The Jacksonville Jaguars have played both preseason games with just a single starter on their offensive line, right guard A.J. Cann. It’s been the usual mixed bag with Cann in the position and more bad than good. There’s been talk that second-year offensive lineman Will Richardson is making a push for the starting right guard job and so far in the preseason every time Richardson has played he’s made a good impression.
Originally drafted as an offensive tackle, playing the right side in college at N.C. State, the Jaguars moved Richardson to primarily a guard position this offseason and that’s when it clicked for him.
“Once I got in with Coach Warhop and I had learned the offense. He took me and moved me from tackle to guard in minicamp and I stood my ground and played really well,” Richardson said after Thursday’s game against the Eagles when asked when he “got it” this offseason. “That’s when I really got some confidence. I thought, not only can I play tackle, I can play guard. And I can start working my craft at guard now. Definitely minicamp, that was a big confidence booster for me.”
Richardson played right tackle last week against the Baltimore Ravens and did a solid job, but since the injury to starting left guard Andrew Norwell, Richardson has been filling in the starting role there and has done well. That carried over into Thursday’s game against the Eagles as Richardson was one of the few backup offensive lineman getting push in the run game and held his own in the pass game.
Heading into Week 3 of the preseason, if the whole Jaguars starting offensive line (or most of it) is set to play, the Jaguars should give Richardson a shot with the first team at right guard. Cann hasn’t really done anything to make you think he’s stuck for the job other than signing a new deal in the offseason. Let Richardson have a crack at it, since it’s pretty clear he’s right on Cann’s heels.