Cut-down day is finally here, and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster picture has mostly settled into place.
With training camp and the preseason wrapped up, the real intrigue now sits in the margins. Trevor Lawrence is Trevor Lawrence, and Nick Mullens has clearly separated himself as the QB2 after repeatedly proving it over the last few weeks. Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar never came close to pushing him, even after Mullens had a bumpy start to the preseason a few weeks ago.
At running back, Ameer Abdullah’s absence from Friday’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a strong sign he’s safe. The Jaguars could choose to carry only three backs if they decide LeQuint Allen is still a few weeks from returning to full health. J’Mari Taylor looks like the practice squad answer.
Receiver feels straightforward, too. There doesn’t appear to be another wideout on the roster who can truly threaten for a spot.
Travis Hunter is part of a group of six quality receivers, and it’s one of the deepest rooms on the team. The Jaguars seemed pleased with what they got from the rookie receivers all summer, while backups like Tim Jones and Austin Trammell look like practice squad fits.
Tight end is the trickiest call. On paper, a team planning to use the position more should want to keep four.
But doing that would mean sacrificing at linebacker, running back, or defensive end, and that doesn’t seem worth the tradeoff. The better path, in this projection, is trying to get Quintin Morris and Hunter Long onto the practice squad and then elevating them on game day.
The offensive line also brings one of the biggest roster questions, and it starts with Chuma Edoga. He’s better than the offensive linemen who played for Jacksonville in the preseason finale against Tampa Bay, but nine linemen already look secure.
If the Jaguars don’t carry 10, it’s hard to find a place for him. Emmanuel Pregnon, Daniel Faalele and Cole Van Lanen have shifted the math.
On defense, Bryan Thomas Jr. gets the nod over Zach Durfee in what was the hardest choice on the entire 53-man roster. Thomas showed up everywhere this summer, the same kind of all-over-the-field presence Danny Striggow and B.J. Green had last year, and he’s earned his place.
Ruke Orhorhoro saw a lot of preseason action for a player who appears destined for the 53, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his spot is shaky. The Jaguars already have several players locked in as starters, recent top draft picks or dependable depth pieces like Matt Dickerson. Still, this is a spot worth watching, because Orhorhoro never really seemed to move up the depth chart this summer.
At linebacker, the notable move is Jalen McLeod over Yasir Abdullah. McLeod flashed enough on defense Friday night to suggest there’s real developmental upside behind Dennis Gardeck. Jahlani Tavai is another possible keep, but the Jaguars need linebacker depth until Jack Kiser returns.
Cornerback may come down to whether Jacksonville keeps six. Christian Braswell brings value as a solid special-teamer and veteran presence, but Jabbar Muhammad’s spring and summer production makes him tough to cut. He wasn’t as sharp in the preseason, but that may not end up mattering much.
Safety seems a little clearer, though the final spot is still up for debate between Jalen Huskey and Caleb Ransaw. The Jaguars already seem to know who their five safeties are, just as they did after the draft in April. Huskey and Ransaw both had their moments in camp, and Rayuan Lane may be the best special teamer on the roster who isn’t a kicker, punter or long-snapper.
Specialists, as usual, are not a problem. Jacksonville has a strong trio there, and two of them rank among the highest-paid special teamers in the NFL. Logan Cooke also had a great punt in the first quarter of Friday’s game, which at least gave special teams something worth talking about.
In Other News...
Jaguars QB3 Battle Will Reveal What This Staff Truly Values
The Jaguars quarterback room has already sorted out its top two spots, but the battle for QB3 has become one of the more interesting decisions left before roster cuts. Rookie Joey Aguilar and Carter Bradley are competing for the third-string role, and Aguilar has put up the stronger preseason numbers across three games, giving the staff a clear performance case to weigh against Bradleys comfort in offensive coordinator Liam Coens system.
That makes this more than a back-of-roster formality, because the choice can hint at what Jacksonville values most in a reserve quarterback: upside, continuity or simple readiness if the position is called upon. The Jaguars will make their final roster decisions after the August 30 cutdown date, and this one figures to be watched closely as the staff sorts out how much it trusts experience in Coens offense versus a rookie who has already made his case on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Made A Few Roster Battles Much Tougher To Ignore
Jacksonville closed the preseason with a 19-0 win over Tampa Bay, ending at 2-1 and leaving the coaching staff with a few harder decisions than it had a week ago. Ameer Abdullah looks to have strengthened his case for a roster spot at running back, Jalen McLeod turned in a strong defensive performance, and Nick Mullens gave the Jaguars solid quarterback depth behind the starter.
Bryan Thomas Jr., meanwhile, made his presence felt as an undrafted rookie with some eye-catching pass-rushing work, the kind of showing that can complicate a front offices final cut-down plan. Preseason results often fade fast, but performances like these tend to stick in the building, especially when the depth chart is still being sorted out and every edge at the back of the roster matters. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Defense Just Exposed A Worry For A Division Rival
The preseason scoreline may not matter in the standings, but the Jaguars did get a clean look at a division rivals problem area on Saturday night. Tampa Bay rested its starters against Jacksonville and still fell 19-0, with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels taking the start and absorbing three sacks before exiting in the third quarter, a reminder that even in August, protection issues can show up fast when the first unit stays on the sideline.
For Todd Bowles, the trip to Jacksonville was more about sorting through the offensive line depth chart than worrying about the box score. With the roster deadline approaching, the Buccaneers used the game to evaluate the backups up front, and the performance left lingering questions about how dependable that group can be if it gets pressed into real action. [Read more 🡒]