Jaguars playing starters: 3 things to watch in preseason finale game vs. Dolphins

1. Nathan Rourke and other players vying for a spot on the Jaguars roster in 2023

The Jaguars managed to keep most of the core that helped them reach the playoffs and win the AFC South last year. Thus, there weren't starting jobs there for the taking. That said, several players are entangled in a competition for a handful of roster spots.

In particular, Jacob Harris, Seth Williams, Kendrick Pryor, Kevin Austin Jr., Parker Washington, Tim Jones and Elijah Cooks are competing for one or two roster spots, depending on how many wide receivers the Jaguars choose to carry in 2023. Williams, Harris, Jones and Cooks have stood out in both the presason and training camp but this is going to be a tight race.

Similarly, sophomore cornerback Montaric Brown has made strides since the end of the 2022 season. However, he hasn't yet locked up a roster spot (at least from an outside perspective). He, along with rookie Christian Braswell will have another opportunity to solidify their respective cases.

There's also quarterback Nathan Rourke. While he's coming off a couple of promising outings, it's uncertain if Jacksonville will carry three quarterbacks into the 2023 season. Having another outstanding performance against the Dolphins will increase his chances of sticking around.

While there are many players the Jaguars would love to keep in 2023, they have a finite number of roster spots. This means the team's brass will have to make some tough decisions on cutdown day. But by having a good outing against the Dolphins, these players on the fringe could strengthen their chances of making the cut.

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