The Jacksonville Jaguars released their first official depth chart a few days before their first preseason game on August 14. There were certainly a few surprises. Why would veteran running back Carlos Hyde be listed ahead of rookie Travis Etienne or why is EDGE rusher Dawuane Smoot is grouped with the defensive tackles.
In the end, the aforementioned depth chart may not have much relevance to the Jags’ preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. You know what else may not be really important? The number of snaps Trevor Lawrence will get. It’s true that the rookie passer needs to be ready for the season opener but starting a game that won’t count in the standings will not hinder his progress in the long run.
The Clemson product has shown growth throughout training camp and it might not make much sense to expose him to injuries. After all, how much will one extra series realistically benefit him? On the other hand, Lawerence isn’t the only quarterback on the Jaguars roster and the team’s brass needs to see what they have in Gardner Minshew, C.J. Beathard, and Jake Luton.
Head coach Urban Meyer spoke to the local media after Thursday’s practice and said that veterans such as center Brandon Linder “may come out a little earlier than a guy who’s a starter who needs more reps”.
Meyer knows that the stakes will be high for several players who may currently be on the fringe. He met with the team after practice and talked about expectations for Saturday’s game.
"To be fair, what’s the expectation? The expectation is I want a clean game. We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time on the fundamentals of the game, and I expect a winner mentality. The reality is there are people across from you trying to take your job. Some of these guys are in survival mode. I respect that."
Here are a few more observations about Day 13 of Jaguars training camp.
Gardner Minshew will be valuable for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
Gardner Minshew isn’t competing for a roster spot nor a starting job. But he will benefit from getting as many reps as possible in the Jaguars’ first preseason game. Even though the 2019 sixth-round selection will be the backup to Trevor Lawrence, he’s still preparing as if he were the top quarterback on the depth chart. Who can blame him? He’s wired like that.
Head coach Urban Meyer has spoken positively of Minshew ever since he arrived in Jacksonville and it doesn’t seem like things have changed. Meyer complimented the third-year quarterback after Thursday’s practice.
"He has earned my respect, I love that guy. He’s a warrior, a competitor, he’s a fighter. I told him that. I just have great respect for Minshew. He brings it every day."
Before the draft, other clubs inquired about Minshew’s availability but Meyer said that the Jags weren’t interested in trading him at the time. Looking back, holding onto the former Cougar was the right decision. While injuries are an inherent part of football and nobody can control them, teams can certainly prepare for them.
Nobody wants to see Lawrence get hurt but if for some reason he can’t, Minshew gives the Jaguars a solid alternative at quarterback. Just like his rookie counterpart, he’s made the most of his training camp opportunities and has shown improvement since last year. If the Washington product continues working hard, it will be a matter of time before he gets another shot at a starting job. It may or may not come in Jacksonville but he will be ready nonetheless.
Several Jacksonville Jaguars will make their preseason debut.
It’s easy to forget but the NFL didn’t hold a preseason last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so many second-year Jaguars will be making their preseason debut Saturday. Wide receiver Laviska Shenaul Jr., EDGE rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, and cornerback C.J. Henderson are some of the players that could certainly use a significant amount of snaps. However, there are others that might also benefit from an extended look, especially those that may be on the roster bubble.
Safety Andrew Wingard comes to mind, and so does quarterback Jake Luton who is competing for a roster spot. Henderson could take advantage of the preseason to get back on track after missing a good chunk of training camp.
The preseason will also be of particular importance to the Jaguars’ tight end room. Ben Ellefson has had a productive training camp but he needs to solidify his place on the depth chart. Also, Tyler Davis could be competing for a roster spot, and Tim Tebow, well, he needs to stand out and show he can contribute on the field. After making a solid impression early in training camp, he struggled once the pads went on. He needs to work on his pass-blocking and catching skills if he wants to make the team.
Head coach Urban Meyer said that veteran guard Andrew Norwell won’t suit up, so it will a good chance for Ben Bartch to display he should eventually get a spot in the starting offensive lineup. He won’t be competing for a roster spot like other players, but just like most of them, having a solid performance would help him greatly.