As the Jacksonville Jaguars open the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, the spotlight shifts away from the starters and onto the players fighting for every snap they can get.
Head coach Liam Coen has already said the Jaguars’ starters won’t play, which means the second and third teams are about to get a much longer look. For plenty of these guys, this is where the evaluation really starts to sharpen. Jobs are open, roster spots are unsettled, and preseason reps can carry real weight.
At quarterback, Carter Bradley is the name to keep an eye on. He’s battling Joey Aguilar for the third spot on the depth chart, a job that will likely land on the practice squad.
Bradley has one clear edge: he already knows Liam Coen’s offense, while Aguilar is coming in as an undrafted free agent. That familiarity should matter early.
In the backfield, Ameer Abdullah is in a more unusual fight. Teams don’t usually carry a fourth running back, but the Jaguars often did last season. Abdullah has turned in a solid camp as both a runner and a returner, and he’ll need that to show up in games if Coen and James Gladstone are going to entertain the idea of keeping an extra back.
The rookie wideouts Josh Cameron and CJ Williams have already made noise in camp, and not just since arriving in Jacksonville. The next test is simple: translate that momentum into actual game action.
The same goes for tight end Tanner Koziol, who has looked good enough to appear settled in as the third tight end. His preseason work will help show what he can add to the passing game and how he handles blocking duties.
Up front, Chuma Edoga stands out because his value has grown as injuries have hit the offensive line. He wasn’t a lock to make the roster when camp opened, but his experience and ability to move between guard and tackle have made him a useful piece.
On the defensive line, Wesley Williams is in the mix with BJ Green, Zach Durfee, and Danny Striggow for playing time. His camp has been quieter than some others, but the Jaguars like the way he can affect both the run and the pass. Against a new opponent, that kind of skill set can pop.
Jalen McLeod is another player with a real roster battle in front of him. After a strong start to camp, his name has come up less lately, but his edge-rushing ability gives him a different kind of value at linebacker. Special teams could matter a lot for him, too.
At cornerback, Jabbar Muhammad has kept building on the success he showed during offseason work. He’s been used both outside and in the slot, and he’s shown off solid ball skills. A strong showing in New Orleans would go a long way toward locking up his roster spot.
And at safety, Caleb Ransaw is worth watching mostly because there hasn’t been much of him yet. In Anthony Campanile’s defense, he’s projected as the third safety, and that role does come with real playing time.
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Saints Showed Real Promise But One Problem Isnt Going Away
The Saints got the preseason rolling at the Caesars Superdome with plenty to like early, even in a 24-20 loss to the Jaguars. Ty Chandler sparked the opener with an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Zach Wilson helped drive a strong showing from the second-team offense, giving New Orleans a few encouraging signs as it starts sorting out the roster.
Even so, the back half of the game reminded the Saints how much work still needs to be done beyond the top of the depth chart. The reserves had a harder time sustaining that momentum, and the kicking competition remains unsettled, which means the team still has one of its most important roster battles hanging over the rest of the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Rookies Just Made The Roster Battle Worth Watching
The Saints used their preseason opener against the Jaguars to give their rookie class a long look, and a few newcomers made sure the coaches had something to sort through afterward. With most starters resting in the loss, sixth-round wide receiver Barion Brown led New Orleans rookies with four catches for 53 yards, while third-round tight end Oscar Delp put his name on the board with his first NFL touchdown.
The deeper cut of the roster picture got interesting, too. Undrafted edge rusher Michael Heldman turned in one of the more noticeable performances of the night with two sacks, while undrafted running back CJ Donaldson had a harder time finding room to operate. For a Saints team that still has plenty of jobs unsettled, that kind of mix is exactly why these August reps matter. [Read more 🡒]
Former Saints Quarterback Is Giving Fans Another Reason To Revisit QB Decisions
Another former Saints quarterback is back on the move, with Jake Haener landing in New York as the Giants continue sorting through their roster depth. Haener, who has also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, has already reported to practice and gives the Giants another experienced arm behind center as they adjust one spot on the roster.
For Saints fans, it is the kind of transaction that can stir up an old conversation about how the quarterback room has been managed over the last couple of years. Haener was a fourth-round pick in 2023 and got into eight games for New Orleans in 2024, so his latest stop is a reminder that the evaluation of young passers rarely ends where it begins. [Read more 🡒]