JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

You predicted Yasir would be re-signed to the practice squad. Wrong again. Any other surprises you care to share, O "wise one?"

This is perhaps a bit aggressive, though the Jaguars indeed signed 15 players to their practice squad on Monday. For the navigationally-challenged among us, the 15: Quarterback Joey Aguilar, defensive tackle T.J. Bollers, offensive lineman Geron Christian Sr., wide receiver Tim Jones, linebacker Jack Kiser, linebacker Jalen McLeod, quarterback Nick Mullens, cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, offensive lineman Jimto Obidegwu, wide receiver Trebor Peña, safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, running back J'Mari Taylor, wide receiver Austin Trammell, wide receiver Michael Wortham and offensive lineman Kilian Zierer. All 15 players were with the Jaguars during training camp and the preseason, which means there were no real "surprises." This is because teams generally like familiarity with practice-squad players because the players know the system and the team knows the makeup of the player. With two practice squad spots still unfilled, perhaps Tuesday will be the day for surprises here. As for the Jaguars not re-signing linebacker Yasir Abdullah, this is true because the Atlanta Falcons claimed him off waivers. Good for him. He's a nice kid with a lot of special teams ability. Here's wishing him the best.

Stephen from Fortson, GA

The new backup quarterback has zero experience with the Jags coaching staff, and/or offensive scheme, and has never thrown to any of the team's receivers. Yet, he is one TL16 injury away from being the starter. Should I be worried?

If Lawrence is injured for a sustained period – or injured at all – you won't be the only fan, observer, coach or player associated with the Jaguars who should be worried. And rightly so. This is not a reflection of Jaguars backup quarterback Quinn Ewers, acquired by the Jaguars Saturday in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. It is a reflection of the importance of a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, I agree that Joey Aguilar should be on the practice squad, but Nick Mullens? With Quinn Ewers in the fold, this just doesn't make sense.

The Jaguars indeed signed Mullens, the backup to starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence last season, to the practice squad Monday after releasing him Sunday. The move made sense in the sense that he has been around the organization, has high knowledge of the offense and works well with coaches – and with Lawrence. He is a positive influence on the quarterback room. If Lawrence were out for an extended period, Mullens as an option for backup makes significant sense.

Oscar from Palm Coast, FL

John, I didn't see where Michael Wortham ended up. Did he make the roster?

Wortham signed to the Jaguars' practice squad Monday.

Scott from Wichita

Okay. Dummy me, but if you can have 53 on the active roster, why can't you dress all 53 on game day?

The aim here is leveling the gameday "playing field" as much as possible. Knowing that teams sustain injuries throughout the season, the NFL mandates five inactive players so that there is an increased chance of both teams each having 48 healthy players.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. So, watching three quarterbacks compete during three preseason games was basically a complete waste of time for fans. They all lost. Now, we get a quarterback we haven't seen play at all. Hoping Trevor doesn't get an early injury. Then again, I am sending this before the practice squad signings so maybe we will get one of those three back for emergency preparedness' sake.

I'm not trying to minimize the importance of fans' time. But an NFL team can't go into a preseason game thinking "What can we do to best ensure fans have seen all pertinent players play before the regular season begins?" I understand that fans would like this, but it's not the priority. Either way, the Jaguars signed Aguilar and Mullens to the practice squad Monday. So, perhaps your preseason was time well spent after all.

Rob from Jax Bch

Two things can be true at the same time, Zone. Thus, fans can be pleased with our current roster yet still be concerned that none of Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone's Day Two picks that the "draft experts" panned as "reaches" over the past two years have shown anything to dispute those assertions. As much as you discount expectations for rookies and second-year players, good teams do draft rookie and second-year starters on Day Two. Not only is the 1½ or possibly 2½ starters in wide receiver Travis Hunter, (co-starter) running back Bhayshul Tuten and maybe guard Emmanuel Pregnon a very small number for two drafts, it's also worth noting that those players were all "consensus board" picks in their respective spots. Tight end Nate Boerkircher will be a nice complementary piece. There's a chance Albert Regis could grow into a starting-caliber nose tackle in another year or two, with Jalen Huskey and Caleb Ransaw appearing to be safeties four and five – and guard Wyatt Milum buried on the depth chart. Who among the Day 2 draft picks viewed as "reaches" by the "experts" will prove the naysayers wrong?

This email assumes a lot based on a lot of things that can't yet be assumed. I expect Milum and center Jonah Monheim (a 2025 seventh-round selection) will start on the offensive line by the start of the 2027 season, and there's every confidence within the organization that they will be very good players. I also expect Huskey and Ransaw to play extensively this season, with every confidence within the organization they will be good players. Both '26 sixth-round receivers, CJ Williams and Josh Cameron, have shown serious signs of being able to contribute – if necessary – as rookies. Whatever the naysayers say, the reality of the NFL is you don't know much about a draft class until sometime in its second season. That means we'll start getting a clearer idea about the '25 class in the coming months. This is true no matter how desperately some observers want to accelerate the process. I also know that the idea of "consensus boards" are very much a product of a lot of self-adulation – and self-importance – from analysts and doesn't have much of a place inside NFL draft rooms. At least not ones who believe in doing their own work.

Michael from Mean Streets of Arlington

I know it's really too early to judge this draft class, but from last year's – and what we've seen so far from this year's – it seems that Gladstone is doing a really good job of finding gems in the bottom rounds. Does it seem like that to you?

Sure, but try telling that to Rob.

Dave The Wave from Jacksonville

What is the difference between a player being released and a player being waived?

Players with four or more accrued NFL seasons are released and therefore can sign with any team. Players with fewer than four accrued seasons are waived and subjected to waivers.

Fred from Naples, FL

"Because some O-Zone readers struggle to navigate to the rest of this free website" … wow. Rough weekend? Was someone on your lawn? What is it you say about being nice?

I wrote on Monday that "some O-Zone readers struggle to navigate to the rest of this free website." I wrote this because there are many times I write something in a "conventional" story and I receive an O-Zone email to the effect of, "Why haven't I read about this on jaguars.com?" My weekend was fine and writing what I wrote had nothing to do with those damn kids.

Jesse from Texas

What changed that Nick Mullens was good enough to be QB2 last year, but this year he's not?

The Jaguars decided Ewers was a better enough option to trade for him.

Raymond Sis from Windermere

I see the NFL in its infinite wisdom is going to keep our ability to interact with our team at a bare minimum. Still no comments section. What's a comments section? It's where a lot of us talk about the team, schedule going to games (i.e. make Jags money), amongst other things.

It is perhaps a bit self-congratulatory that participants in whatever the comments section is picture NFL higher ups around a boardroom table deciding the fate of whatever the comments section is. I expect whatever the comments section is to return at some point. I don't know that time frame. I don't sit at that table.

Charles from Riverside

Hello John, you wrote "Remember: Most NFL teams have essentially the same plays. This is football, not rocket science." I have to tell you when I look at any play diagram with all the Xs, Os, arrows and lines I am at a complete loss! But then again, I am an insomniac, an agnostic and dyslexic. Sometimes I lay awake all night wondering if there is such a thing as Dog.

Charles' got jokes.