Jaydon Mickens is on the hot seat for the Jacksonville Jaguars
By Billy Long
Buried within a crowded wide receiver corps, is Jaydon Mickens ultimately the odd man out?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the luxury of entering the upcoming season with very little question marks overall as a team. But one of the most intriguing areas to unfold during training camp and preseason will be how the wide receiver group will shake out.
It is safe to assume that Marqise Lee, Keelan Cole, Dede Westbrook, free agent addition Donte Moncrief, and rookie second-rounder D.J. Chark are all set to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster for 2018.
Along with the guys fighting for the top spots, and also of note, is perhaps forgotten about Rashad Greene, who after missing all of last season on the injured reserve list, is a player that stood out in Jaguars minincamp back in May.
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With that depth and competitiveness at the wide receiver position, is one of 2017’s feel-good stories, Jaydon Mickens, destined to become a camp casualty? Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton broke down the hottest hot seat for each team in 2018, and says Mickens will be in a heated battle to earn a staying spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The former undrafted free agent won’t be able to climb high enough on the depth chart to compete for a consistent role in the offense, and as Moton points out, Micken’s ultimate competition will be Rashad Greene. With the talent ahead of each of them, it appears to be a given that both guys will not make the final roster.
Mickens only really flashed potential at receiver in one game last season, the two touchdown performance in the AFC South-clinching blowout win over the Houston Texans.
The now second-year player’s biggest contribution for the team was as a punt returner, housing one in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals in week nine, and nearly another one on a crucial return against the Seattle Seahawks late in the season.
But now that could also be slipping from Mickens’ grasp, as Greene also made his calling with the Jaguars as a return specialist before injury. The position could also be bestowed upon rookie D.J. Chark, who with his speed, excelled at the role during his college tenure at LSU.
Training camp is always make or break time for numerous players around the NFL, and in the case of Jaydon Mickens, the wide receiver is going to need a valiant effort to stake claim to a spot on the final 53.