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The Jacksonville Jaguars just finished up Week 3 of their preseason schedule and named Blake Bortles their starter for Week 1 against the Houston Texans. The roster is forming and there probably aren’t that many differences since before preseason began, but let’s take a stab at how the final 53-man team will look for opening day.
Offense
QB: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne, Brandon Allen (3)
It’s official. Bortles is the starter after an “open competition” in the third week game. Marrone credits Bortles’ mobility as having a part to play in the decision.
RB: Leonard Fournette, T.J. Yeldon, Chris Ivory, Corey Grant (4)
FB: Tommy Bohanon (1)
The running back situation played out like we thought it would this preseason, but Marquez Williams has not gotten very many opportunities while Bohanon has seen time with the starters consistently. Granted, Williams has dealt with an injury throughout camp, but the Jaguars could very well dump their seventh-round pick.
TE: Marcedes Lewis, Ben Koyack, Alex Ellis (3)
The Jaguars aren’t signing Gary Barnidge, which means there’s an open tight end spot. Koyack and Ellis have both gotten looks this preseason. Mychal Rivera was supposed to be the No. 2 tight end, but he’s been dealing with an injury all training camp and hasn’t gotten on the field. If Rivera doesn’t get on the field next week against the Atlanta Falcons, his roster spot could be in jeopardy. If Rivera plays next week, I think he’s here and Ellis is gone.
WR: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, Arrelious Benn, Keelan Cole (6)
Rashad Greene is gone. He’s been phased out of the punt return game and been outplayed in the receiving game by Cole. Head coach Doug Marrone has said he wants to look at a receiver’s body of work on offense and then slot the best guy into the return game as opposed to finding a guy whose primary responsibility is returning punts. That means Greene is likely gone and Westbrook steps into that spot.
OL: Cam Robinson, Patrick Omameh, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, Jermey Parnell, Luke Bowanko, Tyler Shatley, Josh Wells, Earl Watford (9)
Like I said above, don’t be surprised if the Jaguars keep five receivers and have an extra offensive lineman. I have no idea who the starting five will be and I don’t think the coaches will until the regular season. That means a lot of reps for backups.
Defense
DE: Dante Fowler, Jr., Yannick Ngakoue, Dawuane Smoot, Calais Campbell, Lerentee McCray (5)
This is one of the weaker positions on the roster. Smoot has gotten less and less productive as the preseason has gone on, as has Fowler. It’s going to be a long season if Ngakoue is the only real edge rusher on this team.
DT: Malik Jackson, Sheldon Day, Abry Jones, Stefan Charles (4)
Michael Bennett hasn’t registered a tackle this preseason and he’s been relatively quiet in practice. He’s gone.
LB: Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, Blair Brown, Josh McNary, Hayes Pullard (6)
The top three in Smith, Jack, and Posluszny are the unquestioned starters. Audie Cole being released is a bit of a surprise.
CB: Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Aaron Colvin, Jalen Myrick, Brian Dixon (5)
Besides quarterback, this is probably the easiest position group to predict. Ramsey, Bouye, and Colvin are the top three and Myrick was a draft pick. The team has shown they like Dixon by giving him ample opportunities this preseason.
FS: Tashaun Gipson, Peyton Thompson (2)
SS: Barry Church, Jarrod Wilson (2)
The only discussion for both the safety spots is who backs up the unquestioned starters in Gipson and Church. I think Thompson stays because of his versatility and Wilson stays because he’s the one who’s been getting reps all offseason when Church sat out.
Special teams
K: Jason Myers (1)
P: Brad Nortman (1)
LS: Matt Overton (1)
Myers was close to getting cut, but he’s rebounded enough to make it to Week 1. With Carson Tinker’s season ending earlier in camp, newly signed Overton has taken over and been fine as a replacement.