The preseason gives coaching staffs the opportunity to evaluate the roster. Similarly, some players have the chance to either move up the depth chart or make the team. Although the Jacksonville Jaguars lost 24-13 to the Cleveland Browns, there were some positive things. Also, a few players saw their stock rise.
Conversely, there were a handful of players that didn’t do much when they were given a chance. With that in mind, here are three Jaguars whose stock is falling following Week 1 of the preseason.
3. Jaguars players whose stock is falling: Rudy Ford, S
Mostly a special teams ace throughout his career, safety Rudy Ford saw significant playing time for the Jaguars last year, filling in for Tre Herndon in the slot. The former Auburn Tiger ended up making a career-high four starts and logged his first NFL interception.
With the Jaguars signing Darious Williams in free agency and bringing back Herndon, Ford might see playing time mostly on special teams in 2022. Against the Browns, he committed two penalties (offensive holding and unnecessary roughness) and missed a tackle.
Ford stepped in when he was called upon last season but he could become a roster casualty in 2022. Andre Cisco and Rayshawn Jenkins are set to be the Jaguars’ starting safeties in Week 1 of the regular season. On the other hand, Daniel Thomas and Andrew Wingard figure to be the top backups at the position.
There are two weeks left in the preseason, so Ford has a chance to bounce back and impress the coaching staff. Still, he shouldn’t take his roster spot for granted.
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.
1. Jaguars player whose stock is falling: K’Lavon Chaisson
Earlier this year, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson said that the drafting of Travon Walker lit a fire under him, and it’s easy to see why. The former LSU Tiger hasn’t lived up to expectations over the last two years.
Chaisson, just like Walker, was a first-round pick but hasn’t become the pass rusher the Jaguars’ brass expected. Back in 2020, he logged one sack but didn’t have much of an impact otherwise. He did tally 21 pressures in the last seven games but he couldn’t build off of that last season. Once again, he only recorded one sack and was a non-factor.
It’s true that Chaisson hasn’t enjoyed continuity in his NFL career — he’s played for three coaching staffs in as many years — but he must also shoulder the blame for his lack of production. Against the Browns, he appeared in 20 defensive snaps. He made one tackle and was penalized for roughing the passer in the third quarter.
The fact that Chaisson can’t shine against backups should be a cause for concern. While it’s too early to give up on him, he must show the Jaguars that he can be a piece of their defensive puzzle.
Chaisson has previously been mentioned as a potential trade candidate but the Jaguars would have a hard time shopping him if he keeps playing the way he did against Cleveland. Similarly, he won’t get much playing time this upcoming season if he doesn’t turn the corner soon.