The Jaguars’ second joint practice of the summer brings a different kind of test Wednesday, with Carolina in town and a few key roster questions hanging over the session.
Joint practices have become a regular part of the NFL calendar for good reason. They give starters and important pieces a chance to work in game-like situations without the full chaos of a preseason game. For Jacksonville, this one should help answer a few things that have been bubbling since camp opened.
One of the biggest eyes will be on the defensive front and whether the depth rush keeps flashing. The Jaguars need more steady pressure this season from the rotational defensive ends and tackles, and that remains one of the major unknowns on the roster.
In the preseason opener, though, that group was active and disruptive. Ruke Orhorhoro, Wesley Williams, BJ Green, and others all made noise.
The question now is whether that was the start of something real or just one strong afternoon.
Up front on offense, the picture is less settled because of injuries. Jacksonville is currently down Cole Van Lanen, Chuma Edoga, Wyatt Milum, and Patrick Mekari, which leaves the starting line configuration open to some shuffling.
One possible setup would have Emmanuel Pregnon at left guard, Ezra Cleveland at right guard, and Walker Little at right tackle. If the Jaguars keep Cleveland on the left side, Jonah Monheim could step in at right guard instead.
However it shakes out, the health and performance of this group is a major storyline because offensive success starts with the line.
Then there’s Travis Hunter, who has been one of camp’s most watched pieces from the start. In most individual practices, the bulk of his work has come on defense, though he’s also gotten regular chances on offense.
Over the last two days, though, Hunter has been almost exclusively at cornerback, playing nearly every snap on defense. Whether that usage carries over into the joint practice will be worth tracking.
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The move also casts a little more light on the situation around Patrick Mekari, who recently had a back procedure and remains a question mark for the lineup. Jacksonville has not decided whether he will go on injured reserve, and until theres a clearer answer, every shuffle along the line will carry extra weight for a group that can least afford another hit. [Read more 🡒]