JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Trade for Quinn Ewers? Hmmm. What does it mean for the quarterback room?
The Jaguars on Saturday acquired quarterback Quinn Ewers in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, with the Jaguars sending the Dolphins a sixth-round selection in the 2028 NFL Draft. The transaction came a day before the Jaguars – like all NFL teams – must reduce their roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit by Sunday at 6 p.m. Because transactions between the preseason finale and "final" cuts are by their nature one part of many moving parts, thoughts on what it means for the quarterback room are at least part speculation. But I would be surprised if the Jaguars keep more than two quarterbacks on the regular-season active roster and it would be surprising if the Jaguars traded for Ewers on a Saturday only to waive him on a Sunday. Because that is unlikely, I expect Trevor Lawrence to be the Jaguars' starting quarterback this season with Ewers also on the roster. As for what will happen with the other three quarterbacks currently on the roster – Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar – I expect we will learn Sunday before 6 p.m.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Who ya got, you ask? Apparently, I got Quinn Ewers. Absolutely hated the kid coming out of high school. He has grown up a bit, thankfully. Who ya got, John?
I'm not sure who "I got," and it doesn't matter who "I got" or "don't got." The Jaguars as of Saturday got Ewers, a seventh-round selection by the Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft who started three games as a rookie last season for a struggling team. He also has a lot of experience in big college games, having played at the University of Texas. He completed 55 of 83 passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions as a rookie. He has a strong NFL arm and Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen – who knows quarterbacks and offense – apparently likes Ewers enough for the Jaguars to trade for him. So, that is what they got.
Michael from Mean Streets of Arlington
Trading for a quarterback – or really any position at this point implies – that you are keeping them. Think there will be some shake up at QB2?
Stay tuned.
Al from Fruit Cove, FL
Make it make sense, KOAF. Were they so dissatisfied with Bradley and Aguilar that they would rather have on the practice squad a quarterback who isn't even good enough to be a backup or practice-squad player for the Dolphins? Or was making Mullens inactive Friday a statement that he is NOT going to be on the team after all?
Mullens started all three Jaguars preseason games, including a 19-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Preseason Week 3 Friday. I don't think the Jaguars traded for Ewers with the idea of him being on the practice squad.
JWG from Aurora, CO
Since it appears that going forward preseason games will be focused on players on the bubble, it would be nice if those players could be highlighted and their game performance – both good and bad plays) – reviewed during the game so we get a feel for their performance and what the coaches are looking at. Not a complaint just a suggestion…
I suppose I am not exactly sure what "highlighted" and "reviewed" during the game mean here. I know when I cover preseason or regular-season games I write about – and discuss – what stands out during those games. And when we at Jaguars Media discuss and analyze the game afterward, we do the same. I do not listen to every second of every radio and television preseason broadcast produced by the Jaguars, but I know both broadcasts discuss pertinent storylines as they are merited – and pertinent storylines during the preseason include players that may or may not make the team. We covered players such as wide receiver Michael Wortham and Trebor Peña, running back J'Mari Taylor, Bradley and Aguilar and defensive ends Bryan Thomas Jr. pretty extensively throughout the preseason. When asked about those players here in the O-Zone, I tried to write about and discuss them within the context of how the team views them – and how they might contribute. Those players certainly qualify as being on the bubble. Not an argument, just explaining how covering these things works.
HD from Jax
From a contract perspective, how does it work with the undrafted free agents and making the roster? When players like defensive ends B.J. Green and Danny Striggow make it to the active roster, do they negotiate a brand-new contract? And how quickly do the agent and the Jags have to agree on terms or are there provisions on the original UDFA contract addressing the coveted possibility of being selected to the 53-man roster? Does it work the same way if they are selected to the practice squad?
Undrafted free agents sign three-year contracts for the NFL minimum salary for rookies, second-year and third-year players -- $885,000 in 2026, $1,050,000 in 2027 and $1,165,000 in 2028. If they make it to the active roster, they play for those salaries as long as they are on the active roster and they can renegotiate following their second NFL seasons. Practice-squad players with two or fewer seasons experience earn a minimum of $13,750 per week and veterans on the practice squad earn a minimum of $18,350 per week. Practice-squad salaries can be negotiated for more than that.
Nate from Jacksonville
Been a fan since I was a kid in the 90s. Always been passionate about the team and followed them wherever I lived. But wanted to say I just became a Jags season ticket holder this year and did not expect to feel emotional about it, but I do! Feels different. Fired up about the season! Go Jags!
Very cool.
Don from Marshall, NC
Smooth is fast? Didn't that come from the time Gene Frenette was talking to a young Jerry Rice? Hard to remember that long ago. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to not remembering something I also do not remember and something I am not sure I understand, Don – who is gloriously "back" – remains "all in."
Your Momma from Jax
So many play callers on Saturday. What was it like for you to call plays for the first time and when did you tell Liam that was going to happen? Did you have butterflies?
Coen indeed allowed multiple play-callers on offense and defense Friday. I never have called plays because I know it is not my strength. This is among the traits that differentiate me from most readers of this column.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Recently Nielson ratings, the TV rating company, posted an NFL Fandom Index. According to the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville came in 13th out of all NFL teams, impressive. Nielsen's methodology utilizes eight metrics to capture the fandom rankings: Apparel purchases, general interest levels, live event attendance, betting intent, social media engagement, radio listenership, streaming habits, and linear TV viewership. Interestingly, Denver and Jacksonville came in No. 1 and No. 2 in the digital engagement statistics. My Spidey sense tells me the O-Zone and Jaguars.com weighs heavily into these numbers. Jaguar fans obviously appreciate your hard work! Clicking and commenting, looks like Gary has unknowingly contributed to that ranking, LOL! Thanks again.
I am the king of all funk.
Brittany from Duuuval the win
My question is will Travis and Trevor Lawrence play against the Cleveland Browns. Will this be their epic season for 2026?
Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Lawrence indeed are among the many Jaguars starters who will play in the 2026 regular-season opener against the Browns on September 13 if healthy. I do not know if this will be their "epic" season, though I do believe this team has a chance to be very good this season.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John. Just a random administrative questions with roster cuts looming. Do the players who are cut get to keep their uniforms and helmets? I am not so sure I want to be the next guy wearing that helmet after a hot training camp.
No. Released and waived players do not keep their helmets and/or uniforms.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
How many of Sunday's non-veteran roster cuts do you see (if any) being picked up by another team to their 53-man roster before they can be signed to the Jaguars practice squad?
One to three, ish. This number often isn't as high as many within teams fear because teams have their own young players they like and want to develop.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Wazzzup, John. Opening day will be very exciting for me. I got the shakes. To save energy I did not participate in the preseason activities. I gotta get raw for the kickoff... Go Jags in DUUUVAL. Anything new since last year?
No. All is good. Stay hydrated, especially if you are getting raw.
