Sunday opened the door to new opportunities for some NFL talent, but a harsh reality for others. All 32 franchises faced the difficult process of cutting their rosters to 53 players, down from 90, leaving 1,184 athletes without a team to call home.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were no exception, with quarterback decisions at the forefront. Friday afternoon, the Jaguars picked up Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers as their intended backup in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick. With that, Trevor Lawrence and Ewers anchor the roster, with initial fourth-string option Joey Aguilar expected to remain on the practice squad.
The decision sent Carter Bradley to the waiver wire and released 2025 backup Nick Mullens. NFL teams are required to have two quarterbacks on the active roster, with one as an emergency option designated to the practice squad, slotting Aguilar there after being waived.
In the running back battle, the expected three – LeQuint Allen Jr., Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten – earned their spots, while Ameer Abdullah secured the coveted fourth. DeeJay Dallas and J’Mari Taylor were cut after they battled it out in Friday’s preseason game against Tampa Bay.
Preseason standout wideout Trebor Pena failed to make the active roster after logging 58 receiving yards in his first NFL action. The 24-year-old rookie was on the receiving end of Aguilar’s sole touchdown pass of the fall.
Despite various injuries, including ones to Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) and Jakobi Meyers (hand), the Jags’ wide receiver room has plenty of depth. While he is listed as a cornerback, Travis Hunter will log snaps on offense. Ten months removed from a knee ailment, he is expected to play both sides of the ball come September.
Brenton Strange, Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol claimed the expected three tight end spots. However, Quintin Morris also nabbed a spot after question marks initially surrounded his status following a shaky training camp and uncertainty about how many tight ends the team would choose to take. Jacksonville trading Hunter Long for a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals cemented the top-four slots. The Jaguars’ tight ends are among the youngest of their position group with an average of 2.75 years of experience.
The Jaguars have nine offensive linemen on their active roster, with Patrick Mekari on the Reserve/Injured list after undergoing back surgery in early August. Mekari’s splash signing March 13 earned him $37.5 million, but he will be out for the foreseeable future. Recent acquisition Daniel Faalele survived cutdown day and will join as the heftiest of the bunch. At 6-foot-8, 380 pounds, the Minnesota product adds an option to the right guard position while Mekari recovers.
Jacksonville heads into 2026 with last year’s top run defense. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s crew allowed just 85.6 rushing yards per game. Now, the Jags have 11 athletes on the defensive line, including its top talent from 2025. EDGEs Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker and tackles DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead are the expected starters, while the seven behind them provide solid depth. Notably, Bryan Thomas Jr. cracked the 53-man roster after an elite performance against Tampa Bay when he posted 2.5 sacks, five total tackles (three solo), four quarterback hurries and one pass defensed.
The linebacker unit came into this season the most uncertain of them all without Devin Lloyd. However, the Jaguars kept Foyesade Oluokun, who headlines the group as its seasoned veteran, while Jahlani Tavai also brings his seven seasons of experience to the group. Ventrell Miller has also emerged as a projected starter behind his solid training camp, while Dennis Gardeck and Branson Combs provide depth to the unit. Ultimately, though, Jacksonville decided to keep just five linebackers.
The Jaguars donned the league’s 12th-worst passing defense in 2025. With Hunter fully healthy, the former Heisman Trophy winner is slotted to take on a massive role in the secondary. He practiced primarily on defense despite playing 160 more offensive than defensive snaps last season. He will start at cornerback alongside Montaric Brown and Jourdan Lewis.
There was no competition for special teams. Logan Cooke, Cam Little and Ross Matiscik will hold down Heath Farwell’s unit. Little will look to build upon his historically consistent 2025 season, when he made 88.2% of his field goals.
53-man Roster
Quarterbacks
Trevor Lawrence
Quinn Ewers
Joey Aguilar (Practice Squad)
Running Backs
LeQuint Allen Jr.
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Bhayshul Tuten
Ameer Abdullah
Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers
Brian Thomas Jr.
Parker Washington
Travis Hunter
CJ Williams
Josh Cameron
Tight Ends
Brenton Strange
Nate Boerkircher
Quintin Morris
Tanner Koziol
Offensive Line
Jonah Monheim
Wyatt Milum
Daniel Faalele
Cole Van Lanen
Walker Little
Robert Hainsey
Emmanuel Pregnon
Ezra Cleveland
Anton Harrison
Defensive Line
Josh Hines-Allen
Travon Walker
DaVon Hamilton
Bryan Thomas Jr.
Wesley Williams
Arik Armstead
Danny Striggow
Matt Dickerson
B.J. Green II
Albert Regis
Ruke Orhorhoro
Linebackers
Foyesade Oluokun
Jahlani Tavai
Dennis Gardeck
Branson Combs
Ventrell Miller
Cornerbacks
Montaric Brown
Jourdan Lewis
Jarrian Jones
Travis Hunter
Christian Braswell
Safeties
Antonio Johnson
Jalen Huskey
Rayuan Lane III
Caleb Ransaw
Eric Murray
Special Teams
Logan Cooke (Punter)
Cam Little (Kicker)
Ross Matiscik (Long Snapper)
