JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Fred from Naples, FL
I believe we are loaded at wide receiver this upcoming year. Assuming Travis Hunter comes in as wideout on a specific number of plays, what wide receiver do we take out to make room for him? Parker, Jakobi or BTJ?
The Jaguars entering 2026 Training Camp feel very good about their wide receivers. With good reason. Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. showed last season they form a very reliable, capable, versatile – and balanced – trio. That group improved as it gained chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the 2025 regular season continued, a trend that figures to continue early this coming season. As for cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, you absolutely can assume he will play offense on specific number of plays in 2026. Thoughts to the contrary that we have seen voiced by fans and observers are silly, lazy and misplaced. What receiver will the Jaguars "take out" to make room for him? This will depend largely on situations and isn't something the Jaguars are discussing much publicly yet. It damned sure will be a major storyline early in the 2026 regular season. Stay tuned.
Andra from Jacksonville
What's the best record we should expect from this year's team? I believe 12-5 is a great expectation looking at the schedule. But if injuries don't plague the season, is 14-3 truly doable?
I haven't the foggiest idea what to tell fans what to expect in terms of record. I expect the Jaguars to be good this season. Really good. I expect them to make the postseason and contend for the AFC South. I expect they will win more than 10 games. I doubt they will win 15, 16 or 17 because winning that many games is really hard even for great teams. Is 14-3 doable? Sure. Is 11-6 and getting into the postseason with a chance to navigate the postseason possible? Sure. Successful seasons can look a lot of different ways in the NFL. Anything north of double-digit victories is good stuff. Double-digit victories with playoff success are even better stuff.
Paul from St. Augustine, FL
The fact that so many people have had to ask so many times, "Are we in the 'Dead zone?' makes me wonder if the phenomenal Web/Tech Team needs to put up a flashing banner or something.
"Phenomenal."
James from Titusville, NJ
It has not escaped my attention that you freely use WCO for "west coast offense," but won't use ACL for "anterior cruciate ligament." I am among the few in whom that annoys, but I have a trick, you see. Every time you spell out "anterior cruciate ligament," I say "ACL" in my head. Also, I don't complain … usually.
It appears to have escaped your attention that when recently discussing the West Coast Offense in an O-Zone column I used "WCO" after first writing "West Coast Offense." I similarly write "ACL" after first writing "anterior cruciate ligament" when referring to that part of the knee. You spell these things out on first reference, then abbreviate on second reference. I'm sorry referring to this this way annoys you. Being annoyed can be … well, annoying. But in this case, level of annoyances doesn't matter. Doing things right does.
Woody from Dunlap
Is Nate Boerkircher fully healthy or is he nursing an injury(ies) right now? If he is banged up, is he expected to be ready for training camp? Am hoping to be able to see both his blocking talent AND his receiving talent (reports indicate he is a much better receiver than his college stats would indicate).
Jaguars rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher is expected to participate in 2026 Training Camp.
Steve from Wallingford, CT
On your response to "best defensive player to ever play for Jacksonville…" how is cornerback Jalen Ramsey not on that list?
Time on task. It's probably true that players with less time on task with the Jaguars have made similar lists of mine. My list, my rules. Or something like that.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Wait. What about "N?" We're ignoring "N?"
We have reached "N" in our discussion of Jaguars players with last names starting with particular letters – and we aren't ignoring the "Ns" as much as we just hadn't gotten there yet. Until now. Now that we're here, possibilities include: Guard Chris Naeole (2002-2007), safety Reggie Nelson (2007-2009), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (2015-2019), linebacker Hardy Nickerson (2000-2001), punter Brad Nortman (2016-2017), guard Andrew Norwell (2018-2021), guard Jeff Novak (1995-1998) and guard Uche Nwaneri (2007-2013). I guess we will go Ngakoue here, with a hat tip to the late Nwaneri – a really good dude gone way too soon.
Harold from Jacksonville
Who is the best player to wear No. 53 for the Jaguars?
We are pushing toward the mid-50s in this exercise discussing the best players ever to wear certain numbers for the Jaguars, and 53 is intriguing because players who have worn this rarely have contributed for the long term. The best possibility? Linebacker T.J. Slaughter (2000-2003), and he's essentially the only choice.
Jim from Jagsonville
O-dude, it would be awesome if you have one of your subordinates make a poll question so us fans can vote on the "too close to call" letters and numbers thing, man. Radical!
That would have been awesome. Not for the people who had to "make the poll," though. And not for me, either. I guess in retrospect that wouldn't have been that awesome.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
One random one fer John Shipley, he's a crucial cog during the dead zone. While there may not be anything on the field actually going on, the man sure can compile some SI lists, X-factors, stats, rankings, etc. that help scratch the itch after the daily O-Zone. He was a solid signing by the Jags. Glad to see he is getting some real reps over here. If the front office were to select one single UDFA for the active roster, who would you be the least surprised about, pre-training camp?
It wouldn't surprise me to see running back J'Mari Taylor – who signed with the Jaguars as an collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft – make the "final 53" in 2026 and/or be very involved as a practice-squad player next season. And absolutely … one fer Ship, which really isn't particularly random at all.
Scott from Jacksonville
How do those sharks sleep without dying? Former Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith was a REALLY good player and criminally underrated. Is Jaguars nose tackle DaVon Hamilton really borderline great too? How good IS that man at football?
I don't know. Yes, he was. Yes. Very.
Jimbo from Beaches east of Jax
Zone, veering off the beaten path, who is your gentleman's favorite to win Wimbledon? The French Open played havoc with the top seeds and draws, and I am looking for the upstarts to likewise make strong statements on the hallowed grass. I'm picking the Czech Jakub Mensik to win.
This is an unbeaten path I am glad to travel, with loyal O-Zone readers – he knows who he is – knowing that I have little problem during the dead zone leaning heavily into tennis. This is partly because Wimbledon is smack dab in the middle of the dead zone and partly because I find tennis among the more intriguing sports – and this year's Wimbledon's men's draw absolutely has much intrigue. While World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy was among those falling victim to the aforementioned French Open havoc, the thought here is he remains the overwhelming favorite at Wimbledon – particularly with World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain still out with a wrist injury. Mensik's style makes him a good selection on the Wimby grass, and Alcaraz's absence gives Novak Djokovic of Serbia a legitimate chance to win his 25th major title. I would love to see Alexander Zverev of Germany or Taylor Fritz of the United States make a deep run. It's just hard to pick against Sinner when he's right. And the guess here is he will be right.
John from Merritt Island, FL
I really could care less what uniforms we wear … as long as we win. I can't tell you what any uniform looked like last year for any win or loss. Just win baby, win.
Agree to agree.
Brett from Shoalhaven Heads, Australia
In response to Howard from Homestead … while the United States Men's National Team recently easily beat Australia 2-0 they are still well short of having the talent to win the World Cup. Good luck to them, but I think they will excel if they get to the semifinals with the talent at their disposal.
I know enough about soccer – aka, futbol – to know I know very little about soccer. I know Mrs. O-Zone knows "futbol" now and I know the USMNT is very fast. The team also is fun to watch. I also know only eight teams ever have won this thing and if the USMNT makes the semifinals that's a hell of an accomplishment.
