Five practices into Jaguars training camp, the rookie depth chart is starting to take shape - not in stone, but enough to give a real read on where these first-year players stand heading into the long grind of August.
Some of the placements are exactly what you’d expect. Others hint at a few early camp battles that could become worth watching.
At tight end, Nate Boerkircher has settled in as the No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange. That fits the scouting report on Boerkircher, who is known for his blocking, but Liam Coen has also liked what he’s seen from him as a route runner.
On the defensive line, Albert Regis is backing up DaVon Hamilton, which comes with no real surprise.
Emmanuel Pregnon is currently the backup left guard behind Ezra Cleveland, giving the Jaguars another rookie positioned right behind an established starter.
In the safety group, Jalen Huskey is buried a bit deeper. He’s sitting fifth on the depth chart in a crowded room, with Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane among the players ahead of him.
The defensive end rotation is still sorting itself out, but Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee appear to be behind Danny Striggow and BJ Green for now. That could change as camp goes on, but that’s where things stand through five practices.
The wide receiver room has been crowded, and both Josh Cameron and CJ Williams have continued to draw attention. Even with that strong start, they’re still behind Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter on the depth chart.
Tanner Koziol has also been getting a healthy number of chances early. Among the tight ends, he appears to be ahead of Quintin Morris and Hunter Long.
And at linebacker, Parker Hughes may be fighting for one of the final spots if the Jaguars choose to keep six at the position. In that scenario, he looks to be competing with Jalen McLeod and Yasir Abdullah for a single opening.
In Other News...
Jaguars Camp Battles Are Heating Up At Three Key Positions
Six practices into training camp, the Jaguars are already getting a clearer picture of where the roster stands before the joint-work portion of summer begins. Jacksonville will soon test itself against the Saints, Panthers and Buccaneers in consecutive stretches of practice, a useful stretch for a team still sorting out who fits where as the regular season approaches. A recent depth chart projection tried to map out the current pecking order across the roster, from quarterback and wide receiver to the offensive line and the back end of the defense.
What makes this stage interesting is how many spots still feel very much up for grabs, even with camp underway. The projected lineup touched on key battles at running back, cornerback, safety and along the defensive line, the kinds of positions where one strong week can change how coaches view the rotation. Once the Jaguars start facing outside competition in those joint practices, those internal competitions should get a lot sharper, and a few of them may not be settled as quickly as the calendar suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Camp Concern That Could Shape The Roster
Training camp has barely gotten moving, and the Jaguars are already dealing with a roster issue that can change how the whole month is evaluated. Injuries at linebacker have thinned one spot, and the bigger concern for depth right now is along the offensive line, where Cole Van Lanens placement on the Active/PUP list has left Jacksonville light at tackle.
That is why the Jaguars are looking at veteran help to keep camp reps competitive and protect themselves against more wear and tear. Joe Noteboom, Liam Eichenberg and D.J. Humphries are among the names in the mix, giving the front office a few different ways to add experience and competition while the team sorts out what it really has in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]