3 Jaguars who hurt their stock in win vs. Buccaneers in Preseason Week 2

The Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up for the preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons. This will be the last time they see action before they take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. With roster cutdown day looming several players will need to make a strong impression.

Already, head coach Doug Pederson told the media that the starters will suit up for the finale, probably two quarters depending on the flow of the game. This will limit the chance for several players to make a strong impression. These three are definitely in need of one after an underwhelming performance against the Buccaneers.

Joshua Cephus, wide receiver

In spite of a highly productive stint at UTSA, Joshua Cephus went undrafted. Given that the Jaguars were stacked at wide receiver, he was facing an uphill battle to make the roster. But the Texans native was up to the challenge.

Throughout the offseason, Cephus made the most of his chances and became a fan favorite. At one point, he appeared to be a strong candidate to earn a spot in the 53-man roster. However, the rookie receiver has seen his stock plummet in the preseason. First, he had a drop and only a measly reception in the opener. He then had a fumble against Tampa Bay.

Now, Cephus is a long shot to make the team. In fact, he'll probably land in the practice squad if he goes unclaimed in the waiver wire. There, he'll have a chance to work on his craft and once again try to compete for a roster spot in 2025.

Roy Robertson Harris, defensive lineman

Unlike Joshua Cephus, Roy Robertson-Harris isn't competing for a roster spot. Heck, he's guaranteed a roster spot because releasing him would accelerate $7 million in dead money into this year. Having said that, his performance against Tampa Bay left much to be desired.

Robertson-Harris was playing late in the fourth quarter. That's a bit odd when you take into account that third and fourth-stringers usually take the field at that point of the game.

When asked about it, head coach Doug Pederson told the media that he wanted the veteran to get snaps after missing time in the offseason.

"Roy's been doing a really good job. He missed a lot of springtime with his injury," Pederson said. "Again, it takes some time, learning the techniques, learning the details of the defense but he's been doing a great job. He's going to be an impact player for us, continue to grow in the defense. Consistency, not only by Roy, but by everybody. continue to show that he's one of the mainstays on that interior line."

The issue with that explanation is that RRH was a starter last year. If he's poised to have a featured role in 2024, why didn't he play early in the game? Why did he go against lower-tier players? It may be something or nothing but his situation is certainly worth keeping an eye on moving forward.

Javon Foster, offensive tackle

The Jaguars have the luxury of having two potential starters at left tackle, Walker Little and Cam Robinson. This has led to chatter about potentially trading one of them. The team's brass could be incentivized to make such a move if rookie Javon Foster shows he can deliver if called upon. He didn't, at least not against the Buccaneers.

The former Mizzou Tiger played 65 snaps, giving up three total pressures and one sack. He also allowed one pressure in the opener. The silver lining is that there's no way to go up. Moreover, asking a fourth-round pick, such as Javon Foster, to perform at a starter-caliber level, is a tall ask at this stage of his career.

Foster was a middle-round pick for a reason: He needs time to develop but has the tools to turn into a solid player. The point still stands, though he has a long way to go, which could deter the Jaguars from trading either Robinson or Little.

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