The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Stadium this Sunday in the first preseason action of the 2025 season for both teams. Here are three key matchups to look out for:
Travis Hunter vs Brandin Echols, Robert Woods
Having to double up opponents for Travis Hunter will undoubtedly become a theme of this season’s matchups series. With head coach Liam Coen confirming that the Jaguars’ starters will all see action on Sunday, we know that Hunter is about to make his debut in black & teal. The number two pick in this year’s NFL Draft is the most anticipated rookie to come into the league in some time, a true two-way player that could earn Pro Bowl or even All-Pro honors on either side of the ball. Having impressed in training camp thus far, you can feel the excitement growing in Jacksonville; the Jags have another superstar on their hands, and Hunter will no doubt want to meet expectations with a strong performance this weekend.
Knowing who he will be going up against is difficult. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that approximately 20 players will be held out of the game on Sunday, the majority of whom would be considered starters. Daunting cornerback trio Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey are all out, meaning that the wide receiver version of Travis Hunter will likely be going up against Brandin Echols. Echols is a recent addition to the Steelers roster, coming over from the New York Jets this offseason. He racked up 57 games with Gang Green – only starting 19, but 122 tackles tells you he’s no slouch. A 5th year veteran, he should be able to give Hunter at least something to think about when they go head to head on Sunday.
Hunter’s introduction on defense might be a bigger challenge. DK Metcalfe is out, but Robert Woods looks set to play; with eleven seasons, 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns under his belt and a Super Bowl ring on his finger, Woods has made a living beating cornerbacks despite not possessing elite size or speed. As far as getting acclimated to the NFL level, Woods will provide an excellent barometer for just how special Hunter can be in the secondary.
Walker Little vs Alex Highsmith
JACKSONVILLE, FL – JUNE 02: Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little (72) looks on during Jacksonville Jaguars OTA on June 2, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It is officially Walker Little season in Jacksonville. After being drafted out of Stanford in the second round four years ago, Little has mostly played understudy to Cam Robinson whilst deputizing at other spots on the offensive line. His versatility has proved useful, his injury proneness less so. But with the team inking him to a 3-year, $45m extension last December and James Gladstone not going out and acquiring a new blindside protector it’s a demonstration in trust that Little can be the long-term answer at left tackle.
We have a fairly good idea of what Walker Little is, even if he still has to prove some doubters wrong and manage to stay on the field for a full season. On Sunday, he’s one of the few likely to be facing a starter, with edge rusher Alex Highsmith set to suit up. Highsmith has proven to be a steal since the Steelers took him with the 102nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, offering a dangerous foil to TJ Watt and chipping in with 287 tackles and 35 sacks in five years. If Little can look comfortable against an opponent of Highsmith’s calibre, then it’s a good sign heading into the season.
Jack Kiser vs Kaleb Johnson
With it being preseason, the likelihood of us seeing the starters in for too long is remote. And really, August is for fans to get a glimpse of the new additions to the team right? So I thought it would be interesting to focus on a pair of rookies who will both fancy themselves to challenge the depth chart this season.
Jack Kiser was one of my favourite draft selections this year. A high-character, high production linebacker, James Gladstone praised Kiser for his mental acumen and pre-game preparation, calling him ‘intangibly rich’. As an older rookie I imagine the step up to the pro level will not faze him in the slightest, and if you play a record-setting 70 games for Notre Dame you are attuned to the standards demanded from an elite level of football. With some question marks over the linebacker group and preseason affording opportunity, Kiser should get a healthy amount of snaps on Sunday.
With Jaylen Warren another Steelers veteran not playing, Kiser’s first taste of NFL football should be against Kaleb Johnson. Johnson has impressed in Pittsburgh through training camp, already entrenching himself as RB2 ahead of veterans Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon. ‘Bruising’ would be a good way to describe Johnson, who at 6’1” and 224 lbs is a big man to bring to the ground when he gets going. In his final season at Iowa State, Johnson posted 1,537 rushing yards and 21 TD’s in just 12 games at a rude 6.4 yards per carry. He’s also no slouch in the passing game either, and as such should offer Kiser a stern, diverse test. I expect both these names to make their mark in 2025, and it all starts on Sunday.