The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting a little healthier as the regular season approaches, and Trevor Lawrence is about to have one of his more dependable targets back in the mix.
Parker Washington is expected to return to practice next week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He had been held out of practice this week because of an undisclosed injury, and the exact nature of the issue remains unclear.
That update comes after Jacksonville also activated offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen off the PUP list on Thursday.
Washington’s 2025 season was a real breakout. He finished with 58 catches for 847 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and he became the Jaguars’ most trusted option in the passing game.
He led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. The only Jacksonville player who finished with more receiving touchdowns was Travis Etienne Jr., who is no longer on the roster.
The Jaguars would obviously like to see Brian Thomas Jr. and other receivers push for more of that production, but Washington still carved out a major role by the time last season ended.
There’s also plenty on the line for Washington individually. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could hit free agency in the spring, which gives him a clear incentive to keep building on what he showed in 2025 and create a strong market for himself in the 2027 offseason.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, is trying to rebound after flopping in the playoffs last year. Getting Washington back on the field is a step toward giving Lawrence the kind of support the offense will need if the Jaguars are going to get over that postseason hump.
In Other News...
Jaguars Roster Fights Are Suddenly Getting Harder To Ignore
With preseason work turning toward Carolina and the backdrop of ongoing stadium construction, the Jaguars are getting a long look at the parts of the roster that rarely stay quiet in August. The most obvious fights are along the offensive line and at linebacker, where recent trades and signings such as Daniel Faalele and Timothy McKay have only added more names to sort through as the staff tries to settle the depth chart.
Injuries have made the picture even less tidy, and that has pushed the evaluation of backup quarterback options and rookie performances closer to the center of the conversation. With the 53-man roster deadline looming, Jacksonville is still searching for clarity in several spots, and some of these decisions could be harder to separate than the usual preseason cutdown talk. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Lawrence Decision Puts Jaguars At A Real Preseason Crossroads
The Jaguars are still weighing whether Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the first team will take the field in Saturdays preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, a choice that now feels more meaningful than a typical August tune-up. Liam Coen has left the door open both ways, pointing to recent injuries and what he has seen in practice as the factors shaping the decision, with the team still having more work ahead in practice and joint sessions before the regular season opener.
For a Jacksonville team trying to find the right balance between getting ready and staying healthy, this is the kind of call that can say as much about the staffs priorities as anything on the field. The final answer is expected within 24 hours, and whether Lawrence plays or not, the Jaguars are entering a preseason stretch where every rep seems to carry a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Tight End Battle Is Suddenly Putting Liam Coens Vision To The Test
Training camp has already started to show how Liam Coen wants his offense to look, and the Jaguars tight end room is one of the clearer signs. Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol, the teams two recent draft picks at the position, have both been worked into the mix as Jacksonville sorts out how much value it can get from a group that is being asked to do more than just fill space on the field.
Boerkircher brings a reputation for blocking, but there is also growing belief he can chip in as a receiver, especially around the red zone. Koziol offers a different look as a pass-catching threat who is willing to block, and that combination has already pushed veterans Quintin Morris and Hunter Long further down the depth chart. For a coaching staff trying to build a tight end rotation that fits Coens vision, the competition is starting to say as much as the playbook. [Read more 🡒]