As the Jaguars move into Week 2 of the preseason, a clearer picture is starting to emerge around the 2026 rookie class. Some newcomers are already climbing the depth chart.
Others are still in the early stages of earning trust. And one rookie’s season is already done.
At tight end, Nate Boerkircher appears to have locked himself into the TE2 job. The Jaguars plan to use him mostly as a blocker, but they also believe he can grow into more as a receiver.
Another tight end, Tanner Koziol, has already moved ahead of veterans Quintin Morris and Hunter Long. He looks positioned as the third tight end in 13 personnel, and he could also be used when Jacksonville wants more receiving punch at the position.
On the defensive line, Albert Regis is settling in as the backup nose tackle behind DaVon Hamilton. That spot asks a lot of a rookie: absorb contact, clog lanes, and free up others around him.
Liam Coen has already noted that defensive tackle can be a tough position for first-year players, and Regis is still a "work in progress." Even so, he turned in a solid preseason debut.
Emmanuel Pregnon was one of the real standouts in the preseason opener, and he caught Coen’s eye. The Jaguars seem ready to let him keep developing before asking him to step into a starting role.
Jalen Huskey also made a strong first impression. He was everywhere in the preseason opener, tackling well and playing with the kind of edge the coaching staff likely loved. He’s projected to land as the fourth or fifth safety, which probably limits his defensive workload as a rookie, but he could contribute immediately on special teams.
Wesley Williams was quieter during camp, but he showed up in the preseason game. Coaches have praised the way he affects both the run and the pass, and that was on display against the Saints. Williams now looks like the fifth defensive end in the rotation, behind Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, BJ Green, and Danny Striggow.
At receiver, Josh Cameron and CJ Williams have both made positive early impressions in camp. Each has shown an ability to get open and give Trevor Lawrence dependable targets.
Cameron has also taken reps as a return man. Right now, Cameron and Williams are sitting as the fifth and sixth receivers.
Zach Durfee has flashed regularly in practice, but he’s also dealing with the reality of a crowded defensive end room. His path to a meaningful role in Year 1 is still unclear.
The one rookie whose outlook has changed the most is Parker Hughes. On Monday, the Jaguars announced that he has been placed on injured reserve, ending his rookie season before it really got going.
In Other News...
Jaguars Bubble Battle Is Heating Up At Several Key Positions
The Jaguars are using the next stretch of joint practices and a preseason game as a real-time roster test, and a handful of familiar names are feeling the pressure. JMari Taylor, Austin Trammell, Quintin Morris, Hunter Long, Yasir Abdullah, Jalen McLeod and Christian Braswell are all trying to make their case for one of the limited spots on Jacksonvilles 53-man roster, with every rep carrying extra weight this time of year.
What makes this bubble fight especially tricky is that the answer is not just about individual performance. The Jaguars also have to decide how many players to keep at each position, which means a strong showing can still leave someone vulnerable if the numbers break the wrong way. For the players on the fringe, these upcoming days may do more than shape depth charts - they could decide who gets to stick around when the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars O-Line Move Just Raised A Bigger Patrick Mekari Concern
The Jaguars added another body to a battered offensive line Sunday, acquiring Daniel Faalele from the Giants in exchange for a late 2027 draft pick. Faalele gives Jacksonville a versatile reserve with experience at multiple spots up front, which is exactly the kind of insurance a team starts shopping for when the injury list begins to thin out its depth.
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 🡒]
Jaguars Joint Practice Puts Three Big Camp Questions Under Pressure
The Jaguars are back on the field with Carolina for their second joint practice of the summer, and the session comes with a few camp questions still hanging in the air. Jacksonvilles pass rush depth remains worth watching, especially in a setting where live reps can expose how much pressure the front can create beyond the top names.
Up front, the offensive line is still getting sorted through injuries, with one possible setup featuring Emmanuel Pregnon at left guard, Ezra Cleveland at right guard and Walker Little at right tackle. Travis Hunter is another key piece in the mix, and after getting regular offensive work earlier in camp, he has spent almost every snap over the last two days at cornerback, keeping his role one of the most intriguing decisions in camp. [Read more 🡒]