As training camp opens, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker room is suddenly one of the biggest things to watch. The task is straightforward on paper and tricky in practice: replace Devin Lloyd.
Lloyd left for Carolina in free agency after an All-Pro season in 2025, and his departure leaves a clear hole in the middle of the defense. That’s the spot everyone will be tracking once camp gets rolling.
The concern isn’t just about filling a jersey. Kevin Patra of NFL.com put it plainly when he noted how much rides on someone stepping up there:
"If no one comes to the forefront, the Jags D could be in a rough spot," Patra wrote. "Lacking playmaking in the middle would highlight some of the questions up front, where there wasn't always consistent pressure from the front four."
For now, Ventrell Miller is the projected starter next to Foye Oluokun. Miller was already in the mix for snaps last summer before Lloyd’s breakout season changed the picture.
But that doesn’t mean the job is locked up. Branson Combs made noise during offseason work and pushed himself into the conversation for those reps. John Shipley of Jaguars on SI wrote that Miller "will not just be handed the linebacker role," and called Combs a "true riser."
There’s also a bigger point here: the Jaguars don’t have to ask one linebacker to replace Lloyd all by himself. Tem Lukabu recently emphasized that it’s going to take a collective effort, one that stretches beyond the linebacker group.
How Anthony Campanile uses the unit, what the personnel packages look like, and what’s demanded from the secondary and pass rushers will all factor into how that new starting linebacker handles the load. Campanile has a track record at each of his coaching stops of getting strong play from the linebacker position, and that will be part of the spotlight as camp begins.
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Jaguars Safety Battle May Already Be Decided Before Camp Begins
The Jaguars safety group looks unusually settled heading into training camp, which is not something every secondary can say this time of year. Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson are expected to open as the starters, with Caleb Ransaw penciled in as the next man up, while rookie Jalen Huskey and Rayuan Lane look positioned to handle depth work and special teams duties.
For Jacksonville, the more interesting part is how the staff plans to use Johnson and Murray to steady the back end. Johnsons ability to move around the defense has given the unit some needed flexibility, and Murrays experience and communication have made him a natural anchor. If the Jaguars are looking for a true camp battle here, it may be less about who starts and more about how the rest of the rotation sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Fans Will Have Thoughts On This AFC Star Workload Twist
Jalen McLeod is back in the mix for Jacksonville after his rookie year never really got off the ground, and the linebacker sounds eager to finally give the Jaguars something on the field. A training-camp ankle injury wiped out that first season, but now he is entering year two with a chance to carve out a role and add depth to a defense that can use every healthy body it can get.
There is also plenty of buzz around Travis Hunter, with Arik Armstead calling him a pure athlete and expecting a noticeable jump in his second season in the system. For Jaguars fans, it is the kind of offseason chatter that keeps the focus on upside and development, even as a division rival is already wrestling with how to manage one of its most important defensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Turned Heads With His First Day At Celebrity Golf
Trevor Lawrences first day at the American Century Championship gave the Jaguars quarterback a different kind of scoreboard to worry about, and he handled it well enough to turn some heads. Lawrence posted an 86 in the opening round, mixing in a pair of birdies and three pars as he settled into the celebrity golf spotlight and sat tied for 41st at the time he finished.
The leaderboard had plenty of familiar football names around him, too, with Drew Brees carding a 78 to land tied for 10th and Baker Mayfield finishing with a 96 and tied for 85th. Vince Coleman and Annika Sorenstam were also part of the conversation after strong showings, and Sorenstam was the one setting the pace at the clubhouse when the round wrapped up. [Read more 🡒]