After a week of joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set to match up against them on Saturday afternoon with the intention of securing their first preseason win. It is unclear if the starters will make an appearance in the game, but with so many players fighting for depth spots on this talented Jaguars team, it might be better for them to sit.
The roster will contract from 80 players to 53 next week ahead of the regular season, so the scrum in Atlanta is certain to have huge implications for Jacksonville moving forward.
Here are five Jaguars to keep your eye on in the final preseason game:
K James McCourt
After an abysmal performance by their kicker last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville claimed McCourt off waivers this week in the hopes of finding a steady leg for the regular season. McCourt was one of the all-time great kickers in the history of the University of Illinois, but it is uncertain if he has the goods to make it at the pro level.
He’ll be hard-pressed to do much worse than Ryan Santoso did in their last game, but if McCourt plays up to his full potential, he could wind up as the Jaguars’ full-time kicker in the regular season.
LB Chad Muma
Muma has been a capable replacement for fellow rookie Devin Lloyd in the preseason and is a lock to make the 53-man roster as a third-round pick. The intrigue here is Muma’s role moving forward, and if he can show enough in this last game to push for significant snaps in the regular season.
He played his college ball in Wyoming. and isn’t the most polished player on this Jacksonville team, but the pieces are there for Muma to be really special at the pro level. A big day against the Falcons could see him gain enough cache with the coaching staff to become a fixture on the Jaguars’ defense.
RB Ryquell Armstead
Buried deep on the Jaguars’ depth chart, Armstead could see his second stint in Jacksonville come to an abrupt halt if the team decides to give its carries to Snoop Conner and Mekhi Sargent on Saturday. He is on the outside looking in, and only a huge game against the Falcons or injuries to another back are likely to change his fate.
Despite this grim outlook, Armstead is still a good candidate for the practice squad, and may even have the opportunity to catch on somewhere else if a team is in need of depth at his position heading into the regular season.
DE Adam Gotsis
Gotsis’ spot on the roster should be relatively safe, but with the outstanding play of Dawuane Smoot and Arden Key playing big roles in the defense’s success in recent weeks, he could be a surprise cut next week. He’ll need to show some ability to get after the quarterback while remaining stout against the run, but if he doesn’t stand out at Mercedes Benz Stadium, expect the team to consider letting him walk.
QB E.J. Perry
The quarterback out of Brown was an intriguing draft prospect, but a bad outing that cost them the game against Pittsburgh last week may have caused him a roster spot next week. He looked overwhelmed and unprepared in his first NFL snaps, which is probably normal, but unlikely to buy him any cache with the coaching staff.
Veteran backup C.J. Beathard should be set in stone as the number-two option under center, but maybe with a really impressive game against the Falcons, Perry will be able to sneak his way onto the 53-man roster.
