Liam Coen prioritizes high-intensity simulation over traditional drills, matching his squad against NFC South rivals to sharpen competitive instincts and refine rosters through controlled, full-contact repetitions.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen confirmed his team will participate in joint practices prior to all three of their preseason games during practice on May 28.
The Jaguars will open the 2026 NFL preseason playing nearly the entire NFC South. Jacksonville will play at the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15 and then will finish out its preseason schedule with back-to-back home games against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 21 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 28.
Coen said he thinks the joint practices are beneficial for both teams.
“Because you are a little bit more in a controlled setting, you can get the guys you want specific reps and not have to worry as much about putting a guy in a full-contact situation in preseason games that don’t count our schedule record,” Coen said. “I think it’s something a little more controlled, the teams that we are practicing against have a good understanding of what that looks like and being able to do that together.”
In his first season as head coach, the Jaguars finished the 2024 preseason 0-2-1, but went on to win 13 games and claim the AFC South Division title for the first time since 2022.
According to Coen, the Jaguars were only able to have one joint practice during last year’s preseason schedule when they played the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saints and Miami Dolphins.
“We didn’t have the luxury last year of picking those and having those opportunities. We only had the one opportunity (Miami) presented to us, based on the schedule and the teams we were playing, it just didn’t work out,” Coen said. “We were able to get on it earlier to set things up and communicate with some of those teams we were playing in the preseason games. We feel a lot better about it in year two.”
Although preseason records rarely reflect what happens in the regular season, Coen said the joint practices, along with preseason games, gives players more opportunities to prove themselves.
“The guys get more competitive. You look at Miami last year, although we had some ups and downs in that practice, I thought we saw some competitive juice, some real game-like participation in those practices,” Coen said. “I think you are always trying to simulate game-like (situations), and I think those opportunities simulate game-like more than anything.”
The Jaguars will open the 2026 NFL regular season at EverBank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13.
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