The Jaguars are heading into training camp next Wednesday with big-picture goals in place and a roster that still has a few real fights to settle. The top of the depth chart looks fairly stable in a lot of spots, but there are enough open jobs underneath to make this camp worth watching closely.
At quarterback, there isn’t much drama. Trevor Lawrence is positioned to have one of the best seasons of his career, and Nick Mullens is not really being challenged for the backup job.
That leaves Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar battling for the No. 3 role, which would point them toward the practice squad once the season starts. Bradley’s edge may come from familiarity, since he already has experience in the scheme after joining the team last year.
Running back is much less settled. Bhayshul Tuten gets the nod as the starter for now after spending a full offseason as the No. 1 back while Chris Rodriguez Jr. was injured, but that could shift quickly once camp gets rolling.
It is one of the biggest position battles on the roster. LeQuint Allen also has a chance to carve out a bigger role than he had as a rookie, while the practice squad picture could come down to a three-man fight involving two veterans and undrafted free agent J'Mari Taylor.
The receiver room may be one of the strongest in the league, and most of those roster spots look safe. Even so, rookie wideouts Josh Cameron and CJ Williams may not have many chances available to them. Both made plays during the offseason program, and training camp could end up deciding which one, if either, is able to help the offense in 2026.
Tight end has its own competition brewing behind the top of the depth chart. Brenton Strange and rookies Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol account for three roster spots, which puts the spotlight on Quintin Morris and Hunter Long. Long survived after Johnny Mundt was released, but the rookie additions mean he has to hold off Morris if he wants to stay on the 53-man roster.
Up front, the offensive line is mostly calm unless Patrick Mekari gets pushed at right guard. He is the expected starter entering camp, but Wyatt Milum has the talent to make that spot interesting.
Walker Little could also wind up starting in Week 1 depending on the state of the Cole Van Lanen situation, and Chuma Edoga may be fighting for his place after Emmanuel Pregnon was taken in the third round in April’s draft. This group could look a lot different a year from now.
The defensive end rotation is another area where camp could matter a lot. Danny Striggow and B.J.
Green appear to be the early leaders for backup roles after getting rookie experience last season, but the Jaguars used multiple draft picks on edge rushers for a reason. Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee are the rookies to keep an eye on if they start flashing.
Defensive tackle has been a talking point for the last two offseasons, and the room got two more additions this year in Ruke Orhorhoro and Albert Regis. Both are in the mix as backups, and both will need strong camp showings if they want to earn snaps in Week 1.
Linebacker may have the most jobs up for grabs. Ventrell Miller and Branson Combs are set to battle for the starting spot left open by Devin Lloyd’s departure, but that’s only part of the picture.
Jack Kiser is entering his second season, Parker Hughes is trying to make the 53-man roster, and there’s also a fight for the backup strong side linebacker role behind Dennis Gardeck. There is a lot to sort out there.
Cornerback might be the most talented group on the roster. The top four corners were all on the team last year, though that came with Travis Hunter in a limited defensive role.
The key battle is for the backup spot behind that top four, where Jabbar Muhammad has made a big jump during the offseason program. Christian Braswell has made the team in recent seasons, but this is his toughest challenge yet with Muhammad pushing hard.
Safety looks more straightforward. Eric Murray is expected to continue in a major leadership role, and Antonio Johnson is set up for what could be a big contract-year season.
The main competition there appears to be between Rayuan Lane, a 2025 draft pick, and rookie third-rounder Jalen Huskey. Both should make the roster, but it does not look likely that more than one of them will get serious defensive snaps in 2026 if the group stays healthy.
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This Jaguars Rookie Is Suddenly Crashing A Crowded Camp Battle
As training camp opens, the Jaguars are giving their rookie class a fresh chance to make noise, and sixth-round wide receiver C.J. Williams has already put himself in the conversation. He turned heads during offseason work with steady hands and a knack for getting on the same page with backup quarterbacks, the kind of early chemistry that can matter when roster spots and depth-chart roles start to harden.
Williams still looks like a long shot for a big role right away, especially if Jacksonvilles receiver room stays intact once the season begins. But camp is exactly where a player like this can change the conversation, and for a rookie who has already shown reliable traits, the next few weeks will tell the Jaguars whether there is more here than just a developmental flier. [Read more 🡒]
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Jalen McCleod has emerged as the name to watch in that mix, thanks to an offseason that has him trending up and a skill set that gives the Jaguars more than one way to use him. If Jacksonville does indeed carry six linebackers, the final spot appears to be coming down to how much value the staff places on those multipurpose pieces, and that could leave Parker Hughes and Yasir Abdullah on the outside looking in. [Read more 🡒]
Former Jaguars Defender Josh Mauro's Death Report Raises Disturbing Questions
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Mauros father had already confirmed the death and asked for prayers, but the new details have made the story even harder to absorb. The police report describes a night of partying before Mauro died, and investigators were left to sort through a scene that pointed to drug use and a sudden, unexplained collapse, leaving the former defenders final chapter under an unsettling spotlight. [Read more 🡒]