JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Nick from Virginia Beach, VA

With the Mekari surgery, wishing him a speedy recovery. What does our starting five look like?

Jaguars guard Patrick Mekari recently underwent a back procedure that will keep him out for an undetermined time. I expect the Jaguars' starting offensive line to be left tackle Anton Harrison, left guard Ezra Cleveland, center Robert Hainsey, right guard Wyatt Milum and right tackle Cole Van Lanen if all those players are healthy. But guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Jonah Monheim are becoming more intriguing as possibilities, and Van Lanen remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The situation therefore remains fluid. One positive for the Jaguars is Pregnon and Monheim are strong young players who are performing well enough to force themselves into consideration. Another positive is that Walker Little and Chuma Edoga are capable options if Van Lanen can't play immediately. Stay tuned.

Jesse from Texas

I read elsewhere online that Patrick Mekari got back surgery. Not a single mention on the official Jags' site, though. So, what is the deal and will he play this season? And to preempt your usual response, I will not accept "stay tuned."

Mekari is expected to play this season. It was mentioned on the Jaguars' site in multiple locations when confirmed by the team. As we have discussed often here in the O-Zone, there are some situations that will not be official on the site until they are official. We strive for accuracy here over immediacy. It is not yet known precisely when Mekari will return. Stay tuned.

Chris from Mandarin

Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor missed 55 games in his 13-year career. He is never getting into the Hall of Fame. He is my favorite Jaguars player ever, but history will bear out that Hall voters believe he wasn't quite at that level, even with a high yards-per-carry average. It doesn't seem fair, but it is the likeliest reality.

We shall see.

Gabe from Washington, DC

At this point in the year, is there anything as concerning as the health of the offensive line? Frankly, surely, it isn't close, right?

The 2026 regular season is nearly a month away and the Jaguars are deep on the offensive line. This is more of a short-term concern in terms of being able to practice effectively in training camp than it is a long-term regular-season concern.

Paul from Redding, CA

You mentioned two areas of improvement for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, starting better and being more consistent. I think an issue he has is getting balls tipped and knocked down at the line of scrimmage, which I believe is at a very high rate comparatively speaking, especially for someone as tall as he is.

OK.

Joe from Jacksonville

Hey, Zone: In reading the O-Zone every day, some of the questions have been about some players going on the practice squad. Do these players help with the scout team? I can't think they just keep in shape and sit. Thanks for the Info!

Yes, players on the practice squad practice with the team. They also attend meetings and train with the team.

Michael from World Golf

I have to remind myself that the preseason is only a little bit about game-time repetitions for roster slots Nos. 1-30. It is really about roster slots Nos. 31-53 and the practice squad. It gives a sense of what positions are going to be a problem during the season, and which ones might be OK. It is fun to see a player in the 90 play into the 53 or practice squad. Sometimes it is sad watching a player previously in the 53 play out of the 53 and into the 90.

Um, we were told there would be no math.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Has Jabbar had one of the most impressive showings of all the defenders thus far, spring ball included? It reads as if he has played like a No. 1 corner. Given he had 31 pass breakups, picks included, his last two years of college ball, it is not surprising he is turning out pretty solid. He has a knack for getting his hand on the ball, which the draft measurements don't quite account for. You know I love the undrafted free-agent success stories. I would love to see him make the team and contribute. Do you see that happening with the preseason games around the corner? What is your take on JM37?

First-year cornerback Jabbar Muhammed has been very impressive recently – first during the Jaguars' 2026 offseason program, and recently during '26 Training Camp. When a young cornerback or receiver stands out in practice, it is sometimes wise to manage expectations because history shows it can be tough for those performances to translate to the real stuff. But there are other times when practice performances happen remarkably consistently and feel very real. Muhammed is starting to feel like the latter. I don't know that he's a No. 1 corner, at least not yet. Maybe ever. But I will be surprised if he's not on the roster and/or contributing at some point this season.

JAY from THE BURG FL.

Every player, coach and executive in the NFL has talent or they wouldn't be there. Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone says to be a Jaguar you have to like football. For some, the season to compete never ends. This team is fast and getting faster. I read somewhere about wide receiver Parker Washington turning the lights on in the building to start the day and tight end Tanner Koziol listening to a quarterback call plays before he goes to sleep, also Head Coach Liam Coen having a dream about a player before the draft. Some start earlier, some finish later but all have a sole purpose to be ready. That's the best edge you can have, to be ready. Then like defensive end Travon Walker says, "It's football." Time to get dirty and go hit.

James appears to be ready for some football.

EJ from Jacksonville

When a player is released at the 53 cut down, is he then told that the team is interested in signing him to the practice squad, subject to waivers and availability of players released by other teams?

Yes, providing that the team is interested in signing him to the practice squad, subject to waivers and availability of players released by other teams.

Steve from St. Johns

John, Do the Jags have a player (or players) that command the locker room while having the respect of their teammates? It seems championship-caliber teams have at least one guy who sets the tone for the season and everyone is willing to rally around.

The Jaguars have plenty of leaders: Lawrence, defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Walker, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, etc. Beware "locker room leaders" who lead by yelling on the sidelines and talking loudly to the media. They are often portrayed as leaders by lazy observers while not being real leaders. The loudest among us are not always the best leaders, at least not in real life.

David from The Island

How often do teams put young players on injured reserve because they're just not ready for the NFL right now but expect/hope they will be next year?

NFL rules are clear that a player must have a legitimate injury to be placed on injured reserve. Players on injured reserve are also not allowed to practice, so this limits the effectiveness of placing a player on injured reserve to develop him further. This is not to say teams aren't happy sometimes to place a promising young player on the list with the idea of having them for the future, but the situation is far from out of control.

Kevin from Jacksonville

After careful consideration, I don't like you.

I hear that, and that's fine. Not everybody has to like everything.

Rick from Fleming Island

Let's see. Jacksonville is the largest city geographically in the country but can't find a way to build a new stadium from the ground up without a two-year partial closure/closure? I had no idea the present stadium location was so highly valuable. Without carrying the team's water for them, is this the right way to run an NFL franchise? Moving the home games to Orlando for a year is a bad joke.

Let's see. The difference in cost to renovate versus build was roughly $1 billion. That may not seem a lot when it's someone else's money. It's a lot when it's your money, even if you're a city and very wealthy man. I don't know what "carrying water means" I know this was a decision made with the idea of finding the best way to have a state-of-the-art stadium in Jacksonville and therefore securing the Jaguars' long-term future there.

Mike from East Alabama, (Pensacola)

Parker Washington has to be re-signed. My next fan jersey. Along with Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor and Paul Spicer.

OK.