The Jacksonville Jaguars just released their official 53-man roster for the 2026 season. They surely made a handful of tough decisions, as several players were seemingly worthy of a roster spot but ultimately didn't do enough to get the nod.
On the other hand, the Jags included several players who made a strong impression and made it impossible to leave them out.
WIth this in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from the initial 53-man roster.
Biggest winners from the official Jaguars 53-man roster
Bryan Thomas Jr., defensive end
Every year, there's a surprise player that manages to sneak onto the roster. This year was no different, with Bryan Thomas Jr. getting the nod after going undrafted in 2026. Then again, it was well-deserved. The former Southern California Gamecock flashed in the offseason program and caught fire in the preseason.
By the second or third preseason game, his odds of making the team had increased substantially. Sure, he'll be at the bottom of the depth chart next season and may even be inactive a few games. But the fact that he's made it this far is worth praising.
Ameer Abdullah, running back
The Jaguars value running backs who can block and contribute on passing downs. That's why LeQuint Allen Jr. has become a mainstay of their offense. That's also why Ameer Abdullah earned a roster spot over rookie J'Mari Taylor and DeeJay Dallas.
Abdullah seemed like a camp body when he signed with the Jags, but he was given a real chance to compete and made the most out of it.
Jahlani Tavai, linebacker
Like Ameer Abdullah, signing Jahlani Tavai in training camp appeared to be not much more than a depth move, but the veteran linebacker made a strong impression with his play in the preseason. It also helped him that he's healthy, unlike Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod, players who have upside but can't shake off the injury bug.
Tavai won't probably see much playing time on defense unless the injury bug strikes the Jags, but he could be a key contributor on special teams.
Matt Dickerson, defensive end
Even though Jacksonville re-signed Matt Dickerson in the offseason, it didn't look like he was going to make the team next season. But the former UCLA Bruin just put his head down and got to work. Fast forward to cutdown day, and he cracked the 53-man roster.
Dickerson fits the intangibly rich mold that the Jaguars use to build the roster: Gritty players who love football. Even if he's not more than a rotational piece, it's clear that the Jags value his contributions.
Christian Braswell, cornerback
Christian Braswell was overshadowed by Jabbar Muhammad in the offseason program. He then missed the start of the preseason but didn't throw in the towel and ended up locking up a roster spot.
Braswell probably got the edge over Muhammad because of his experience. His versatility to play inside or outside is also a plus.
Walker Little, offensive tackle
The Jaguars cut Chuma Edoga but could have easily moved on from Walker Little. However, they kept even though he's set to have a cap hit of $14.4 million next season. The decision makes sense, though.
Little is coming off an underwhelming year but has ample starting experience. Moreover, he was a capable left tackle before 2025 and has position flexibilty. The former Stanford Cardinal could also fill in for Cole Van Lanen if he isn't ready for the season opener. Speaking of...
Cole Van Lanen, offensive tackle
Cole Van Lanen supplanted Walker Little as the starting left tackle last year. However, he suffered a knee injury late in 2025 and spent the offseason recovering. The former Wisconsin Badger was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list in the second half of August and will tentatively return for the season opener.
The fact that the Jags released Edoga is a sign that they're confident he'll be back soon. But even if he has to sit out a couple games to start the season, he's definitely trending in the right direction.
You may also like: Winners and losers from the Quinn Ewers trade
Biggest losers from the official Jaguars 53-man roster
Nick Mullens, Joey Aguilar, and Carter Bradley
It was hard to include just one when all three spent the offseason with the Jaguars, only to be supplanted by Quinn Ewers. Then again, all three failed to make an impression even though they were given repeated chances.
Moreover, the depth at quarterback was seemingly an issue dating back to the offseason program, so you cannot truly say with a straight face that trading for Ewers really caught Nick Mullens by surprise.
The silver lining is that either Joey Aguilar or Carter Bradley will return on the practice squad. Similarly, Mullens should latch onto a team that needs a veteran signal-caller who can help with game preparation throughout the week ahead of game day.
Jalen McLeod and Jack Kiser, linebacker
Here's another thing that didn't come as a surprise: the Jags waived Jalen McLeod and Jack Kiser despite the fact that they just drafted them in 2025. In their defense, they failed to make the team because they were dealing with injuries. On the other hand, availability is the best ability, and it doesn't matter how talented you are if you cannot stay healthy. That was the case for McLeod and Kiser.
McLeod missed his rookie season with an ankle injury. He later suffered an upper-body injury in training camp that prevented him from showcasing his talent. Kiser, on the other hand, sustained a knee injury on the first day of training camp and didn't return.
If Kiser and McLeod can stay healthy, maybe they can compete for a roster spot next year.
Jabbar Muhammad, cornerback
Jabbar Muhammad went undrafted in 2025 and spent his rookie season on the Jacksonville practice squad. He showed substantial improvement in the offseason program and seemed like a good bet to make the team next season. However, the Oregon Duck was inconsistent through the preseason and failed to make many big plays.
In the end, Muhammad wasn't able to prove that he deserved a spot on the 53-man roster. But if he's back on the practice squad, maybe he can keep honing his skills and try again next year.
Yasir Abdullah, linebacker
Yasir Abdullah was a prolific pass rusher at Louisiana, but his ability to get after the quarterback didn't carry over into the NFL. Nevertheless, the former Cardinal still carved out a niche for the Jaguars on special teams the past three years. He also was a solid backup, which is why it was a bit of a surprise to see him miss the cut.
Then again, Jahlani Tavai showed out in the preseason, and precisely because he was much better on defense, he got the nod over Abdullah.
Trebor Pena and Michael Wortham, wide receivers
Both Trebor Pena and Michael Wortham flashed big-play capability in the preseason but always had an uphill battle to make the roster because Jacksonville is stacked at receiver. With Brian Thomas Jr., CJ Williams, Parker Washington, Josh Cameron, Jakobi Meyers, (and Travis Hunter) in the mix, the undrafted rooms had no chance.
The hope is that Pena and Wortham will clear waivers, but there's a chance they'll latch onto another team. Either way, it's not the end of the road.
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