3 Jaguars whose stock is falling following loss to Browns
2. Jaguars player whose stock is falling: Jeff Cotton Jr, WR
The Jaguars have depth at wide receiver but most of the roster spots are already earmarked, probably leaving just one or two open, depending on whether the team carries five or six receivers into the regular season.
Mark Long of the Associated Press says that the Jags see Laquon Treadwell, Tim Jones, and Jeff Cotton Jr. as “basically the same guy” and adds that only one is expected to make the team.
Final WR spot is a position battle to watch for the Jaguars in the preseason. Team sees Laquon Treadwell, Tim Jones and Jeff Cotton as basically the same guy and expects only one to make the final roster.
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) August 5, 2022
Locks at WR: Kirk, MJones, ZJones, Shenault and Agnew.
Treadwell became one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets last season and showed out in training camp. Against the Browns, he hauled in two receptions for 27 yards and Tim Jones led the team in catches with five. Meanwhile, Cotton finished the game with no catches. To make matters worse, cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. took a pass from his hands and returned it for a touchdown. This isn’t the kind of impression you want to make when you’re on the roster bubble.
This isn’t probably the end of the road for Cotton and he won’t likely be part of Jacksonville’s first round of cuts, which will come before Week 2 of the preseason. Wide receivers coach Chris Jackson said not long ago that he and Jones are “fitting in where they are needed”.
Just last week, Cotton scored a touchdown while going against cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Also, he has often practiced with the second-team offense and fared well, so it might be too early to dismiss him. Having said that, his fumble against the Browns didn’t help his cause, and must do better the next two weeks.