Just one day after rookies showed up for training camp, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced that offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen landed on the Physically Unable to Perform list while he recovers from a knee injury he sustained at the end of the 2026 season.
Van Lanen will probably miss several practices. That isn't ideal, but the silver lining is that Walker Little can hold the fort at left tackle while he recovers, regardless of how long it is.
On the other hand, one veteran entering training camp on the roster bubble could benefit from Van Lanen's absence.
Chuma Edoga could make the Jaguars roster while Cole Van Lanen recovers
The Jaguars signed Chuma Edoga in 2025 to provide depth on the offensive line. The veteran hog molly made such a strong impression in the offseason program that he shared first-team reps at right tackle with Anton Harrison. The former USC Trojan kept raising his stock in training camp but struggled in the regular season, racking up five penalties on 101 offensive snaps.
By the end of 2025, Edoga was an afterthought, barely getting any playing time. This is why he's being seen as a potential cap casualty early throughout the offseason. The deal the Powder Springs, Georgia native signed was for two years and was worth $7 million. He's set to count $3.9 million against the cap in 2027, but releasing him would free up $2.9 million with $1 million in dead money.
That's a chunky amount of space that the Jags could use to re-sign Parker Washington or any of their other extension candidates. On the other hand, it would make sense to keep him around if Cole Van Lanen takes longer to recover than originally expected.
Chuma Edoga can give the Jaguars depth on the O-Line next season
While the Jaguars never revealed what kind of injury Cole Valen sustained — aside from it being a knee injury — head coach Liam Coen said he expected him to return for training camp. Based on the latest news, though, he still needs more time to heal.
Now, Jacksonville can activate Van Lanen at any time, but they might not have placed him on PUP if he were close to coming back. Maybe he is, and the team's brass is just being extra cautious. However, there's also a chance that Van Lanen will miss a significant portion of training camp, and maybe even the preseason.
If that's the case, the Jags are better off keeping Chuma Edoga around. Sure, he's coming off an underwhelming season, but he's got starting experience and the ability to line up at different positions across the offensive line. That could come in handy in case Jacksonville experiences further injuries.
Sure, the prospect of releasing Edoga to free up cap space deserves consideration, but the last thing the Jaguars want is not to be ready in case injuries strike. It's also worth noting that even if Van Lanen is cleared to play, he may still need a bit of time to truly be at full strength, so having depth could come in handy.
For the time being, the best course of action may be to hold onto Chuma Edoga for as long as Cole Van Lanen is unavailable.
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