Jacksonville’s cut-down day brought a flurry of roster moves, but the biggest takeaway from James Gladstone’s Sept. 1 news conference at the Miller Electric Center was simple: the Jaguars built this 53-man roster with flexibility in mind.
The general manager spent the session walking through the logic behind the team’s decisions, from the trade for backup quarterback Quinn Ewers to the choice to carry more defensive linemen than linebackers. He also addressed the practice squad, the progress of Parker Washington’s contract talks, and how rookie wideouts Josh Cameron and C.J. Williams have fit into the mix.
The quarterback move came together quickly. Gladstone said Jacksonville had been “evaluating the quarterback position over the course of the training camp and preseason games,” and that Ewers emerged on Saturday morning, Aug. 29, as the club explored a few different paths.
That was the first time the Jaguars had engaged with the Dolphins, and the deal came together fast. Gladstone said he and coach Liam Coen had spent time studying Ewers’ rookie-season games and felt good about “the upward trajectory and really what he showcased over the course of those performances.”
The Jaguars also made a deliberate choice on the defensive side, leaning heavier on the front than at linebacker. Gladstone described it as a matter of roster math that looked different from this time last year, saying the team was “lighter at LB, but heavier across the defensive front.” He pointed to the edge competition, which featured a number of young players, and said Bryan Thomas Junior’s rise through the offseason and preseason pushed him onto the 53-man roster.
Thomas drew more praise when Gladstone revisited the final preseason game. He said there was “still more to be done,” but Thomas kept proving it and “left no doubt.” Gladstone added, “When you earn it, you're going to get it and we're not afraid or going to shy away from the fact that when that is something that surfaces to the top, to pursue it regardless of where you started, regardless of how much you make.”
That same philosophy showed up in the Jaguars’ handling of their undrafted edge rushers. Gladstone noted that it is unusual for undrafted college free agents to make initial 53-man rosters at that position, let alone produce in games, but Jacksonville has now done it in back-to-back cycles with Bryan Thomas Jr., Daniel Striggow and B.J.
Green II. He credited the collaboration between coaches and scouts, along with the players themselves, and said he is eager to see what it looks like once the real action begins.
On the practice squad, the Jaguars made a point of keeping Nick Mullens close. Gladstone said Mullens’ familiarity with the system matters because “it's like having another coach in the room,” and he stressed that Jacksonville didn’t want to lose someone who can operate the offense the way it is intended. He called the conversations with Mullens “real” and “authentic,” and praised the professionalism he showed.
Gladstone also touched on Parker Washington’s future, saying there has been “a lot of positive progress” and “a lot of good back and forth” in extension discussions. He said the team is in a spot where it will keep talking and trying to find a solution, and that Jacksonville has not shown any unwillingness to do things even during the season.
The rookie receivers, meanwhile, have made their presence felt in the room. Gladstone said Josh Cameron and C.J. Williams have done a great job, along with the rest of the group, and praised how the unit has absorbed information and watched how others handle business before putting it into action.
As for Travis Hunter, Gladstone said the plan has not changed. He said the Jaguars still see the best path as full-time defensive work, with offense used when it makes sense. At the same time, he made clear the team wants to use him efficiently on both sides of the ball and keep him dangerous at wide receiver whenever he lines up there.
The Jaguars will start their regular game-week routine next week before opening the 2026 season at EverBank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns.
In Other News...
Jaguars May Not Be Done Losing Young Defensive Talent
Several players the Jaguars moved on from as they work toward finalizing the roster could quickly resurface elsewhere, with a few names standing out as possible waiver claims around the league. Linebackers Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod, along with cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, are the kinds of young defenders teams often keep tabs on at this stage, especially when special teams value can help push a player onto the 53-man edge.
There is also a separate layer to watch with veterans Chuma Edoga and Nick Mullens, both of whom are free agents because they have more than four accrued NFL seasons. For Jacksonville, the bigger issue is that the talent drain may not be finished yet, since players with upside and role-player utility can still draw attention before the dust settles on roster cuts. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Raised A Bigger Tight End Question Than Fans Expected
Patrick Herberts brief run in Jacksonville ended this week when the tight end signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad after being waived by the Jaguars. Herbert, an undrafted rookie in 2025, spent last season on the Jaguars practice squad and had earned a reserve/future contract with the team in January, making him part of the offseason mix heading into camp.
Herberts departure leaves a little more uncertainty around the back end of Jacksonvilles tight end room, where every practice rep tends to matter as teams sort out depth and roles. He had two catches for 12 yards in the preseason before moving on, and now the Jaguars will have to keep sorting through the position without a young player who had been around the building and knew the system. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have One Special Teams Question Fans Can't Ignore
Special teams has quietly become one of the more stable parts of the Jaguars under Liam Coen, and that matters on a roster still sorting through bigger questions elsewhere. Cam Little, Logan Cooke and Ross Matiscik give Jacksonville a dependable battery, Parker Washington has added value as a punt return threat, and the units overall work has shown up in the rankings on both returns and coverage. Retaining Heath Farwell from the previous staff also gave the group a head start, and Coen has pointed to that continuity and the leadership within the room as real assets.
Josh Camerons development is part of why the conversation around this unit is getting interesting now. The rookie has been in the mix as a potential punt returner, which gives the Jaguars another layer to consider as they decide how aggressive they want to be with that role. With Washington already contributing there and the rest of the operation looking settled, the only real question is how much room there is for another young player to carve out a spot on a group that already feels established. [Read more 🡒]