JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. As you have pointed out, the practice squad has kind of morphed into an extension of the Jaguars' "bench" – sort of a secondary roster. Generally, are there particular positions that seem to dominate the squad? More offense than defense? Is it best-available-player generated? Or is it more related to need – i.e. lack of depth at a particular position on the regular roster, or in reaction to injuries on the regular roster? Thanks.
This is a pertinent question this week, with 2026 preseason ending Friday night when the Jaguars play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Preseason Week 3 game at EverBank Stadium – and with the deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 being Sunday at 6 p.m. Teams can begin signing players to practice squads the following day, with teams allowed 16 practice-squad players – 17 if one is a member of the NFL's International Pathway program. There is no across-the-board formula on an ideal practice-squad "roster," and it typically varies a bit from team to team. A team not carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster typically will keep a "third" quarterback on the practice squad. Teams also will usually keep multiple offensive linemen on the practice squad because of the need to constantly be developing and retaining depth there. Since the league expanded practice squads to 16 in 2020 with the option of having veterans of all experience there, many practice squads have become far more need-based because teams routinely activate players from there for regular-season games. If the team feels it's a bit thin on the roster at a particular position, then the team often will have players on the practice squad at that spot. It's indeed far more an extension of the active roster than was the case before 2020. That was when the NFL implemented the current practice-squad size and rules allowing game elevations.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
The dreaded cut-down day approaches. Armchair general managers will flood the inbox with "HOW did HE make it, over HIM?!" I will probably be one of them. Regardless of the final 53, I am pretty confident this will be among the most talent we have ever had to cut. No question, just a one fer to all the guys that get the axe. It's been a pretty rock-solid offseason and a lot of good guys capable of a position will be looking for a job. I wish them well and hope they land on a roster somewhere.
This is one of the deeper Jaguars rosters I recall and I expect the Jaguars will have to release multiple players they really want to keep. There are multiple young players who are not guaranteed of making the roster that could play elsewhere in the NFL. I expect the Jaguars will re-sign several such players to the practice squad and I expect those players will contribute to this franchise this season. I expect they also will lose a player or two they like. That is part of the deal when you draft, develop and identify well. It is one of the "good problems."
Armand from Atlantic Beach
KOAF, do you expect to see our QB2 play Friday or just the two rookies? I personally would like to see the rookies only.
I think there is a chance Jaguars backup quarterback Nick Mullens will start Friday and play briefly. I think first-year veteran Carter Bradley and rookie Joey Aguiar will take most of the quarterback snaps for the Jaguars Friday.
William from Savannah
If the rivalry jersey doesn't start a movement for mandatory drug testing of designers, I don't know what it will take. Although now that I think about it, perhaps the design could have come from a contest for the designers' elementary school students. I sincerely apology for that remark - it wasn't nice. The school kids would definitely have done better.
The "rivalry" jerseys thing is still an O-Zone thing for a second consecutive day. This is one of the emails I received.
Richard from Jacksonville
KOAF. You know the good thing about real Panther? Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
That doesn't make sense.
Pedal Bin, IFOTY from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O' / King Of All Funk, well at least the new Rivalries jerseys are way, way, way, waaaaayyyyy better than those mustard abominations from 2015/2016. And Brad from the Avenues is quite correct. I don't know what they call the color of that helmet, but it is not teal.
I liked the gold color rush uniforms. I'm not saying that to be difficult, and I like saying things just to be difficult.
Your Momma from Jax
Burrrrns the nostrils.
It's quite pungent.
Jon from Fairfield, PA
I always thought it strange that people say, "Maybe it's because I'm 'x'. I think..." and give their individual opinion. Like all 'X' humans think alike. With that said, maybe it is because I am 47, but I think the Rivalries uniforms are badass. I know this might be mean, but dude...don't get your masculinity from clothes. The print on the pants, with the communities of Duval hidden in it, the print of one of the fiercest predators on the planet? I do wish that the "bold city" was on the outer collar though. I blame you for that.
Sounds right.
Michael from Mean Streets of Arlington
People don't understand the purpose of the rivalry jersey. Its main purpose is to sell more jerseys and make more money for the NFL. A casual is unlikely to buy one because if they do, they will get a normal team jersey. What the NFL did was come out with a different jersey each year then the fanatics will buy more jerseys since they have already bought the normal jersey. Never forget that making money comes first for any business.
OK.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
In response to the backup quarterback options, Aidan O'Connell is expected to be cut or a trade candidate. He's a better one than who we have. Or one of the Eagles' second or third options.
I expect this conversation to continue because people love talking backup quarterback. I expect Mullens to be the Jaguars' backup quarterback this season.
Chris from Columbus, OH
I read today with some satisfaction that the NFL has finally pulled the plug on the monstrosity that was the Pro Bowl. It long ago stopped being the Pro Bowl of my youth, and I applaud the NFL (for a change) in making a good decision. Of course, it's all about the Benjamins, which means they were losing money on it.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that the Pro Bowl – recently called the Pro Bowl Games – is no more. It seemed an inevitable move, with the contact version of the game dwindling in quality as players protected themselves from injury enough that the league switched to flag-football "skills" event after 2022. The skills things did not work, either. I took no satisfaction from this and the decline of the quality never bothered me – primarily because I always remembered that if I didn't like something I didn't have to watch it.
Sorf from ATL
Haven't heard Rook Ohorohorororororo's name once this offseason. Not here or any of the radio shows. How is he coming along and is there any chance he will be cut?
You haven't heard Ruke Orhorhoro's name often because he is a defensive tackle and you don't hear defensive tackles' names that often, particularly in the preseason. Jaguars nose tackle DaVon Hamilton is one of the NFL's best players at his position, and I don't write his name often. I expect Orhorhoro to be on the Jaguars' 53-man roster this season.
Stephen from Sec 113 from Jacksonville via Pennsauken NJ
John. Not really a question but an observation. As preseason starts to wind down, I have another perspective. This is kind of like tilting at windmills or suck it up buttercup. I am a Day 1 season-ticket holder and I hate paying full price for those games. I get it, there is money to be made via television and stadium revenue. But paying full price without the starters getting a sniff of the field just doesn't seem right. Alas, money talks. About the only thing good about preseason is that the fans get to do a practice run on their tailgate (and of course cold parking lot beer). If I were in charge (and I never will), I would discount (for season ticket holders) the preseason tickets then spread that lost revenue onto raising the regular season tickets. Same revenue and I would feel better. Thanks for your forum to vent a bit.
Fair.
Jim from Orlando
As for the Rivalry pants, 60 percent of the time, it works every time.
The Jaguars play the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville in the 2026 regular season opener on September 13.
