With the Jaguars set to open the 2026 season against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13, the practice squad already looks like more than just a holding area. Jacksonville has seen that movie before. A year ago, players such as Quintin Morris and Matt Dickerson ended up contributing during the season, and this group has a few names who could follow the same path.
The clearest candidate may be Jabbar Muhammad. Waiving him sounds like it was one of the toughest calls Jacksonville made, and the decision appears tied more to special teams than anything else. If the Jaguars lose a cornerback at any point, Muhammad looks like the kind of player who could be right back on the roster quickly, with a real shot to play.
Nick Mullens also stands out as someone who could matter early. There’s not much time for Quinn Ewers to get fully ready to be one snap away if Trevor Lawrence goes down, so Mullens could be the Jaguars’ QB2 in some form in Week 1 against the Browns. That makes him one of the most obvious practice-squad players who could affect the roster right away.
A few other names sit just a step behind that top tier. Jack Kiser seems likely to work his way onto the 53-man roster at some point once his knee injury heals, and he offers both special teams value and linebacker depth.
Jalen McLeod could get pulled up if Jacksonville needs help behind Dennis Gardeck, while Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig feels like a natural candidate for another round of promotions after the Jaguars elevated him multiple times last season. He’s viewed as a solid special teamer and a young backup safety the team likes.
The receiver and defensive back groups also create some possible openings. Austin Trammell is in a tricky spot because there doesn’t appear to be a true backup for Parker Washington in the slot, which could make him the first call-up if Washington gets hurt.
Tim Jones, meanwhile, has the kind of special teams value and run-blocking ability that can keep him in the conversation for an outside receiver injury. Michael Wortham and Trebor Peña are in a similar lane, though Wortham gets the edge because of the moments he had in preseason and during joint practices.
At safety, Kaevon Merriweather is worth watching if he gets on the field at all. The Jaguars don’t have a major hole there, but they also didn’t bring in many external practice-squad additions, so the fact they kept him suggests they see something.
Up front, the depth chart makes the practice squad more about insurance than immediate answers. J'Mari Taylor would probably need two running back injuries to get meaningful work this season, while T.J.
Bollers would likely need a defensive tackle injury to be elevated, and even then Jacksonville may look to veteran free agency first, just as it did last year. At offensive tackle, Geron Christian sits behind a long list of other options - Walker Little, Wyatt Milum, Ezra Cleveland and Daniel Faalele - and after a rough camp, he does not look like a quick promotion candidate.
Kilian Zierer, the Jaguars’ International Pathway Program player, showed some real traits at tackle, but his experience gap makes him a less likely choice than Christian.
There’s also interior depth in the mix. ElI Cox gives Jacksonville a center option on the practice squad, though the team’s depth there makes an activation unlikely anytime soon. Hayden Rucci, signed a day after the rest of the unit was assembled, replaces Patrick Herbert on the practice squad, but with four tight ends ahead of him, his path is narrow.
Then there’s Joey Aguilar, who may have helped himself the most in camp. He earned the fourth quarterback spot on the practice squad after a solid preseason, and it’s notable that Jacksonville is carrying four quarterbacks between the active roster and practice squad without an injury crisis attached.
That alone says he made an impression on Liam Coen and the coaching staff. Still, unless the season goes completely sideways, the Jaguars are not likely to ask a rookie like Aguilar to play.
In Other News...
Jaguars Cuts Are Already Creating A Post-Roster Debate
The Jaguars roster trim is in the books, and the next wave of conversation is already focused on who stayed in the organization and who got away. Jacksonville got to 53 players and then quickly filled out its practice squad with 17 additions, keeping several waived players in the building as the team tried to preserve continuity after cut-down day.
Even so, the list of former Jaguars is starting to spread across the league. Yasir Abdullah landed with the Atlanta Falcons on their 53-man roster, while Chuma Edoga, DeeJay Dallas, Patrick Herbert and Jalen Hunt have already turned up on other practice squads or remain free agents, with landing spots including Baltimore, Minnesota and Los Angeles. For a team trying to sharpen the back end of the roster, the early debate is less about the final cut itself than whether Jacksonville gave up too much talent before the waiver claims and practice-squad shuffle settled. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Could Have One More Tough Roster Decision Before Week 1
James Gladstone has already been active on the trade front for Jacksonville, moving quarterback Quinn Ewers and tight end Hunter Long in separate deals as the team continues shaping the roster ahead of Week 1. With the opener closing in, the Jaguars still have a few spots that could prompt more movement, especially as they weigh depth, health, and how the offensive line and linebacker groups line up once the final roster picture gets clearer.
One of the names to watch is Walker Little, whose status could become part of a bigger decision if Cole Van Lanen is back from injury and ready to factor in. On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville could also look outside the building for help at linebacker, with New Orleans Pete Werner mentioned as a possible target if the Jaguars decide they need more depth there. For a front office that has already shown a willingness to deal, the final stretch before Week 1 may not be quiet. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face An Early Travis Hunter Dilemma They Cant Ignore
Travis Hunter arrived in Jacksonville with the kind of buzz that comes from being the No. 2 overall pick, and with it came an unusual expectation for a rookie: he wanted to play both wide receiver and cornerback full time. The Jaguars drafted him believing his rare skill set could change how they line up on both sides of the ball, but his first season never really got traction as injuries limited what he could do and kept the impact from matching the hype.
Now the conversation is shifting from possibility to patience. Coach Liam Coen has made it clear the Jaguars are not rushing Hunter into an everything-all-at-once role, preferring to manage his recovery and workload carefully while easing him into the offense. For a player who wants to be a true two-way weapon, the early challenge in Jacksonville is less about talent than finding the right balance between ambition and caution. [Read more 🡒]