While it’s unknown what their record will be in the regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ training camp process has been an interesting one. Both sides of the ball have had good days since putting on the pads and the effort to register a better win total has certainly been reflective despite the hurdles COVID-19 has provided.
For the Jags, the receivers position has been the most impressive as they’ve shown up routinely for the offense. Of course, there are names like D.J. Chark, Chris Conley, and Keelan Cole who’ve established themselves in the past, however, this camp period has proven there is even depth behind them.
The Jags drafted two rookies this April in Laviska Shenault Jr. and Collin Johnson, and both have impressed. At 6-foot-1, 227-pounds and 6-foot-6, 222-pounds, respectively, Shenault and Johnson brought size into the mix, which has helped Gardner Minshew II tremendously. There have also been others to step up below them on the depth chart like second-year receiver Terry Godwin.
When looking at the group collectively, coach Doug Marrone certainly understands he has a great receivers group on his hands. In his most recent virtual press conference, he stated that the group was one with the most competition, which most would agree is a good problem to have.
“I would say it’s one of the groups that has the most competition,” Marrone said. “Whether you look at it as far as playing time, whether you look at it as far as dressing on Sunday, or the final number of the 53, I think that position has done a nice job. The one good thing about it is they play multiple spots.”
The ability to be versatile is something Jay Gruden discussed earlier in the season when asked about D.J. Chark, but it appears they took that approach with all the receivers. Of course, the reason for such an approach is to confuse defensive coordinators and avoid showing their hand with receiver heavy formations.
When we did our last roster predictions, we had six receivers making the roster. Those players were Chark, Conley, Cole, Johnson, Shenault, and Dede Westbrook. Though Godwin has pushed hard to crack the final 53-man roster, he’ll probably end up on practice squad unless the Jags trade a receiver for defensive line help or something.
All of that said, it’s clear the Jags have plenty of concerns heading into the regular season. However, for the fan’s sake, receiver shouldn’t be one as it looks like the strongest group on the roster.