Jaguars O-Line is getting reinforcements in time for preseason opener vs. Chiefs

The Jacksonville Jaguars will get a couple of starting offensive linemen in time for their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Preseason Week 1. After dealing with injuries in training camp, left tackle Cam Robinson and Cooper Hodges have been clear to suit up for the opener.

Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL reports that Robinson and Hodges were expected to be limited and only partake in individual drills ahead of the opener. However, both of them passed a threshold and will be available. Brien's scoop was later confirmed by the team.

On the other hand, it's still uncertain if sophomore right tackle Anton Harrison will play, as he's yet to be cleared from concussion protocol. Similarly, Ezra Cleveland did some individual work while he recovers from a leg injury he sustained in training camp, so he may or may not play in the opener.

Still, it's encouraging that the Jaguars will potentially have three of their starters in the trenches to start the preseason. Last year, they ran out of healthy players at several points in the regular season. At one point, Walker Little was bumped inside, and in a different game, Cleveland took snaps at left tackle. Tha'ts how bad things are.

The silver lining if Cleveland and Harrison sit out the opener is that the coaching staff will get to see what they have in their reserves. With Mitch Morse tentatively becoming the starting center, third-year pro Luke Fortner has been getting snaps at center. They'll surely want to see how the transition is going.

Also, the Jaguars will want to give a look at rookie Javon Foster, a fourth-round pick in this year's draft. By having a more clear read on the rookie out of Mizzou, they'll have a better idea of how their depth chart at offensive tackle will look.

The Jaguars' preseason opener will be crucial for Cam Robinson and Walker Little

One of the biggest storylines surrounding the preseason is the team's competition at left tackle between Cam Robinson and Walker Little. By being cleared for the game against the Chiefs, the former will have a chance to show what he has.

So far, Little has had an outstanding training camp. The fact that he was able to contain Josh Hines-Allen in practice while Robinson struggled won't probably be lost on the coaching staff. Then again, many more things go into the team's evaluation of their offensive tackles.

A second-round pick in 2017, Robinson has been the starter at left tackle the past seven seasons. However, he's only played a full season once, and moving on from him in 2024 would clear $17 million in cap space. Meanwhile, Little is a 2021 second-round pick, who's played well when called upon but has yet to seize a featured role. He competed with Jawaan Taylor for the job at right tackle but lost.

Little filled in for Robinson to start the 2023 season while the latter was serving a suspension for violations of the league's Performance Enhancing Drug Policy. Now, he'll have the opportunity to earn the job full-time.

On the other hand, Cooper Hodges, a sixth-round pick in last year's draft, is looking to solidify his spot on the offensive line depth chart after missing his rookie campaign with a patella injury. It's worth noting that this will be the first time the Appalachian State product will be thrust into preseason action.

While the case could be made that the preseason is unnecessary, it certainly gives coaching staffs across the league the chance to evaluate their rosters while players benefit from going against opposing teams. In the case of the Jaguars, they'll get to see Cam Robinson and Cooper Hodges perform at full strength, or as close as they'll be.

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