NEW ORLEANS — The Jacksonville Jaguars will sit virtually all starters and front-line players for their preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on Saturday, turning the game into a live audition for rookies and roster-bubble players fighting for jobs.
Head Coach Liam Coen’s staff worked starters and second-team players extensively in a joint practice with the Saints on Thursday, opting for the controlled environment over game reps. Saturday belongs to the young. “We’re excited to see the guys all go out there and compete,” Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said.
The rookie class expected to see its first NFL action includes tight ends Nate Boerkircher (Round 2) and Tanner Koziol (Round 5), both of whom have impressed in camp and could expand Jacksonville’s multiple tight-end packages this season. Wide receivers Josh Cameron (Round 6) and CJ Williams (Round 6) have stood out with what the team calls a real chance to make the 53-man roster. Defensive tackle Albert Regis (Round 3), guard Emmanuel Pregnon (Round 3), safety Jalen Huskey (Round 3), defensive ends Wesley Williams (Round 4) and Zach Durfee (Round 7) and linebacker Parker Hughes (Round 7) round out the draft class expected to play.
Several roster battles will play out in real time. Fourth-year outside linebacker Ventrell Miller and second-year outside linebacker Branson Combs are listed as co-starters and could both get reps. First-year cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who has stood out in training camp, may also see the field. Reserve quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar will get extended playing time competing for opportunity behind starter Trevor Lawrence and backup Nick Mullens.
Second-year offensive coordinator Grant Udinski will call plays Saturday — a role Coen handles during the regular season. Udinski, who interviewed for head coaching positions with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills this past offseason, said the preseason reps are invaluable. “You learn a lot about the timing and the process,” Udinski said. “You always go through that simulation on the sideline, even in real games, but [calling plays means] having a real feel for the personnel and substitutions. You have injuries, you’re trying to manage the game, you’re trying to get different looks. I’m just looking forward to seeing those guys go out there and run the runs that we’ve practiced a hundred times against our defense and do it live with tackling against somebody else.”
Coen endorsed the arrangement. “It’s all our offense, he gets to call it and it’s good exposure,” Coen said. With Udinski running the offense, Coen plans to spend more time monitoring the defensive headset — specifically the communication between Campanile and new pass-game coordinator Mathieu Araujo. “I’d like to be able to hear some more of the communication, between Campy and him and the defensive coaching staff and just be able to hear that and get that — more than I normally am able to do within a game, because typically when the defense is on, I’m doing adjustments with the offensive staff,” Coen said.
The Jaguars must trim their roster to the regular-season limit before the start of the 2026 season, making Saturday’s game film critical for evaluation decisions in the weeks ahead.