The Jacksonville Jaguars have seen their much-maligned 2026 NFL Draft class get off to a hotter start than many imagined, but third-round defensive tackle Albert Regis has been excluded from that. Regis has spent most of his rookie season as a healthy scratch. However, a season-ending injury to DaVon Hamilton could change that.
Hamilton, who Pro Football Focus graded as a top-15 defensive tackle almost halfway through the 2026 season, suffered a torn quad in the team's 42-7 win against the Indianapolis Colts and will miss the remainder of the season. Jacksonville's high-end run defense may have lost arguably their best role player in that area.
If there was ever a chance for Regis to emerge as someone who could play a part in the Jags' playoff push in 2026, this is it. If he still is unable to get on the field, that could be a damning indictment on the short-term impact Regis can provide.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Albert Regis could shine after DaVon Hamilton injury
Regis and fellow Aggie teammate Tyler Onyedim, picked 66th overall by the Denver Broncos, were both thought to be overdrafted due to their limited pass-rush upside and less-than-impressive physical frames for 1-tech tackles. Regis, who doesn't even crack 300 pounds despite profiling as a player closer to a nose than someone who lines up closer to the tackles, still makes his name as a run-stuffer.
Regis has shown tremendous lower-body strength and the ability to stay disciplined when defending the run. With some very impressive 40-yard dash times and a quick first step, the Jaguars believe that Regis' combination of explosion and stoutness while playing the run could make him a solid rotational piece.
While Ruke Orhorhoro looks like a solid rotational player after a few seasons of poor play in Atlanta, he is far from a dominant force who should permanently relegate Regis to the bench. Leaning on Matt Dickerson instead of a Top-100 pick in Regis could come back to bite this team.
Albert Regis can make Jaguars GM James Gladstone look even better
Gladstone's second NFL Draft class, which was torched by many analysts for picking players far earlier than many experts believed they would be selected, has played a role in Jacksonville's 5-2 start. Regis wasting away on the sideline while Orhorhoro and Dickerson hog all the snaps is leaving some proverbial meat on the bone.
Second-round tight end Nate Boerkircher caught his second touchdown against Indy while blocking well, and sixth-round wide receiver Josh Cameron has been on the end of a couple of big Trevor Lawrence throws. One of the few players regarded by the consensus as great value was third-round guard Emmanuel Pregnon, who has emerged as an instant starter at left guard.
Regis doesn't need to be a Hall of Fame-level tackle right out of the gate, but if he can plug up the vacated holes Hamilton used to solidify, that would go a long way toward winning over the fanbase and further proving Gladstone's risks valid.
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