The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially trimmed the squad from 90 to 53, and the final week of the preseason brought a wave of surprises. While the core stars remain intact, General Manager Trent Baalke made aggressive moves to solidify the margins, including a shocking quarterback decision and a trade that reshapes the offensive line. With the season opener against the Tennessee Titans just two weeks away, here is the definitive breakdown of the roster that will carry the Jags into Week 1.
The Biggest Surprises: QB Shakeup and a Rookie RB Steals the Show
The most headline-grabbing move of final cuts was the release of veteran quarterback Mac Jones. This decisively hands the backup role to John Rhys Plumlee, who earned the job with an efficient preseason, completing 68% of his passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. The coaching staff clearly values Plumlee’s mobility and arm talent as a change-of-pace option behind Trevor Lawrence. It’s a bold vote of confidence, but the team is betting on Plumlee’s upside rather than Jones’s experience.
📊 Plumlee’s preseason line: 23-of-34, 289 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs across 4 games - the mobile QB threw zero picks while pushing Mac Jones out of a job.
Perhaps the most feel-good story of the summer is undrafted rookie running back Jalen Jackson. The UTEP product forced his way onto the roster with a monster performance in the preseason finale against Atlanta, rushing for 78 yards and two scores on just 12 carries. He now slots in as the No. 3 back behind Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, providing a physical, one-cut style that should thrive in short-yardage situations. Jackson’s emergence made veteran depth at the position expendable, solidifying the backfield room with youth and explosiveness.
| Player | Position | Key Stats | Roster Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Jackson | RB | 78 rush yds, 2 TDs vs. ATL | No. 3 RB |
| Joshua Simon | TE | 9 rec, 112 yds, 1 TD | No. 2 TE |
| John Rhys Plumlee | QB | 68% comp, 0 INTs | Backup QB |
Position Group Breakdown: Offense, Defense, and Specialists
Offense (26 Players)
The offensive side of the ball is built around stability and young playmakers. At receiver, the team kept six, but the cut of veteran Devin Duvernay signals a shift toward youth. Parker Washington retains his slot role, while UDFAs Jalen Coker and D.J. Allen earned their spots with consistent camp production alongside starters Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, and Christian Kirk.
The offensive line features a crucial new addition: rookie tackle Olu Fashanu, acquired via trade from the Jets on Aug. 25 for a 2027 fifth-round pick. He immediately steps in as the backup right tackle behind Anton Harrison, while Walker Little serves as the swing tackle. The team kept nine linemen total, with rookie guard A.J. Montague rounding out the depth. The tight end room is highlighted by sixth-round pick Joshua Simon, who led the team in preseason receiving and is firmly the No. 2 option behind Evan Engram.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| QB (2) | Trevor Lawrence, John Rhys Plumlee |
| RB (3) | Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, Jalen Jackson |
| WR (6) | Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk, Parker Washington, Jalen Coker, D.J. Allen |
| TE (3) | Evan Engram, Joshua Simon, Luke Farrell |
| OL (9) | Cam Robinson, Ezra Cleveland, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison, Walker Little, Cooper Hodges, A.J. Montague, Olu Fashanu |
| FB (1) | Hunter Luepke |
Defense (24 Players) and Specialists
Defensively, coordinator Ryan Nielsen has opted for versatility over bulk. The most notable decision was keeping only five cornerbacks, trusting rookie Trey Amos and Christian Braswell to hold down the backend behind Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones. To compensate, the team kept five safeties, allowing for more sub-package flexibility against pass-heavy offenses.
