Jaguars' roster moves show building a top-notch special teams unit is a priority

The special teams are often overlooked but the Jacksonville Jaguars are making an extra effort to ensure they have one of the best units in the NFL next season. Apart from drafting Cam Little, who'll bring much-needed stability at kicker, the team's brass made several moves that will help them accomplish the feat.

Although special teams ace Andrew Wingard will start the season on Injured Reserve, special teams coach Heath Farwell believes his group has no shortage of players ready to step up.

"I mean, losing Dewey was tough," Farwell told the media when asked what they'll do without Wingard. "We're hoping to get him back soon. I know he's out for a bit, but he's in all the meetings and super helpful, as far as the leadership that he's always brought. Daniel Thomas has been out as well. Daniel is a great player for us. We are hoping he's able to play this week and hopefully will practice starting on Monday is hopefully the goal. We'll see what that looks like next week."

Farwell continued, "But filling in, we have a bunch of good players. Tim Jones has been playing gunner. Jarrian Jones has been really good. Antonio Johnson is willing to play special teams. So those guys, as much as they play on defense, we have a bunch of guys that have kind of filled in, even starters. I got starters who wanted to play special teams for us. Andre Cisco's filling some of those roles. So there's a bunch of guys that are willing to help us, and especially those starters."

An undrafted free agent in 2019, Wingard made the 53-man roster as a rookie and progressively worked his way up the depth chart. By 2021, he had joined the starting lineup full-time. However, he took on a reserve role, where he's at his best, the following year. During the Jags' playoff run in 2022, Dewey came up with the It Was Always the Jags rally cry. In 2023, he signed a three-year extension and was named team captain, showing just how much his teammates value him.

But even without Wingard in the fold, the Jaguars have several options to step up on special teams. Although safety Daniel Thomas has missed time with an injury, he should be good to go in the season opener, as Farwell noted. The former Auburn Tiger hasn't gotten much playing time on defense the past two seasons but his play as a gunner on special teams earned him a two-year extension in the offseason.

Tim Jones and other players are ready to step up for the Jaguars on special teams

But as important as Wingard and Thomas have been for the Jacksonville special teams, there are other players who are equally crucial to their success. Tim Jones, an undrafted free agent in 2021, has made the roster three consecutive years. The former Southern Mississippi Golden Eagle has never gotten a meaningful amount of snaps on offense but he's become a pivotal piece on special teams.

On top of that, the Jags have put a premium on their return game. Besides signing former All-Pro nod Devin Duvernay in free agency, they have a trio of players who can handle return duties: Rookie Keilan Robinson, D'Ernest Johnson, and preseason sensation Parker Washington.

But wait, there's more. The Jaguars are developing several players who could eventually fill roles on special teams. Following roster cutdown day, the Jags signed quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, safety Matthew Jackson, and running back Louis Rees-Zammit to their practice squad. All of them can play different roles and potentially contribute in one way or another.

While it's true that the Houston Texans had the best special teams unit in the whole league last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars should feel great about the group they're putting together. The pieces are certainly there for them to make an impact in 2024.

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