JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida Sports Channel) – As the Jaguars continue their preparations for their first preseason game Saturday, 8/12 at 5:00 p.m. in Dallas against the Cowboys, here’s an overview of what you need to know for the coming season.
WR Calvin Ridley will return to the field for the first time since October 24, 2021, when he was still with the Atlanta Falcons. The Jaguars’ addition of Ridley to the roster gives third year QB Trevor Lawrence another target. Ridley has shown great promise during preseason practices, and should quickly demonstrate his value to the team.
Familiar names on this year’s roster include WR Jamal Agnew, OLB Josh Allen, CB Tyson Campbell, S Andre Cisco, P Logan Cooke, TE Evan Engram, RB Travis Etienne Jr., RB JaMycal Hasty, CB Tre Herndon, S Rayshawn Jenkins, WR Zay Jones, WR Christian Kirk, LB Devin Lloyd, LB Foyesade Oluokun, and OLB Travon Walker. OL Cam Robinson also returns, but will miss the first four games of the season after the NFL suspended him for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
The Jaguars offseason moves include the signing of draft picks OT Anton Harrison (Oklahoma), TE Brenton Strange (Penn State), RB Tank Bigsby (Auburn), LB Ventrell Miller (Florida), DE Tyler Lacy (Oklahoma State), LB Yassir Abdullah (Louisville), S Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M), WR Parker Washington (Penn State), CB Christian Braswell (Rutgers), DB Erick Hallett II (Pittsburgh), OT Cooper Hodges (Appalachian State), DT Raymond Vohasek (North Carolina), and FB Derek Parish (Houston). S Latavious Brini (Arkansas) was not drafted, but impressed coaches in the rookie minicamp, and is now competing for a spot on the roster, or perhaps the practice squad. Other undrafted signees include OLB D.J. Coleman (Missouri), WR Elijah Cooks (San Jose State), WR Oliver Martin (Nebraska), TE Leonard Taylor (Cincinnati), CB Kaleb Hayes (BYU), CB Divaad Wilson (UCF), LB Dequan Jackson (Colorado State), and OL Samuel Jackson (UCF). OT Coy Cronk has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. The Jags also added free agents RB D’Ernest Johnson from the Cleveland Browns, DL Michael Dogbe from the Arizona Cardinals, DL Henry Mondeaux from the New York Giants, OL Chandler Brewer from the Los Angeles Rams, K Brandon McManus from the Denver Broncos, and OL Josh Wells, who returns to Jacksonville, where he played from 2014 to 2018, before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019 until 2022. The Jaguars have also signed TE Sammis Reyes, who is the first player in the NFL from Chile, who also played basketball as a youth member with the Chilean national team. TE Josh Pederson played in the USFL last season, and has now joined the Jags to play for his father, Coach Doug Pederson.
Gone from the roster are RT Jawaan Taylor, who signed with Kansas City, DL Arden Key, who signed with Tennessee, TE Chris Manhertz, who signed with Denver, CB Shaquill Griffin, who signed with Houston, WR Marvin Jones, who signed with Detroit, TE Dan Arnold, who signed with Philadelphia, and K Riley Patterson, who was traded to Detroit. S Tyree Gillespie was released and has signed with Houston, WR Willie Johnson was waived due to a failed physical, and DT Corey Peters has announced he’s retiring after twelve years in the NFL.
The Miller Electric Center just opened its doors several weeks ago, and the Jaguars held their preseason practices on the new practice fields. This $120 Million, 125,000 square-foot facility features state of the art amenities, including locker rooms, training and medical facilities, concession stands, a team store, and fan viewing areas. For a look inside this impressive facility, click here: https://youtu.be/77Fc9zTA-Dw.
The Jags hope to improve upon last year’s performance, finishing 9-8 with a victory over the Tennessee Titans in the final game of the season. They went on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card game, coming back from a 27 point deficit to win 31-30 thanks to a Riley Patterson walk-off field goal. But they lost the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to win the Super Bowl. Many preseason polls predict a slightly better record for the 2023 season, and the Jaguars are currently the favorite to win the AFC South.
So while fans wait to return to EverBank Stadium (note the name change from last season’s TIAA Bank Field), be sure to practice your chants of “DUUUVAL,” and remember to add the hashtag #IWATJ to your social media posts. (“It was always the Jags.”) The Jaguars will also be playing two games across the Atlantic in London this season, on Sunday, 10/1 and 10/8. If you’re thinking about attending those games, you may want to start making your travel plans and searching online for tickets.
After the game in Dallas, this weekend, the Jaguars head to Detroit to play the Lions on Saturday, 8/19 at 1:00 p.m., before kicking off in Jacksonville against the Dolphins on Saturday, 8/26 at 7:00 p.m. for their final preseason game. The regular season schedule starts on the road in Indianapolis against the Colts on Sunday, 9/10 at 1:00 p.m. The Jaguars first home game will be against the world champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, 9/17 at 1:00 p.m. Stay tuned to Florida Sports Channel for more news throughout the season.
