Jaguars’ Liam Coen Faces Present and Future as Season Opener Looms
As the Jaguars rest just four days from their 2026 regular-season debut, Liam Coen and Co. navigate an ambivalent mindset. Jacksonville faces the middle ground of loaded anticipation and the need to keep its feet in front of it.
The second-year coach said he expects two offensive players to be game-time decisions ahead of the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, including a 10-game starter in 2025.
Left tackle Cole Van Lanen spent the offseason recovering from a knee injury sustained late in last season’s finale. The rumored ACL tear kept him out of the training camp and left him with limited reps this summer until he was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Aug. 20.
“We’ll take it all the way up to game time with that one,” Coen said. “You want to get him in. You want to be able to get him some work, get him some reps, get him feeling confident in a game-like setting.“
The Jaguars announced their official 53-man depth chart on Tuesday. Van Lanen debuted as the No. 1 left tackle with Walker Little backing him up. If the veteran fails to suit up, it’ll be the sixth-year Jag who gets the nod. Despite Van Lanen having minimal offseason experience, he’s spent the last four years with the franchise, starting 13 games, and is ready, Coen said, to take on the starting role once again.
“I’ve liked the way he’s attacked putting himself in maybe precarious positions and owning it,” Coen said. “I think he’s been very intentional about that.”
A slew of injuries has riddled Jacksonville heading into the regular season, including in the backfield. Running back LeQuint Allen Jr. will also be a game-time decision ahead of Week 1.The second-year rusher suffered a lower-body soft-tissue injury Aug. 17, forcing him to miss the final weeks of training camp. Allen is the No. 3 running back on the Jags’ depth chart behind Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr.
“It’s been a while, so we’ll have to work through it but I have a lot of faith in LeQuint and trust in him to be able to know the gameplan and give us a chance if he’s ready to go,” Coen said. “In that work out I’ll feel confident that he can come in and help our team.”
Allen was present for Wednesday’s practice but didn’t participate.
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has also been dealing with an injury and was sporting a non-contact jersey during practice due to his hand issue. Coen didn’t discuss if Meyers’ availability is in jeopardy.
If the 29-year-old is good to go against the Browns, quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have the entirety of his receiving weapons at his disposal. Wideout Brian Thomas Jr. missed three games last season due to an ankle injury and Travis Hunter’s LCL tear kept him out of 10 contests.
The Jaguars will face a Browns squad riddled with question marks, especially at the helm of the franchise. Cleveland boasts a first-year coach in Todd Monken and quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has not started a regular season contest since October 2024.
Jacksonville is 3-3 in its last six season openers and has a 12-8 all-time advantage over Cleveland. The Jaguars will face four 2025 playoff teams in five consecutive weeks following Sunday. While Week 1 can’t be a make-or-break contest, opening the season 1-0 is a priority.
So the vibe in Jacksonville? Ambivalent. It may take until the clock shows goose eggs on Sunday evening for that to subside.
Category: Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL
