The Jacksonville Jaguars are past the first two weeks of training camp and now head into their first of three joint practices, with New Orleans on deck before the first preseason game. That setup matters. The work in those practices is likely to go to the players near the top of the roster, which leaves the preseason games as a prime stage for the reserves trying to force their way into the conversation.
There’s no shortage of names to keep an eye on. Some are rookies trying to carve out a role.
Others are players looking to turn a strong summer into something more. And a few are simply hoping the preseason gives them the kind of live snaps that can change a roster decision.
CJ Williams has been one of the early camp standouts. The rookie sixth-round receiver has stacked together a strong summer and has made plays no matter who he’s lined up with. The real test now is doing it when the lights come on and the hits count, with a spot on the team in play.
Josh Cameron has made his own case at receiver. He’s popped several times in 11-on-11 work, including a catch against Buster Brown where he used late hands to haul it in as Brown took him to the ground. Cameron also brings some intrigue on special teams, where his return ability could matter, though his size gives him another path as a protector.
On the defensive side, Keni-H Lovely has been one of those players who works quietly but keeps showing up. He’s flashed against the starting offense in stretches and looks like the kind of corner who could play his way onto the practice squad if he keeps it going through the preseason. That kind of performance can matter fast when injuries start stacking up.
The linebacker group has already taken hits, with Jack Kiser dealing with a right knee injury on the opening day of camp and Jared Bartlett waived after being carted off on Aug. 4. That opens the door for rookie Parker Hughes to seize some depth opportunities behind the starters.
Zach Durfee, listed as Prospect X and selected in the seventh round, already has one of the more memorable camp moments on his resume. ESPN even did a feature story on him during the draft process, and Durfee flashed against the starters by getting off the edge and nearly sacking Trevor Lawrence. If that kind of burst shows up in games, he could stick around longer than people expect.
Caleb Ransaw is another player whose preseason reps should tell a bigger story. After essentially redshirting a season, he’s finally in position to show what he can do in game action.
Jacksonville has used him in different spots in the defensive backfield, and his versatility is the thing to watch. He’s also close enough to the starting group that a strong preseason could make things interesting down the line.
Wyatt Milum is in a similar spot, though he did get some work through injury in his rookie year. He’s been getting reps with the starters while Patrick Mekari is eased into camp, and the preseason will give Jacksonville a better look at how he handles different spots across the line. That includes right tackle, where Anton Harrison’s move to the left side has left a vacancy that needs to be filled.
Quarterback is mostly settled, but the third-string battle is still worth following. Undrafted rookie Joey Aguilar could use the extra preseason snaps to jump Carter Bradley.
Then there’s Jalen Huskey, whose camp got off to a rough start before the intersquad game changed the tone. The third-round rookie was everywhere in that setting, piling up stops and forcing a fumble he took back for a score. As the Jaguars get into more game-like situations, he’s one of the players who could keep surfacing.
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Trevor Lawrences Saints Week Focus Says A Lot About Jaguars Plans
Trevor Lawrences preseason routine is starting to look different, and it says plenty about how the Jaguars are trying to manage their quarterback heading into the new season. Rather than leaning heavily on game snaps, Jacksonville is giving more weight to daily practice work and the kind of controlled, competitive reps that come in joint sessions, with the Saints now serving as a key part of that plan.
For Lawrence, the appeal is obvious: those practices can feel closer to game speed without the same exposure that comes with preseason action. For the Jaguars, the goal is just as clear, reducing injury risk while still giving the offense enough work to sharpen timing and find its rhythm before the games count for real. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Camp Is Starting To Reveal A Very Different Offensive Plan
Two weeks and nine practices into camp, the Jaguars are starting to show what their offense might actually look like once the games count. Parker Washington has been the most noticeable receiver so far, and the early reads from camp suggest he is moving toward a bigger role than many expected. The running back mix also looks far less rigid than a traditional pecking order, with Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen all in line to share work.
Travis Hunter is adding another layer to the picture by practicing extensively at both wide receiver and cornerback, which makes Jacksonvilles personnel usage even more interesting to track. The setup points to an offense that may lean on flexibility and matchup-driven usage more than fixed roles, especially in passing situations and on early downs. For a team still sorting out who will be where when the season opens, camp has already made one thing clear: the Jaguars are not building this group in a conventional way. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Give Grant Udinski A Bigger Stage In Preseason Opener
Grant Udinski is getting a meaningful early test in Jacksonville, and it comes before the games start counting. The Jaguars offensive coordinator will handle full play-calling duties in the preseason opener against the Saints on Aug. 15, giving him a bigger stage as he continues to settle into a larger role with the team. He has already done it once, having called plays in Jacksonvilles final preseason game last season, but this opportunity arrives with a little more attention attached after a busy offseason that included head coaching interviews.
The timing makes it even more interesting for the Jaguars, who will also spend Aug. 13 in a joint practice with New Orleans before the exhibition game. Those two days should offer a cleaner look at how the offense functions with Udinski directing things from the sideline and how much of the system is ready for live reps. For a coordinator who had chances to leave but opted to stay in Jacksonville, the first preseason game is more than routine work. It is a chance to show what the Jaguars can expect when the offense is put in his hands. [Read more 🡒]