5 most important players on the Jaguars who are not starters

No. 2 most important Jaguars non-starter in 2022: Laquon Treadwell, WR

One day you’re the starter. The next, you get bumped down the depth chart. But such is life in the NFL, where no job is guaranteed and players must compete every day. Then again, this goes both ways. A scrappy veteran can work his way up the depth chart and end up having a featured role, which is precisely what happened to wide receiver Laquon Treadwell last year.

A first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2016 draft, Treadwell didn’t do much of note during his first five NFL seasons, making just 16 starts and hauling in 71 catches for 750 yards with four touchdowns. There are receivers that can post significantly better numbers in just one year, which is why it was a bit surprising to see the Jags sign him not long after last year’s draft.

At first, it looked like Treadwell was going to have a hard time making the roster but he competed in training camp and had a realistic shot before ultimately getting released before the start of the regular season. However, the team’s brass quickly signed him to the practice squad and later to the active roster when injuries piled up. The former Ole Miss Rebel made the most of his opportunity and went on to catch 31 receptions for 405 yards with one touchdown from Weeks 12 to 18.

Due to the addition of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency, Treadwell will no longer have a starting role and will enter the 2022 season as the fifth or sixth receiving option on the depth chart. However, he will still get a few catches and can step into a starting role if needed.