Liam Coen had plenty to unpack Wednesday as the Jaguars settled on their initial 53-man roster, and the head coach spent time walking through the decisions, the depth chart, and what he likes about the group moving forward.
One of the first names he brought up was Ewers, whose arm talent stood out to Coen last season. He also said he liked him coming out of Texas in the 2025 NFL draft. At the same time, Coen pointed to the value of keeping Nick Mullens on the practice squad because of the experience he brings.
Coen also zeroed in on Bryan Thomas Jr., saying the pass rusher first really grabbed his attention during OTAs. He said Thomas showed explosiveness then, especially when he was hitting the bags, and that the carryover from training camp to the preseason games was what made him stand out even more.
In a wide receiver room that has plenty of bodies competing for work, Coen said the evaluation goes well beyond what happens when the ball is thrown their way. He said he looks at how those receivers win routes and how they handle run blocking, too.
There was also a bit of injury and availability chatter from the coach. Coen said Jakobi Meyers should be practicing on Wednesday, and Brian Thomas Jr. was a full-go on Tuesday.
On the practice squad, Coen said he feels better about this year’s group than last year’s. In his view, it has a strong mix of developmental players and guys who can be elevated to the game-day roster if the Jaguars need them.
Coen also said he and Trevor Lawrence, along with the rest of the offense, have more confidence in the downfield passing game. He tied that into Lawrence’s ability to extend plays, which Coen believes can open up opportunities through the air.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar drew a specific compliment from Coen, who said, "He has a little gamer in him," before adding that there is still development needed. Coen also said, "He's calm on game day."
The coach touched on the experience Ameer Abdullah and Jahlani Tavai bring to the roster, calling that a valuable addition for Jacksonville.
As for the injury front, Coen said he is not sure whether LeQuint Allen and Cole Van Lanen will be ready for Week 1. He said Cole has "looked good" in practice and that he is "hopeful" both can be ready, but added that he wants to stay mindful of the fact that it is a long season. On Allen specifically, Coen said, "I'd be pleasantly surprised if he's ready to go."
If Van Lanen is unable to play, Coen said Wyatt Milum would step in as the swing tackle.
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Ahead of cutdown day, the Jaguars made a late change behind Trevor Lawrence by acquiring quarterback Quinn Ewers from the Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick. The move gives Jacksonville a new backup option after Nick Mullens was released from the active roster, then brought back on the practice squad, while general manager James Gladstone praised Mullens for the professionalism and value he brought to the team.
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With the Jaguars down to their 53-man roster, two of the more interesting names to survive cutdown day were Ameer Abdullah and Jahlani Tavai. Neither player arrived with the kind of spotlight that usually follows roster locks, but both made a clear case in camp and the preseason, turning steady work into real roles for an opener that already has a few moving parts.
Abdullah is expected to factor into the passing game, while Tavai gives Jacksonville needed depth at linebacker and on special teams, which makes both spots especially valuable early in the season. Head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone both singled out their professionalism and how much they added to the group, and for a roster still sorting out its identity, those are the kind of contributions that can matter fast. [Read more 🡒]