JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kenneth from Jacksonville

So, we know the roster – at long last. Thoughts?

The Jaguars on Sunday at 6 p.m. reduced their roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player regular-season limit, an emotional day that always marks a team's biggest transaction day of the year and that usually provides its share of surprises. Because some O-Zone readers struggle to navigate to the rest of this free website, I will list Sunday's transactions here. Waived: Linebacker Yasir Abdullah, quarterback Joey Aguilar, defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote, defensive lineman T.J. Bollers, wide receiver Brady Boyd, wide receiver Chandler Brayboy, linebacker Amari Burney, offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan, tight end Patrick Herbert, cornerback Preston Hodge, defensive tackle Jalen Hunt, Kiser, offensive lineman Ricky Lee, linebacker Jalen McLeod, offensive lineman Timothy McKay, cornerback Jabbar Muhammed, safety Devin Neal Jr., offensive lineman Jimto Obidegwu, wide receiver Trebor Peña, safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, running back J'Mari Taylor, safety Trevian Thomas, wide receiver Michael Wortham and offensive lineman Kilian Zierer. Waived/injured: Quarterback Carter Bradley and defensive tackle Kelvie Rose. Released: Cornerback Corey Ballentine, offensive lineman Geron Christian Jr., running back DeeJay Dallas, offensive tackle Chuma Edoga, wide receiver Tim Jones, quarterback Nick Mullens, offensive lineman Sam Mustipher, linebacker Baylon Spector and wide receiver Austin Trammell. Injured reserve/designated to return: Offensive lineman Patrick Mekari and defensive end Zach Durfee. They also traded veteran tight end Hunter Long (to the Arizona Cardinals, with the Jaguars sending a 2028 seventh-round selection to the Cardinals and receiving a 2028 sixth-round selection). That's quite a lengthy list, with Mullens' release – and a Saturday trade for quarterback Quinn Ewers -- the Jaguars' most notable news over the weekend. We will get into specifics in the rest of this O-Zone, and in the coming days, but there were moves here that I expect were very difficult. Those included waiving/releasing Abdullah, Taylor, McLeod, Edoga and Kiser. It is also important to remember that many of these players will be re-signed to the practice squad. There will be some breath-holding on that front Monday. Stay tuned.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

It is pretty incredibly surprising when something surprises Johnny O. How surprising did your surprise level get when you realized we indeed aren't having Mullens as QB2 moving forward? My level of surprise was very high surprise.

I didn't wake up with my head sewn to the carpet, but I was surprised. The Jaguars liked Mullens' knowledge of the offense and what he brought to the quarterback room on that front. They like more the potential of Ewers, a second-year veteran who they acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins Saturday. This regime under Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen will be agile and aggressive – and it won't ignore possibilities to improve. This is another example of that – and in that sense, moves that are somewhat surprising with this group aren't necessarily shocking.

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

Getting a 2028 sixth-round pick from Arizona for a tight end that would most likely have been a roster cut offset the sixth-round pick used in the trade to acquire Ewers. Yes, we give a 2028 seventh-round pick to Arizona, but assuming the Jaguars continue to win more than they lose and Arizona continues to be, well, Arizona, this will be a gain for the Jaguars assuming Ewers can win and hold the No. 2 QB spot. Drafting earlier in the 2028 draft in the sixth-round while losing a late-round seventh-round selection and gaining Ewers looks good to me!

It's safe to assume Ewers will begin the season as the Jaguars' backup quarterback. That was the reason for the trade. If he proves to be solid in that role, it's absolutely a good trade.

Jordan from Mandarin

Three things that have me optimistic about this front office: 1) When they can upgrade, they do. 2) When they know they've made a mistake, they move on. 3) The roster is improving. Not long ago, I feel like Hunter Long would have been TE1 for this team. On Sunday, he was traded because there wasn't a spot for him.

This regime absolutely has shown since taking over early in 2025 that its decisions will be about making the team better and nothing else. Where and when a player was drafted – and who drafted that player – is not a factor. And yes … the roster appears to have improved,

Gregg from Jax

It appears that Gladstone is turning into a bit of a "trade machine!'" That's twice in two days…

Trade Machine!!!

Tim from Indialantic FL

How much "intel" do these great-but-not-jaguar-great players carry with them to a new team? They likely will get picked up and likely contribute to a rival team bringing with them our operational knowledge. Is this a common tactic for opposing teams? The preseason playbook must be abbreviated. Thoughts? And can't forget: Go Jags!

This is an avoidable occurrence in a league in which players routinely get released and acquired by teams throughout the season – and at all other times of the calendar year, for that matter. How much "intel" these players carry with them from team to team depends somewhat on their capacity for such things, which of course can vary from player to player. Either way, it is not a worry that causes teams to reduce the playbook. Remember: Most NFL teams have essentially the same plays. This is football, not rocket science. And all teams have access to all preseason and regular season games on video, so what teams like to do – and their tendencies – is not as nearly as big a mystery as commentators and analysts sometimes make it seem.

Kat from East Palatka, FL

Not that my thoughts matter in the sport of the NFL. But I like the trade for Quinn Ewers. My basic thinking was simple. If your offensive line is not top-notch, then your backup quarterback should be mobile, very mobile. Because if your offensive line couldn't protect the QB1, how are they going to protect an immobile backup quarterback? Teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and old Philadelphia Eagles were able to win games with a backup quarterback because their offensive lines were strong. Chad Henne, Jake Browning and Nick Foles aren't considered mobile quarterbacks and they won games.

There are some generalities here, and I don't know that it is completely correct – particularly for, say, Browning and the Bengals. But mobility for a backup absolutely can be a positive, particularly for a young backup who has not yet learned how to win from the pocket. If all else fails in that situation … RUUUUUUUN.

Brandon from Louisville, KY

While I know this sets up for a joke, one of the things I always have appreciated about Tony is that he seems approachable, down to earth and does not allow success to get to his head. He was successful as a football player and seems to be again as the EVP. What say you, John?

I say Boselli is impressive in his ability to think matters through and make logical decisions, and he is equally impressive in his ability to communicate and know what is and is not important. He is also approachable and grounded. He's a big part of this team's success. And if anyone tells him I said this, I will deny it. Categorically.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is very good at throwing to guys in black helmets. Do you think it will take some adjustment to throw to the guys in the light blue helmets? May I ask that you bypass your first reaction and provide a serious answer?

You can ask, I guess.

John from Jax

Hi KOAGF - During the broadcast of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Jaguars game, Coach Coen was on the microphone with Bucky Brooks/Brian Sexton during a couple of segments. I don't recall seeing a head coach do that before, but it was really cool. I am liking the guy more and more.

Coen indeed joined Brooks and Sexton during a Preseason Week 3 victory over the Buccaneers Friday, speaking on the broadcast on a headset from the sidelines during part of the second half. It was a cool moment – and a credit not only to Coen's willingness to do such things, but also to the Jaguars' production team for continuing to strive to entertain and inform in creative ways. Good stuff.

Hill from Chandler, AZ

I'm assuming that Hunter Long was either going to be cut or – if he was going to make the roster – he was not much of an improvement over the next tight end on the depth chart. As a result, it feels like we effectively gave up a seventh-rounder and moved up in the sixth round across to get Ewers (across two trades). Pretty sweet deal to improve our backup quarterback for virtually no real cost.

True that.