After the offseason program, Jabbar Muhammad seemed like a good bet to make the 53-man roster. After all, he showed notable improvement after going undrafted in 2025. However, the sophomore cornerback wasn't able to carry the momentum into the preseason, which is probably why the Jacksonville Jaguars gave him his walking papers on cutdown day.
Adam Schefter of ESPN originally broke the news that the Jags waived Muhammad, adding that they expect him to be back on the practice squad.
The truth is that Muhammad's departure came as a bit of a surprise. Sure, he struggled at times during the preseason but had shown enough progress to make you think he would have locked up a roster spot. Obviously, the team's brass believes he still has his work cut out, and it'll be interesting to see if a team in need of cornerback help puts a claim on him.
Why the Jaguars moved on from Jabbar Muhammad
Earlier this year, head coach Liam Coen heaped praise on Jabbar Muhammad, noting that he was a player who had shown the most progress from 2025. But leaving aside Coen's praise, Muhammad routinely stood out in practice.
Then again, Muhammad mostly practiced with the second and third team, and he was going to truly prove that he could earn a roster spot in the preseason. He came up short. Although the former Oregon Duck wasn't bad, he didn't stand out either, giving up 10 receptions on 14 targets for 70 yards.
It's possible that the lack of plays also hurt Muhammad's bid for a roster spot, as he only registered one pass defensed on 155 defensive snaps. He was going to need more to crack the team.
Now, the Jaguars need to cross their fingers and expect that Muhammad goes unclaimed on the waiver wire. On a related note, his departure paves the way for Christian Braswell to make the team. It would be shocking to see him be left off the roster with Muhammad out of the picture.
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What's next for Jabbar Muhammad after being waived by the Jaguars?
This isn't the end of the road for Jabbar Muhammad. He should be pleased with the work he's put in and how far he went. Does it sting for him to be waived? You bet, but either he'll continue honing his skills on the practice squad, or another team will sign him to its 53-man roster. Either way, he wins.
For the sake of argument, let's say Muhammad lands on the practice squad. He could be promoted to the active roster if needed. Heck, he could earn a roster spot once Jacskonville sorts it out after the final cuts. Either way, the Jaguars like him enough that they may lean on him at some point in 2026.
Worst-case scenario, Jabbar Muhammad doesn't see any action in 2026, but if he continues to improve as much as he has, he should be in a great position to compete for a roster spot next season.
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