Why Was Panthers vs. Jaguars Game Delayed? When Will Week 1 Game In Jacksonville Resume?

The Week 1 game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers is currently in a weather delay due to severe weather. The sunny afternoon suddenly turned stormy in the second quarter, prompting the halt of play. Play will not resume until the lightning has moved out of reach of the stadium.

Just before the stoppage, the Jaguars had just capitalized on a turnover, scoring a touchdown to extend their lead to 10-3. The Jaguars have been off to a solid start with their offense led by former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence for the 2025 season.

On the ground, they are also having a good run as they are averaging a strong 4.8 yards per carry. Rookie sensation Travis Hunter, who was drafted No. 2 overall and is a two-way player, has been a factor on offense so far, logging four receptions for 22 yards.

However, the storms were expected to continue for several more hours in Jacksonville. NFL rules state that a lightning strike within a certain radius of the stadium will trigger at a minimum a 30-minute delay. The clock resets with each new strike.

Given the situation in Jacksonville and the recent precedent of lengthy weather delays during the Eagles vs. Cowboys game, it was an hour later before the players were back in action. The high risk of continuing the game with active thunder and lightning would have been too great. 

The Panthers vs Jaguars game resumed after more than an hour delay

An hour and sixteen minutes of severe weather delay interrupted the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers. Stopping the game was a strict protocol under the lightning safety measures of the NFL, which are viewed to supersede every other consideration during game-day activities. According to the script of the league, play was stopped immediately once lightning was detected at an 8- to 10-mile range from the stadium.

The basic rule, or the ’30-minute rule,’ which is part and parcel of this protocol, states that from the time a final lightning strike is detected within the stipulated area of safety, the clock for the stoppage of play does not begin. Any subsequent strike resets the 30-minute countdown, which is a huge extension to a stoppage like that in Jacksonville despite the rain having a relatively short duration.

The Jaguars’ Week 1 clash against the Panthers at EverBank Stadium resumed at 2:53 p.m. after a delay. Trevor Lawrence immediately found Hunter Long for a 6-yard touchdown off a Bryce Young interception to push Jacksonville ahead 10-3. Carolina tied it late in the third quarter. But the Jaguars pulled away, sealing a 26-10 victory with the final whistle at 5:12 p.m. ET.