Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster prediction: Who stays, who goes ahead of preseason?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting ready to play preseason Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first opportunity for fans and the organization to get a real sense of where the team's younger players are in their development.

As of print time, it is unclear whether or not Jacksonville will play many or any starters against Pittsburgh, but head coach Liam Coen's comments from earlier this week show the team was in the midst of debate.

"We wanted to kind of get through these next two padded days, to evaluate, see where we're at as a group, before making that decision. We've obviously had conversations as a staff and with Tony [Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli] and James [General Manager James Gladstone] as well, but we're going to let these two days play out, see what it looks like, and make a decision from there," Coen said to open practice week ahead of Saturday's game.

The Jaguars added many players to their roster this year, and no other player has received as much attention as receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Hunter is expected to play both offense and defense on a full-time basis. He actually gives Jacksonville some leeway if they want to go short at both receiver and cornerback when it comes time to make those decisions.

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Still, the team's depth this year means many players who fans might have grown to know over the years will no longer be there. Now in are the players that Gladstone and Coen have hand-selected to fit their environment.

By being nothing more than who they are, they'll likely elevate the team, at least according to Gladstone.

With that being said, here's our 53-man roster projection ahead of preseason Week 1:

Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster after Week 1 of training camp

Quarterbacks (2)

Starter(s):Trevor Lawrence

Reserves: Nick Mullens

Observations: There hasn't been any change in who projects to be the team's backup QB. Both John Wolford and Seth Henigan are squarely the team's third and fourth quarterbacks, respectively.

Change from previous projection: None.

Running backs (4)

Starter(s):Travis Etienne OR Tank Bigsby

Reserves: Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr.

Observations: The Jaguars listed Etienne and Bigsby with an "OR" between their names on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. That tracks with what we've reported throughout the offseason: the Jaguars will likely utilize both backs and neither will be the "bell cow."

Change from previous projection:

Wide receivers (6)

Starter(s):Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown

Reserves: Parker Washington, Trenton Irwin, Eli Pancol

Observations: It seems crazy to cut Joshua Cephus considering the camp he's had thus far, but being a fifth receiver is more than what you can do offensively. Cephus has also been publicly called out by head coach Liam Coen due to conditioning issues. He is not one of the team's primary return specialists. With Washington as the primary, the Jaguars will likely want one more player on the roster who can do it and has experience. Irwin fits the bill.

Change from previous projection: Cephus cut, Irwin inserted.

Tight ends (3)

Starter(s): Brenton Strange

Reserves: Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt

Observations: The tight ends are coming back from injury and nothing within this unit has changed much.

Change from previous projection: None.

Offensive linemen (9)

Starter(s): Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, Anton Harrison

Reserves: Chuma Edoga, Wyatt Milum, Jonah Monheim, Tremayne Anchrum

IR: Cole Van Lanen

Observations: With Van Lanen out for at least the remainder of training camp, we've projected him to be placed on injured reserve. The Jaguars just signed former seventh-round pick Tremayne Anchrum to the roster and he could be a depth piece their looking for. This group is incredibly fluid beyond the first seven players listed.

Change from previous projection: Van Lanen to injured reserve, Anchrum inserted.

Defensive ends (4)

Starter(s): Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker

Reserves: Emmanuel Ogbah, Dawuane Smoot

Observations: Smoot is back and the Jaguars ought to have a solid rotation at defensive end this year.

Change from previous projection: None.

Defensive tackle (5)

Starter(s): DaVon Hamilton, Maason Smith

Reserves: Austin Johnson, Tyler Lacy, Jordan Jefferson

IR:Arik Armstead

Observations: This section is tricky. One of Armstead or Smith could start the year on injured reserve. With that, we've opted to put Armstead in that category. The team just signed Johnson and he's made an impression on Coen already.

Change from previous projection: Armstead to injured reserve, Johnson in.

Linebackers (6)

Starter(s): Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Ventrell Miller

Reserves: Yasir Abdullah, Dennis Gardeck, Jack Kiser

IR: Jalen McLeod

Observations: Since the first edition of this projection, McLeod sustained an injury that will likely knock him out of the rest of camp. With that said, the team sees Abdullah and Gardeck as two players who can command the SAM position. Chad Muma continues to be the odd man out.

Change from previous projection: Placed McLeod on IR, added Gardeck.

Cornerbacks (7)

Starter(s): Travis Hunter, Tyson Campbell, Jourdan Lewis

Reserves:Jarrian Jones, De'Antre Prince, Christian Braswell, Levi Wallace

Observations: Another change-up due to injury. With Montaric 'Buster' Brown out due to a lower body injury, the team signed veteran Wallace to replace him. Though the Jaguars may opt to go with Zechariah McPhearson instead, it would make sense to keep Wallace to operate as the second long-tenured vet in the room behind Lewis.

IR: Montaric 'Buster' Brown

Change from previous projection: Brown to IR, added Wallace.

Safeties (5)

Starter(s):Eric Murray, Andrew Wingard

Reserves:Darnell Savage, Caleb Ransaw, Rayuan Lane III

Observations: This group continues to be weird, but we have been on the money in projecting Wingard to start opposite Murray, at least for now. The team will have to figure out when Ransaw can come back from injury, but until then he should make the team.

Change from previous projection: None.

Specialists (3)

Starter(s): Cam Little, Logan Cooke, Ross Matiscik

Reserves: N/A

Observations: Best unit on the team.

Change from previous projection: None.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars roster predictions: Depth chart ahead of preseason