For the Jaguars, LeQuint Allen Jr.’s injury has turned into something else for Liam Coen: a test case.
With the second-year running back out, Coen is using the opening to run a real competition in camp. The first-team reps that would have gone to Allen are now being spread around, giving other backs a chance to show they can handle more than just carries.
Jacksonville will evaluate other running backs with the first group while LeQuint Allen Jr. is out, prioritizing pass protection.
— MicNuggets (@micnuggetsnfl) August 22, 2026
Liam Coen: “We're gonna be out with LaQuint, as Derek mentioned earlier, gonna be out for a little bit. And so we've gotta just, we need to see those… pic.twitter.com/VG3UiMMhgH
And for Coen, the biggest separator isn’t rushing ability.
“The big thing is protection right now, and who can continue to ascend in the protection pecking order, because that's what we are missing right now with LaQuint being out,” Coen told reporters after succumbing to a 17-34 preseason loss against the Carolina Panthers. “As great as the running is, we're really evaluating who can pass protect at a high level for us.”
That focus makes sense given the timing. Allen went down with a soft tissue injury on Day 13 of training camp and is expected to miss the rest of camp, though the team’s language points to him being available for the season opener. Before the injury, he was in the mix for the RB2/RB3 job and had already earned trust from the coaching staff on passing downs - exactly the area Jacksonville now has to sort out without him.
Allen isn’t the only offensive player the Jaguars have had to work around this month. Right guard Patrick Mekari had a back procedure and is expected to miss significant time, while wide receiver Parker Washington has also been dealing with an injury. That leaves Coen thinner at multiple spots as the preseason moves along.
Still, Jacksonville does have options in the backfield. Bhayshul Tuten is at the top of the group, and veteran Ameer Abdullah brings a steady presence and the kind of pass protection Coen is looking for. That gives the Jaguars a few legitimate candidates to evaluate with the starters.
It also fits the way Coen has approached the preseason from the start. He had already shown a willingness to give his starters real snaps against the Panthers, using those reps to help a team still getting comfortable in his system. Allen’s absence just means more of those chances go to the backs trying to climb the depth chart.
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For players on the bubble, that made the reps matter even more. Jacksonville used the session to get a closer evaluation of younger options who could factor into practice squad decisions, and defensive lineman Matt Dickerson provided one of the more memorable moments with an interception returned for a touchdown. It was the kind of camp day that does not always draw headlines, but it can go a long way in sorting out the final edges of the roster before the Buccaneers arrive. [Read more 🡒]