The Jacksonville Jaguars have been dealing with injuries at linebacker in the preseason. And they suffered a massive blow after the opener, as they've decided to place rookie Parker Hughes on the Injured Reserve list.
The Jags announced that they're placing Hughes on IR, effectively putting his rookie campaign to an end before it began. On a corresponding move, they've signed offensive lineman Timothy McKay and linebacker Baylon Spector.
Hughes was part of a crowded linebacker corps and was competing for a roster spot. Placing him on IR certainly stings, but Jacksonville has the depth to overcome his absence.
The Jaguars place Parker Hughes on Injured Reserve
Parker Hughes was a seventh-round pick in 2026. Before sophomore Jack Kiser suffered a knee injury, he was a long shot to make the roster, as the Jaguars are stacked at linebacker. However, the rookie out of Middle Tennessee got a path to make the team with Kiser and Jalen McLeod missing time.
Hughes flashed in training camp. He suited up for the first half of the opener against the New Orleans Saints and suffered an injury at some point. The decision to place him on IR shows that the injury is more serious than originally thought.
During the draft process, Hughes stood out because he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. During training camp. While he had his work cut out, he flashed his coverage skills throughout training camp.
What's next for the Jaguars afte placing Parker Hughes on IR?
Parker Hughes was on the bottom half of the depth chart before the preseason opener. With him out of the picture, veteran Yasir Abdullah has a clear path to make the 53-man roster. On the other hand, the Jaguars signed Amari Burney and Jahlani Tavai in the midst of injuries. Both of them will also get a chance to compete for a roster spot.
But as things stand, Foyesade Oluokun, Branson Combs, Ventrell Miller, and Dennis Gardeck are locks to get the nod. One or two roster spots will be available at linebacker. Abdullah could seize it after a strong outing in the preseason opener. That potentially leaves Burney, Tavai, and newcomer Baylon Spector on the outside looking in.
Speaking of Spector, he was a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2022. He appeared in 29 games with four starts during his stint in Nickel City, registering 55 total tackles. Like Burney and Tavai, he'll compete for a role in Jacksonville the next two preseason games.
Parker Hughes most definitely had upside, so the Jaguars must be frustrated that they'll have to wait until next year to see what he can do. For the time being, they're adding reinforcements at linebacker to ensure the position is in good shape at the start of the regular season.
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