The Jaguars’ right guard spot is suddenly one of the biggest questions on their offensive line after Patrick Mekari underwent back surgery. Jacksonville expects Mekari back this season, but the team is still weighing whether to place him on injured reserve to open the year.
For now, the challenge is simple: who steps in at right guard while Mekari recovers?
Walker Little would be the cleanest answer if everyone were healthy, but he has been dealing with an injury of his own. With Cole Van Lanen also out, Little may be needed at tackle instead, which complicates things even more.
That opens the door for a few other possibilities. Jonah Monheim has gotten work at right guard in recent practices, while Wyatt Milum has been lining up at right tackle. Milum is another name to watch inside at guard, especially after taking 11 snaps there in the Jaguars’ preseason opener and spending plenty of time at the position since being drafted.
Jacksonville could also get more creative and slide Ezra Cleveland to right guard, then move Emmanuel Pregnon into the left guard spot. Pregnon turned heads in the preseason opener, but the Jaguars also seem interested in giving him time to grow. And because almost all of his college snaps came at left guard, keeping him there may be the simpler path.
That setup would hinge on how ready Jacksonville thinks Pregnon is to start right away. Cleveland, meanwhile, has real experience at the spot, with 621 career snaps at right guard, all of them coming during his rookie season in 2020.
Chuma Edoga is another option once he gets back from injury.
So the Jaguars aren’t short on bodies. The issue is finding the right mix while injuries continue to pile up along the offensive line. The focus, at least for now, is less about plugging one hole and more about getting the best five linemen on the field.
Expect plenty of shuffling as camp moves along.
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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
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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 🡒]
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 🡒]