safety position in his place.<\/p>\n Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor is the only healthy scratch today. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., who was elevated off the practice squad on Saturday, will be an option as a backup along the interior in place of Taylor. <\/p>\n Offensive tackle Walter Rouse, cornerback Karon Prunty, and linebacker Erick Hunter, all of whom were heathy scratches earlier in the season, are good to go today. Rouse will take over as the backup swing tackle in place of Crownover, who has been dealing with a knee issue the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n Behren Morton is the emergency quarterback.<\/p>\n Unconventional Preview<\/p>\n Is this the week the Patriots figure out their identity? \u2014 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n By Chad Finn<\/p>\n Drake Maye is struggling to live up to last season\u2019s excellence<\/a> and this season\u2019s expectations, Christian Gonzalez is locking down receivers like he wants one of those Defensive Player of the Year awards that recent retiree Stephon Gilmore has, and the Patriots, at 1-1, are going to have to survive injury attrition<\/a> while they conduct their ongoing search for their 2026 identity.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have a little more clarity about who, exactly, this team intends to be when it travels to Jacksonville to take on quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the 1-1 Jaguars, who are coming off a sloppy 20-13 loss to the Broncos in Denver.<\/p>\n Here are three players (not named Maye) I\u2019m watching, plus a prediction.<\/a><\/p>\n How Travis Hunter impressed Mike Vrabel prior to the 2025 NFL Draft \u2014 11:15 a.m.<\/p>\n By Christopher Price<\/p>\n One of the great \u201cwhat ifs\u201d regarding the 2025 NFL Draft was the tantalizing possibility of Travis Hunter in a Patriots uniform<\/a>.<\/p>\n With the Patriots set to pick at No. 4, there was an outside chance the dynamic two-way star out of Colorado might be available<\/a>, especially with the quarterback-hungry Titans eying Cam Ward at No. 1.<\/p>\n During the NFL Combine that year, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel relayed a story about a conversation he had with Hunter.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Travis doesn\u2019t even know,\u201d said Vrabel, who famously worked as an outside linebacker and part-time tight end in his playing days. \u201cBut we were kind of jawing back and forth as he left [the interview], and I said, \u2018You\u2019re not the only one who played two ways. Like, there were some other guys who did this, too.\u2019 And he kind of like looked at me, and we laughed.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n The Jaguars have a sneaky-tough home-field advantage \u2014 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n By Ben Volin<\/p>\n When the Patriots visit Jacksonville on Sunday, Jaguars coach Liam Coen<\/a> wants to see the fans go nuts one last time before saying goodbye for a month.<\/p>\n With a road game next week in Cincinnati, followed by \u201chome\u201d games Oct. 11 and 18 in London, then a bye, Sunday will be the last chance Jaguars fans have to see their team until Nov. 1. Coen is hoping for a raucous atmosphere, even with a reduced crowd of 41,156 because of stadium renovations taking place the next two years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a true home-field advantage this week,\u201d Coen said. \u201cDefinitely need the community and fan base to come out and support as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n EverBank Stadium, formerly Alltel Stadium and the Jaguars\u2019 only home since becoming an NFL franchise in 1995, will never be confused with the loudest or most iconic stadiums, such as Lambeau, Arrowhead, or Seattle\u2019s Lumen Field. It\u2019s never mentioned in the conversation of best home-field advantages, with Denver\u2019s altitude, Miami\u2019s sweltering humidity, or Buffalo\u2019s lake-effect winters.<\/p>\n But going to Jacksonville in September can be rough. The Jaguars have a 29-28 home record in September, for a .509 win percentage that ranks 22nd since 1995. Compare that with the team\u2019s 18-35 road record in September, a .340 win percentage that ranks 29th.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/a><\/p>\n Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com<\/a>. Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com<\/a>. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her on X @nicolecyang<\/a>. Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com<\/a>. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Everbank](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IEL3NLLZCLN36QDTW32DAZZEOE.jpg\")
Everbank Stadium.Gary McCullough\/AP Photo\/Gary McCullough<\/p>\n