The Jaguars are about to get their first preseason look at a rookie class that has spent training camp trying to carve out roles, and Saturday’s road game against the Saints should give a few of them a real chance to make noise.
There are 10 draft picks in the mix, but not all of them are likely to suit up. Emmanuel Pregnon and Zach Durfee are both expected to sit, with Pregnon having gone through a full practice about a week ago and Durfee also missing recent practice time because of injuries. For the rest, the opener offers a clean stage to show what they can do when the lights come on.
Nate Boerkircher will draw plenty of attention first. The Jaguars’ top pick has been stacking solid practices over the last week, especially as a receiver, while continuing to show high-end blocking ability.
Still, the bigger test is coming in the run game, where practice work against the Jaguars’ defensive line is one thing and a live game rep is another. If the Jaguars are dealing with injuries up front, his blocking could matter even more.
Any production as a pass-catcher would be welcome, but his run-blocking is the main box to check, especially with Trevor Lawrence not throwing him the ball.
Albert Regis is another rookie whose Saturday tape will be about consistency. Head coach Liam Coen said Regis flashed earlier this week and helped a defensive front that gave the Jaguars problems in the run game on Tuesday, but Coen also pointed out that the rookie has had days where improvement was needed. That’s the challenge for young defensive linemen early on, and Regis needs to show he can hold up against the run if he wants to earn snaps in Anthony Campanile’s early-down packages.
Jalen Huskey has been one of the quieter success stories of camp, but he keeps showing up around the football. He looks like a defender who can create turnovers, and he has the ball skills and aggressive tackling style to force fumbles or pick off passes. Against the Saints, he should get a bigger workload than he does behind Eric Murray, Antonio Johnson, and second-year safety Caleb Ransaw, and he could be the Jaguars defender most likely to force a takeaway.
Wesley Williams has had a solid camp, but the preseason opener gives the fourth-round pick a chance to show more of what he can do in a game than he’s been able to flash in practice. His physical traits should stand out once the hitting starts, and he ought to see a healthy number of snaps on the defensive front.
One thing worth watching: whether Anthony Campanile kicks him inside on passing downs. Campanile has compared Williams’ frame and traits to Travon Walker, and Williams had some success rushing from the interior in college.
Tanner Koziol has made his share of impressive catches during camp, even if he hasn’t been the constant highlight-reel player he was in the offseason program. What the Jaguars need to see now is more consistency in his physical play, both as a blocker and as a receiver.
Koziol has fluid routes and reliable hands, but he still has to prove he can handle front-seven defenders in the trenches if he wants to lock down snaps. He already appears to have the TE3 job behind Brenton Strange and Boerkircher, so a strong showing against the Saints would only strengthen that position.
Josh Cameron has been the rookie who has stood out most in camp, at least in this view. He has repeatedly shown himself as a downfield threat, and his strong hands and willingness to battle cornerbacks on the outside have carried over from college.
The preseason opener also gives him a chance to make an impact away from the offense. With his physical profile, he could be a real threat on special teams under the new kickoff rules, and it would not be a shock to see him break one for a long return, maybe even all the way to the end zone.
CJ Williams could be busy in the passing game as well. There’s a real chance he leads the Jaguars in targets against the Saints, considering how often he has been the favorite option for the backup offenses since April.
He has a knack for finding space, being where the ball is supposed to be, and finishing tough catches, including some made off his feet. The one area that needs a cleaner showing is contested-catch work, since he has had a few too many passes broken up in recent practices.
Winning through contact at the catch point will matter for him.
Parker Hughes may have the most riding on the night of any rookie on the list. He is squarely in a fight for a roster spot, and with the Jaguars adding several veteran linebacker free agents in recent days, every snap matters even more.
Hughes will need to make his case whenever he gets on the field, and special teams could be a major part of that argument. His speed and tackling give him real upside as a coverage player, and Saturday is a chance to start showing it.
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