4 Jaguars starters who could be benched during 2022 season

No. 3 Jaguars starter who could get benched in 2022: Zay Jones, WR

You probably know Zay Jones as the player that forced a glitch in the Matrix or as one of the two receivers the Jaguars signed in free agency. Either way, the former East Carolina Pirate is expected to have a key role in the Jaguars’ offense this upcoming season.

After all, the Jags didn’t give Jones a three-year contract worth $24 million to ride the bench on Game Day. However, there’s a chance the former second-round pick might not live up to expectations in 2022. Over the last five seasons, he’s logged more than 600 receiving yards in a year just once.

Furthermore, Jones only scored 11 career touchdowns and seven of them came in 2018. If you remove that year, he’s found the end zone just four times since 2017. That’s not the kind of track record that inspires confidence, and if he struggles, he could lose snaps and probably his job to Laviska Shenault Jr., who will compete for playing time in the upcoming months.

Having said that, you shouldn’t rule Jones just yet. Sure, there’s a chance he wasn’t a fit with the Buffalo Bills or the Las Vegas Raiders, his previous teams, or maybe he needed to work on his craft and get better before he could get a featured role. Jaguars legend Jimmy Smith seems to be high on him, and it’s also possible that general manager Trent Baalke believes the coaching staff can untap his potential.

Some NFL players take more time to develop and that could be Jones’ case. But if he doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity, Shenault will be waiting.