Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars had their BYE in Week 7, they managed to hold onto their lead in the AFC South, but that's because every other team in the division lost.
Once the Jags return from their break, they should pick up where they left off. You can bet that the coaching staff worked on some of the issues that hindered the team during their break, so Jacksonville should be in good shape to start a playoff push in Week 8.
But for the time being, here's a look at what some of their former players did during their BYE.
- Greg Newsome missed a game but has otherwise been a steal for the Giants
- Andrew Wingard has dealt with injuries after signing with the Cardinals
- Travis Etienne was off to a solid start with the Saints but is currently on IR
- Dyami Brown has been unable to bounce back after leaving the Jaguars
- Devin Lloyd continues to be a force with the Panthers
Greg Newsome missed a game but has otherwise been a steal for the Giants
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Greg Newsome at the 2025 deadline to bolster their cornerback group. On paper, the move made sense, as Newsome was expected to be an upgrade over Tyson Campbell. Unfortunately, things didn't play out that way.
The former Northwestern Wildcat struggled in his brief stint in Duval and ended up bolting for the New York Giants in free agency. He's most definitely benefited from the change of scenery. In six games with Big Blue, Newsome has become a lockdown corner, registering four passes defensed and one interception while giving up a completion rate of just 57.7 percent.
Although Newsome sat out the win over the Houston Texans, he's turned out to be a steal for New York after signing a one-year, $8 million, prove-it deal. He should get a raise in 2027.
Andrew Wingard has dealt with injuries after signing with the Cardinals
After going undrafted in 2019, Andrew Wingard put in the work to become a pivotal piece on the Jacksonville defense and a respected voice in the locker. However, his stint with the Jags came to an end when Antonio Johnson took over the starting job next to Eric Murray.
Couple that with the return of Caleb Ransaw, who's since once again suffered a season-ending injury, and there was no longer room for Dewey in Duval, so he signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Arizona Cardinals.
So far, Wingard has registered one interception but has otherwise been relatively quiet with the Cards. He's also sat out two games with injuries. Maybe the former Wyoming Cowboy will finish the season strong, but Jacksonville hasn't missed a beat without him.
Travis Etienne was off to a solid start with the Saints but is currently on IR
The Jaguars let Travis Etienne walk in free agency because they weren't going to match the four-year, $52 million deal he got from the New Orleans Saints. On top of that, Bhayshul Tuten was ready to step in his place. Seven games into the season, it proved to be the right call.
While Tuten has cemented his spot as the No. 1 option in the Jacksonville backfield, Etienne had a good, not great start to the 2026 season and is currently on the Injured Reserve list after suffering a hamstring injury in week 3.
Etienne may end up becoming a key contributor for the Saints down the road, but they have yet to get a return on their massive investment.
Dyami Brown has been unable to bounce back after leaving the Jaguars
When the Jaguars gave a one-year, $10 million deal to Dyami Brown in 2025, they expected him to build off his strong finish to 2024. However, he instead regressed to the point that he became an afterthought on the offense by the end of 2025.
After his failed stint in Duval, Brown returned to the Washington Commanders, the team that drafted him in 2021. The expectation was that he was going to pick up where he left off before he left for the Jaguars but has once again been underwhelming. The former North Carolina Tar Heel has been so underwhelming that he's already at the bottom of the Washington wide receiver depth chart.
Devin Lloyd continues to be a force with the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, but Devin Lloyd has been a stud for them. Heck, he's been even better than he was in his 2025 breakout with the Jaguars.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, Lloyd posted an 82.2 percent pass-rush win rate, the highest since 2017.
Looking back, Lloyd's three-year, $45 million deal to join the Panthers has been a bargain. Then again, the Jags have done just fine without him, as Ventrell Miller has turned out to be a more than capable replacement, even if he doesn't make game-changing plays at the same rate.
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