JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Armand from Jacksonville

Did any cut surprise you and who do you see on the practice squad?

The Jaguars on Tuesday at 4 p.m. announced their initial 53-player 2025 regular-season roster, and there weren't too many surprises. I was a little surprised both collegiate free agent defensive ends, Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II, made the "53" because it's rare for two free agent rookies to make a roster at that – or any – position. But they made the roster because the team loves their short- and long-term potential and the team absolutely believed it would lose both players if they were waived. I was a touch surprised – but not shocked - veteran defensive tackle Tyler Lacy was waived. I also was surprised initially that the Jaguars kept just nine offensive linemen, but once they traded Fred Johnson earlier this week it was a pretty obvious list of nine that made the roster. Practice squad possibilities from this view include running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, quarterback Seth Henigan, offensive lineman Sal Wormley, wide receiver Dorian Singer, safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, cornerback Jabbar Muhammed, tight end Quintin Morris, tight end Patrick Herbert, defensive tackle Tyler Lacy, cornerback Keni-H Lovely, running back Kevin Harris, linebacker Branson Combs and wide receiver Chandler Brayboy. To name a few.

Rodney from Douglass, KS

Do you think the Jags move one of the running backs? Also do you think the Jags make a move to upgrade the wide receiver room or at backup quarterback.

I expect four running backs Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. to be on the roster and likely active on game day. I expect wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown and Parker Washington to be on the roster and I'm not certain how much is settled at the position after that. I expect Nick Mullens to be the Jaguars' backup quarterback behind Trevor Lawrence in 2025.

Scott from Gilbert, AZ

Zone, does former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Traeshon Holden make it to the Jags waiver spot?

Maybe.

Johnny B from Howey In The Hills

Dr. O: Thanks for the explanation on the "practice squad" serving as an expansion of the 53-player active roster. However, the 16 are not active during a game and dressed out each week and are of no value real-time to support the front-line backups from special team injuries. Thanks again for the response.

A few thoughts on this thought. First, as my explanation explained, the practice squad is inarguably at least a partial extension of the 53-man roster and of "real-time value." This is true because teams can activate two practice squad players for each game and protect four each week, making them very real extensions of the active roster. Does this technically "expand the 53" to more "active-roster" players? No, but it absolutely gives teams far more flexibility and access to legitimate players who have been part of their team on a weekly basis than was the case before the expanded practice squad rules during COVID-19. While this doesn't equate to a 69-player roster, it's far different than the days when you had 53 players and had to release a player or place him on injured reserve before signing a player from your own practice squad.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

The Houston Texans looked to be in a collapse mode last year, similar to the Jags of 2023, before Azeez Al-Shaair reversed their fortunes with a dirty hit on Trevor Lawrence. It smacked of desperation and competitiveness. I'm more than guessing that plenty of NFL people will tell you "off the record" that a guy like Al-Shaair is part of the equation that separates the eighth-best team from the 24th. I bring this up because I see that Shilo Sanders has been released. His body language screams win at all costs and he seems like a special teamer and reserve that could be worth way more than the typical "filler" players that spend the majority of the game on the bench. Should the Jags sign Shilo Sanders?

The Jaguars have plenty of competitive players. They don't need to sign a rookie free agent off the street to get competitiveness on the roster.

Travis from Jacksonville

In order for the Jaguars to be relevant in December they must improve in the following three key areas on offense: 1, Short-yardage runs to sustain drives, use the clock and manage the game; 2, Be able to attack the middle of the field with tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington; 3, quarterback Trevor Lawrence must play more than 15 games and play because he is playing well, not just because we do not have a better option. Three things on defense: 1, Limit explosive plays, no plays behind the safeties; 2, Control the line, have at least three players with nine-plus sacks; 3, Finish the season with a plus-10 or higher turnover ratio.

I think the Jaguars could be good if defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen have double-digit sacks with solid performances elsewhere along the defensive front. Beyond that … good list.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

I've been what I thought would have constituted "immersed" in Jaguars offseason football. However, I still didn't know Caleb Ransaw was even injured. Now it's "lower body injury, done for the season?" Attrition is just part of football, but he was our freakin' second selection in the draft. I'd imagine coaches would have anticipated him moderately contributing. Sucks.

I think rookie safety Caleb Ransaw would have started at some point this season. The Jaguars really like him and think he's going to be very good. And yes … the consensus around the building is that it really "sucks" he won't play this season.

Tom from Sanford, FL

Were you as surprised as I was that there were absolutely no surprises in the final 53?

As mentioned previously, I was a little surprised at a few of Tuesday's moves. I don't know how to accurately gauge your level of surprise.

Jaghawk from Saddle Up Let's Ride, FL

Mr. KOAGF, I am now Arik Armstead's biggest fan since he outplayed Jordan Jefferson. The crow tastes delicious. Regarding the trade of Fred Johnson to the Eagles for a seventh-round pick, isn't it the equivalent of a free seventh-rounder? With the Eagles on the hook for his contract, we got a pick for without giving up player or draft capital. Prior to signing Johnson we didn't have Johnson or the seventh. After trading Johnson, we still don't have Johnson but, we do have the seventh. I like the brew in Gladstone's cauldron.

I deduce from your email that you believed former Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson was better than Arik Armstead and that you liked the Jaguars trading offensive lineman Fred Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles – and I also deduce that you correctly deduced that the Jaguars gained a seventh-round selection from the Johnson trade. I lastly deduce that you like General Manager James Gladstone's approach so far in his first year in the position. That's a good take on your part. I'm optimistic about this franchise moving forward for multiple reasons, Gladstone chief among them.

Anita from Springfield

So, I actually loved the trade of Fred Johnson. If they knew they were going to release him, getting SOMETHING is a "free" gain. This is exactly what fans clamored for years about, and now it's happening. James Gladstone is playing Madden up in here.

Another fer Gladstone, apparently.

Colin from Sanford

Why are the Jags looking for a wide receiver? To me, if Parker Washington is your fourth that's a pretty good group.

Parker Washington being your fourth wide receiver means you have four good receivers. The Jaguars may still be looking for another wide receiver because they want more than four receivers.

John from Merritt Island

Just a bit confused here. How is Armstead a starter, with an undisclosed injury, who has not practiced all of training camp and preseason. Is he hurt or not?

Arik Armstead missed much of the early part of training camp with a back injury and returned to practice last week.

Nick from Annapolis, MD

No need to ban AI. If coaches want to go down that arms waste let them waste their time. As soon as defensive coordinators use AI to predict human decisions, assuming it's public knowledge, the AI becomes useless because the offenses choices will change. Predictive models only work if you assume behavioral patterns remain constant. It's not the case. It becomes a game of rock, paper, scissors essentially, just like all scouting/self-scouting and tendency analysis. "We run this play a lot in this situation, but they also know that... do we care?" Do we play a counter to their play call that likely will be something to stop our tendency? Do they know that we know our own tendencies and might call a tendency breaker therefore will call a play to counter the tendency breaker? The net gain of AI would be negative because you're focusing on mind games instead of execution of the basics.

OK.