JACKSONVILLE — The Jaguars closed their 2026 preseason with a 19-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, a physical performance that Head Coach Liam Coen said reflected the team’s identity — and one that may have reshuffled the bottom of the roster heading into Sunday’s 6 p.m. deadline to trim to 53 players.
Undrafted defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. out of the University of South Carolina was the standout, recording 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and four quarterback hits against Tampa Bay. Thomas, who had been considered a bubble player entering the game, may have played himself onto the final roster with the performance. The Jaguars finished the preseason 2-1.
Coen told reporters after the game that the roster cut to 53 likely would not be as difficult as the decisions involving the practice squad, a reflection of the depth Jacksonville has built. Running back J’Mari Taylor, wide receivers Michael Wortham and Trebor Peña, and quarterback Joey Aguilar all made plays throughout the preseason as undrafted free agents competing for spots.
The depth is a marked change from recent years. Senior correspondent Brian Sexton noted the Jaguars are no longer scouring the waiver wire for special-teams help at this point in the calendar. “When you must find places to put undrafted rookies such as Thomas and wide receivers Michael Wortham and Trebor Peña on your roster, you have done a remarkable job,” Sexton wrote. He added that Coen’s demand for toughness and consistency — what the coach calls “play style” — was a constant refrain at the Miller Electric Center last week and was “on full display Friday night in the preseason finale.”
Coen got back on the play-calling mic for the first half after allowing offensive coordinator Grant Udinski to call plays in the first two preseason games. Quarterback coach Spencer Whipple called the third quarter and pass game specialist John Van Dam handled the fourth, a rotation Coen said was inspired by the opportunities Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay gave him earlier in his career.
Most of Jacksonville’s projected starters — including quarterback Trevor Lawrence, defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter — did not play a snap in any of the three preseason games. Coen instead used the preseason to develop youth and evaluate depth, with limited exceptions such as linebacker Ventrell Miller and linebacker Branson Combs in the first two weeks.
The 53-man roster is due by 6 p.m. Sunday, with practice-squad decisions to follow. The Jaguars’ regular-season opener is two weeks away.