The Jaguars are heading into roster-cut week with a few veteran names suddenly living on the edge.
By Sunday afternoon, every team has to get down to 53 players, and in Jacksonville that could leave some familiar faces sweating out the final decisions. A handful of veterans have survived this kind of squeeze before, but this year’s camp has created a tougher path for them.
At linebacker, the Jaguars may not have room for both Jalen McLeod and Yasir Abdullah unless they decide not to move forward with Jahlani Tavai as a backup off-ball linebacker after Parker Hughes’ season-ending injury. The strong side linebacker spot in Anthony Campanile’s scheme is the kind of role that usually produces one clear winner, not two.
Abdullah got off to a strong start in the preseason, notching a sack and a strong special teams tackle in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints. Last week against the Carolina Panthers, though, he wasn’t nearly as effective.
McLeod, meanwhile, missed the first two preseason games, then returned to practice this week and is expected to play in the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had shown real pass-rush upside earlier in camp, and the 2025 Day 3 pick seemed to be gaining ground.
Abdullah brings experience and proven special teams value, so this one still looks wide open.
Cornerback may be another spot where a veteran gets squeezed out. Jabbar Muhammad appears to have done enough to lock down the No. 5 cornerback job, which would leave Christian Braswell needing Jacksonville to keep six corners just to hang on.
Braswell does have one thing working in his favor: familiarity. The staff liked what he gave them on defense and special teams last season, and he’s back on the field after being limited early in camp.
“Yeah, Bras, he's done a great job to fight his way back. That's kind of who he is, though too," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Monday.
"He's a guy who gives you maximum effort. He's a high-character guy.
He's got a ton of talent. He's an explosive guy, whether that's on special teams or defense, he's been a guy that we can rely on.
It's good to get him back, where he's feeling good and watch him get out there and run around a little bit."
Tight end is another group where the math is working against the vets. When the Jaguars drafted Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol in April, they made it pretty clear that life would be difficult for veteran tight ends not named Brenton Strange.
Four tight ends could fit, but five would be a stretch, which leaves Hunter Long and Quintin Morris fighting for what might be one final spot - and that’s only if Jacksonville decides to carry four at all. Morris was the more productive player last season, while Long has had the stronger camp in 2026.
Special teams could decide it, or the Jaguars could simply roll with the rookies and Strange.
The offensive line has turned into its own late-summer puzzle. Jacksonville brought back all nine of its top linemen from 2025 and added Emmanuel Pregnon, then had to deal with an injury question around Cole Van Lanen.
That initially opened the door for an extra lineman to start the year. Patrick Mekari’s back surgery and unclear timetable seemed to push Chuma Edoga into a secure spot, but the picture changed again after the Jaguars traded for Daniel Faalele and activated Van Lanen off the Active/PUP list.
Now there’s congestion again at the back end of the group. If Jacksonville keeps only nine offensive linemen, it’s hard to see Edoga ahead of Walker Little, Wyatt Milum, Jonah Monheim, or Faalele, which could make the veteran backup the odd man out.
In Other News...
Tony Boselli Just Gave The Jaguars More NFL Influence
Tony Bosellis reach in Jacksonville is about to extend well beyond the front office. The Hall of Famer, now the Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations, has been named to the NFL Competition Committee, the group that reviews the leagues competitive side of the game, from rules to player protection. For a franchise still trying to build its standing on and off the field, that is the sort of appointment that carries real weight.
It also gives the Jaguars another avenue to strengthen relationships around the league, which can matter in ways that are not always obvious on the scoreboard. The club has already benefited from that kind of influence, with more joint practices lined up for the 2025 preseason, and Bosellis new role should only add to Jacksonvilles voice in conversations that shape how the NFL operates. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Roster Battles Heat Up As Two Defensive Concerns Linger
The Jaguars second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers offered a mixed bag, the kind that sharpens roster debates more than it settles them. Ameer Abdullah, Nick Mullens, CJ Williams, Josh Cameron, Jahlani Tavai and Trebor Pena all turned in noticeable showings, giving Jacksonville a few encouraging evaluations to sort through as the preseason moves along.
Carter Bradleys outing, though, did not help his case, with the quarterback finishing below 50% completions and throwing an interception. Beyond the individual performances, the bigger concern for Jacksonville still sits on the defensive side, where cornerback depth and pass-rush depth remain issues the staff has to keep measuring before roster decisions start to harden. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have One Late Roster Battle Fans Should Be Watching
With the Jaguars moving toward their 53-man roster deadline, most of the big decisions around the team look fairly settled. The intrigue now is centered on a much smaller fight, and undrafted rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. has turned himself into one of the names worth tracking after a steady preseason that caught the attention of both coaches and teammates.
Anthony Campanile and Josh Hines-Allen have both spoken highly of Thomas, a promising sign for a player trying to carve out a role in a crowded room. For Jacksonville, the appeal is straightforward: effort, energy and a playing style that has stood out at a time when roster spots are at a premium, even if the final call still leaves one of the more interesting questions hanging over the back end of the defense. [Read more 🡒]