The Jaguars’ rookie class has reached the bye week with a clear split in the road: a few newcomers are already carving out real roles, while others are still waiting for their first meaningful crack.
At the top of the group sits Emmanuel Pregnon, and that doesn’t appear likely to change anytime soon. Since earning a starting job at the end of training camp, Pregnon has remained the most dependable rookie in the bunch.
He has had some holding penalties pop up in recent weeks, but the Jaguars have liked what they’ve seen in the running game, and he has not been a liability in pass protection. He should keep getting better, too.
"Pregnon, I thought he had one of his better outings yesterday. He had the one hold and we'll continue to work with him as he goes on the second level and getting up and getting in space but I thought he played really well on the inside for us yesterday," Coen said Monday.
Josh Cameron has also made a strong early case for himself, especially as a sixth-round pick. He showed off his value again with another big kick return against the Texans, and his impact on special teams has been obvious.
His work as a pass-catcher has gone up and down from week to week, but that could look very different if the Jaguars trade Brian Thomas Jr. before next month’s deadline. For now, Cameron looks like an important depth piece and a major draft hit.
Nate Boerkircher has made his own case in limited chances. Against the Texans, he caught the first touchdown of his NFL career, flashing the reliable red-zone hands that drew the Jaguars to him during the draft process.
He has also held up as a run-blocker and has made something happen each time the ball has come his way. There’s reason to think the Jaguars will keep seeing more from him.
Bryan Thomas Jr. has played enough to land higher in the rankings, but the results have not followed the snap count. The Jaguars took a shot on young undrafted talent at defensive end, and the returns have been thin so far.
Thomas has one pressure on 28 rushes, and his 3.6% pressure rate ranks second-lowest on the team, ahead of only Danny Striggow’s 2.3%. He looked the part in the preseason, but that has not translated into production yet.
Tanner Koziol has quietly started to see more action, even if the passing game has not found him. He has played only 30 offensive snaps and has not been targeted, though his role has ticked up lately. The Jaguars have used him on the field in some notable 13 personnel looks, and while his impact through the air remains unseen, that could come later.
Jalen Huskey’s path has been even murkier. He has been active only once, and in that game he played just four special teams snaps.
Even with Caleb Ransaw injured, the Jaguars have gone with Kaevon Merriweather over Huskey for the past two weeks, a clear sign that Huskey is not close to a defensive role. If the Jaguars keep getting hit at safety, he needs more opportunities, but so far they haven’t come.
Albert Regis, the second player drafted in the Jaguars’ 2026 class, has had a quiet rookie season. He missed Week 3 with an injury and sat out the last two games as a healthy scratch.
Through it all, he has played only 22 snaps and recorded two assisted tackles. The simplest explanation is that the Jaguars feel comfortable with their top four defensive tackles and don’t have room for him in the rotation right now.
CJ Williams has had an even smaller window to work with. He was inactive in every game except Week 1, leaving little to judge beyond what he showed in camp and during the offseason program.
Unless injuries hit the wide receiver room, his chances of getting regular game-day action seem slim. A Brian Thomas Jr. trade before the deadline could change that, but otherwise his role looks limited.
Wesley Williams has received the least attention of all. Coen did give him a shoutout last week for his work on the practice field, along with Albert Regis, but that’s been about it during the season.
The fourth-round Duke product has not been made active yet, and that may not change soon with B.J. Green expected to come off injured reserve sooner rather than later.
For now, this looks like a redshirt year as he develops behind the Jaguars’ veteran defensive ends for 2027.
In Other News...
Jaguars Are Offering Fans A Permanent Place At The New Stadium
A new part of the Jaguars stadium plans is aimed less at game days than at memory. The team is partnering with Eternal Fan on the 904Ever Club, a fan memorial that will sit outside the new stadium now scheduled to open before the 2028 NFL season, giving supporters a permanent place tied to the franchises future home.
The concept includes private and shared spaces where fans can store memorabilia, with membership tiers set at $904, $2,904 and $5,904. Eternal Fan will handle construction, operations and revenue for the memorial, while the Jaguars will collect fees for the use of their marks and stadium grounds, a reminder that this project is as much about business as it is about sentiment. [Read more 🡒]
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One possible fix that has surfaced is a look at Arizona safety Budda Baker, a veteran with multiple Pro Bowl nods who would bring instant credibility to the defensive backfield. Whether Jacksonville can make a move, and whether Baker is the right fit, remains an open question, but the appeal is obvious if the Jaguars decide they need help sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Bye Week Puts One Crucial Roster Decision Under The Microscope
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The same pause also gives the front office and coaching staff a chance to reassess the wide receiver rotation, where Brian Thomas Jr.s playing time has trailed off. Those conversations matter now because the bye week is one of the few windows to make meaningful adjustments before the trade deadline, and Jacksonville has a few roster questions that could shape the rest of its season. [Read more 🡒]