The Jacksonville Jaguars are just a few days from their preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys and released an unofficial depth chart ahead of the matchup.
Some of it has been affected by injuries, though. For example, former starting left guard Ben Bartch off the depth chart entirely while on the PUP list. Tyler Shatley took over starting duties last season following Bartch’s season-ending injury, but Shatley is at the bottom of the chart while recovering from an irregular heartbeat.
Still, there are some decisions from the coaching staff that jump off the page in the first depth chart. Here are five takeaways:
Calvin Ridley has arrived
The Calvin Ridley effect has been on full display in training camp and expectations for his 2023 season are sky-high. So it’s not exactly a shock to see the former Falcons first rounder at the top of the depth chart.
It also wouldn’t have been that weird if Jaguars coaches wanted to take their time with the receiver after nearly two years away from the football field. But nope, it’s full steam ahead for Ridley.
Is Blake Hance truly in the mix?
With the aforementioned Bartch and Shatley both out of the starting mix for now, it’s fifth-year veteran Blake Hance listed as the team’s starting left guard.
Hance picked up a bit of starting experience during his 2020 stint with the Cleveland Browns and he earned a fair amount of snaps with the Jaguars after getting scooped up off waivers in November 2022.
While Bartch and Shatley probably have the upper hand when they return, Hance’s spot on the roster looks secure at the very least.
Tank Bigsby's stock is up, D'Ernest Johnson's is down
It’s often difficult to judge running backs in camp when so much of what makes a back special can be muted in non-contact or limited-contact drills. While preseason could change things, it’s rookie Tank Bigsby who’s generating all the hype in the backfield right now.
While the third-round pick has been ripping off long touchdowns, D’Ernest Johnson has disappeared into the background. The former Browns back who signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars this March is currently fourth on the depth chart behind Travis Etienne Jr, Bigsby, and JaMycal Hasty.
At least Johnson is in better shape than former fifth-rounder Snoop Conner, who’s battling for fifth-string duties.
Parker Washington in backup returner role
A path to a roster spot is difficult for any sixth-round pick, but it’s even more of an uphill climb when veterans have seemingly locked down several of them at a position group.
With Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Jamal Agnew all in the wide receiving corps and Kevin Austin Jr. and Tim Jones battling to get in the mix, there isn’t much room for Parker Washington.
Fortunately for the former Penn State receiver, he’s providing value elsewhere too. Washington is currently listed as the backup kick and punt returner behind Agnew.
Last year, Kirk, JaMycal Hasty, and Chris Claybrooks were all on the depth chart behind Agnew in the return game. Each of them even got a few cracks at it, but yielded mostly lackluster results.
Slot corner is still Tre Herndon III's job to lose
Plenty of Jaguars fans have been clamoring for the team to find an upgrade from Tre Herndon III, but the veteran cornerback has managed to stick around.
While the Jaguars added several cornerbacks with late-round picks in 2022 and 2023, it’s still Herndon at the top of the depth chart for the slot cornerback job.
That doesn’t mean the surging Gregory Junior can’t take over the top spot, but don’t expect to see Herndon on the cut list anytime soon.
