Jaguars waste no time keeping 2 preseason studs on practice squad

The Jacksonville Jaguars dealt with several tough decisions when they put together their 53-man roster. In the end, they couldn't keep a handful of players who deserved to make the team because they had no room for him. The good news is that the Jags managed to keep them on their practice squad.

The team announced the practice squad after cutdown day. Two names stood out: Michael Wortham and Trebor Pena. Both of them went undrafted in 2026, but that didn't stop them from flashing big-play potential in the preseason. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster because Jacksonville is loaded at receiver.

Surprisingly, Pena or Wortham went unclaimed on waiver, which allowed general manager James Gladstone to bring them back on the practice squad.

The Jaguars have a pair of intriguing receivers in Michael Wortham and Trebor Pena

Trebor Pena turned heads in the preseason, hauling in a team-best 10 receptions on 13 targets for 139 yards with one touchdown. Although the former Penn State Nittany Lion cooled down a bit in the finale, he averaged more than 18 yards per catch the first two games.

On the other hand, Michael Wortham caught seven of eight targets for 97. Although his numbers don't pop off the stat sheet, he turned heads across the NFL with his electrifying return for a touchdown in the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What stood out about Wortham's trip to the end zone was that the game was near the end when the outcome was already decided. Nevertheless, he gave everyone a reason to remain glued to the tube.

Now, both Wortham and Pena get the chance to keep honing their skills in Duval.

You may also like: Winners and losers from the official 53-man roster

The Jaguars may not need Michael Wortham or Trebor Pena anytime soon

As promising as Michael Wortham and Trebor Pena looked in the preseason, the Jaguars may have no use for them anytime soon. After all, they waived them because they're stacked at receiver. Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Travis Hunter are their top receivers. Rookies Josh Cameron and CJ Williams also did enough through the offseason to earn a role on offense next season.

Simply put, there's no room for Pena or Wortham right now. That said, having them on the practice squad is the kind of luxury most teams can't afford. Maybe if the injury bug strikes, Jacksonville could promote them to the active roster on game day. Perhaps if the Jags need a returner, Wortham could be thrust into action. But right now, it's hard to see them suiting up on game day in 2026.

Having said that, nobody can predict what will happen in a season or two, so who knows? Maybe Michael Wortham or Trebor Pena can make an impact for the Jaguars down the road. For the time being, they'll get a prime opportunity to hone their skills on the practice squad.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow