{"id":386357,"date":"2026-08-31T18:50:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/386357\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T18:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:50:41","slug":"jacksonville-jaguars-defensive-preview-returning-defensive-front-secondary-set-stage-for-2026-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/386357\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacksonville Jaguars defensive preview: Returning defensive front, secondary set stage for 2026 push"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Buffalo Bills marched 66 yards downfield with under four minutes to play in a 27-24 win over the Jaguars in the 2025 AFC Wildcard game, it exposed the chinks in the armor of Jacksonville\u2019s secondary that hindered the viability of its pass defense all season long.<\/p>\n

Throughout the 2025 campaign, the Jaguars displayed tenacious run defense, but their ability to defend the pass proved lackluster. A culmination of injuries to defensive backs Travis Hunter and Jourdan Lewis, as well as the mid-season trade of Tyson Campbell for Greg Newsome II, left the secondary vulnerable to downfield attacks. The 36-yard reception made by Brandin Cooks, which put Buffalo in position for the wild-card win, displayed just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But with valuable returning talent in the trenches and both Hunter and Lewis back in action, Jacksonville\u2019s defense has a strong case to be even more formidable than in past seasons.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a position-by-position deep dive into how the Jaguars’ defense is expected to look this season.<\/p>\n

Defensive line<\/p>\n

The returning pair of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker leaves the edge rusher position as one of the Jaguars\u2019 strongest defensive position groups entering the regular season. Hines-Allen and Walker combined for 87 tackles (47 solo) and 11.5 sacks as fixtures of the defensive line, helping Jacksonville hold opponents to a league-leading 85.6 rushing yards per game.<\/p>\n

On the interior, veterans DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead will handle the majority of snaps after combining for 66 tackles (28 solo) and 6.5 sacks in 2025. Though Hamilton\u2019s stat lines regressed from his 62-tackle season in 2024, he remains a valuable piece of the line at nose tackle, clogging the middle with his 335-pound frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The consistency Hamilton has provided through his six seasons as a Jaguars is something Coen has taken note of, and the veteran is only continuing to improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just continues to be a force inside no matter who\u2019s trying to block him,\u201c Coen said Aug. 7. \u201cWhen he gets one-on-one opps inside, it\u2019s extremely challenging, nevermind just trying to get a double team on him, where he\u2019s able to play that double team firm, hold the point, and that allows other guys\u2019 jobs to be so much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also, Armstead\u2019s 5.5 sack total in 2025 was the second highest of his career behind his 10-sack season in 2019, proving the 32-year-old still has more in the tank heading into his 12th season.<\/p>\n

Behind Armstead sit Ruke Orhorhoro and Matt Dickerson. The former emerged as a weekly player and was a consistent force on the Atlanta Falcons\u2019 defensive line in 2025. Orhorhoro logged 25 tackles (12 solo) and 3.5 sacks, while Dickerson appeared in eight games for the Jaguars and made 10 tackles.<\/p>\n

At the nose, Hamilton is backed by rookie Albert Regis. Regis was a third-round pick out of Texas A&M, where he totaled 116 tackles (47 solo) and 3.5 sacks across four seasons. Jacksonville\u2019s acquisition of Orhorhoro from Atlanta on April 17 added another near-300-pound body at nose tackle, but Regis is likely to slide into the center of the line if Hamilton goes down.<\/p>\n

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Rounding out the edge behind Hines-Allen and Walker, B.J. Green II, Danny Striggow, Wesley Williams and Bryan Thomas Jr. made the 53-man roster cut. Green showed flashes of consistency in 2025, tallying 15 tackles and two sacks across 14 games and projects to fill in behind Hines-Allen at the right edge.<\/p>\n

Striggow also saw the field in 2025, logging 16 tackles and recovering a fumble through 10 games. He projects to be the second-string option behind Walker, but Williams and Thomas, who were both drafted in 2026, have a chance to prove themselves entering their rookie campaigns.<\/p>\n

Linebackers<\/p>\n

Headlining the linebacker position is Foyesade Oluokun, who led the Jaguars with 69 total tackles in 2025. Along with Oluokun, a combination of Jahlani Tavai, Ventrell Miller, Dennis Gardeck and Branson Combs will slot in as the remaining pair of linebackers.<\/p>\n

Despite his strong 2025 campaign, Oluokun is aware that a new year comes with new opposing schemes, and he\u2019s still focused on improvement. He said the Jaguars\u2019 focus isn\u2019t on building off last season\u2019s success; it\u2019s on rebuilding themselves into the NFL\u2019s top run defense for a second straight season. As he put it: \u201cYou can\u2019t just rely on what you did last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see the younger guys getting better every day, I know that in order for me to stay here and make my plays, I\u2019ve got to get better to show my value to the room,\u201d Oluokun said Aug. 7, \u201cI always say \u2018high water raises all ships\u2019, so as they get better, and as our room goes, the rest of the defense goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the departure of Devin Lloyd, the linebacker position became an open competition that saw Miller, Gardeck and Combs emerge as frontrunners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With Oluokun likely slotting in at middle linebacker (MLB), it wouldn\u2019t be a surprise to see Miller and Combs split snaps at weakside linebacker (WILL). However, the versatility of the three allows for multiple defensive packages that could place Oluokun at WILL.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most likely scheme Jaguars fans can expect to see will keep Oluokun at MLB with Gardeck as the strongside linebacker and a combination of Miller and Combs filling out WILL.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re both very different players, they both have different skill sets \u2026 Whoever ends up being number one on the depth chart is obviously semantics in a lot of ways,\u201d head coach Liam Coen said of Miller and Combs Aug. 21. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need both of those guys to play significant snaps for us within their roles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tavai, who logged 42 total tackles with the Patriots in 2025, is likely to back Oluokun, while Gardeck could serve a hybrid role as an edge and linebacker. With his versatility and ample experience at the professional level, Tavai could also slot in as a strongside backer in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile\u2019s scheme.<\/p>\n

Secondary<\/p>\n

The defensive backs room was arguably one of the weak points of Jacksonville\u2019s defense that allowed nearly double the amount of passing touchdowns (25) to rushing touchdowns (13) in 2025. However, Coen said he\u2019s seen ample growth from the room through training camp, and it has become a tight-knit group, thanks in part to the mentorship of the Jaguars\u2019 defensive backs coaches and defensive pass game coordinator.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really feel like that group has gotten better and better,\u201d Coen said Aug. 7. \u201cRauj [Mathieu Araujo] and Perk [Anthony Perkins] and Drew Lascari have done a great job coaching those guys and working on some technique of being able to challenge people a little bit more \u2026 I\u2019ve been very pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunter, Lewis and Montaric Brown are likely to round out Jacksonville\u2019s pass defense, working to improve upon a 2025 in which they allowed more than 218 passing yards per game.<\/p>\n

Most notably, all eyes will be on Hunter, who tore his right LCL last October and missed the final 10 weeks of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

While he will still play on both sides of the ball, Hunter is poised to step into an even larger defensive role than last season, and his physical attributes and ball-hawking abilities slate him as a cornerstone of Jacksonville\u2019s secondary.<\/p>\n

Coen said you can\u2019t coach the natural attributes Hunter brings to the table, with the WR\/CB displaying his length, anticipation and good feel for routes throughout camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe playmaking, getting your hands on balls more, or just denying the ball with good coverage, that\u2019s a win in itself that I think goes a little bit unnoticed from corners,\u201d Coen said Aug. 11. \u201cWhen they don\u2019t get a lot of work, it\u2019s probably because they\u2019re doing their job and doing it at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown logged the most tackles of any Jacksonville defensive back in 2025 (43) and nabbed two interceptions, though he played just 15 games. Despite seeing a lower snap total than in his 75-tackle 2024 season, Brown proved himself as a cornerstone of the Jaguars\u2019 perimeter and earned a three-year, $31.8 million contract extension this offseason.<\/p>\n

Entering his 10th season in the NFL, Lewis is poised to absorb a greater role in the Jaguars\u2019 secondary in 2026. He appeared in 12 games last season, logging 39 tackles (21 solo), two interceptions and a forced fumble. Lewis brings value as a veteran leader and versatile nickelback, and he should see significant run in a supporting role behind Brown and Hunter.<\/p>\n

However, there is still plenty of room for Jarrian Jones and Christian Braswell to slot in at corner. Braswell provides great depth in the secondary, and Jones could serve as a key rotational piece along with Lewis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last season, Jones appeared in every game, logging 49 tackles (35 solo) and three interceptions. Through two seasons as a Jaguar (34 games), he has totaled 89 tackles (65 solo), two sacks and four interceptions.<\/p>\n

At safety, Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson will slot in at strong safety and free safety, respectively. Murray tallied 54 tackles (32 solo), a sack and an interception through 12 games in 2025, and is poised to take on an even larger role this season.<\/p>\n

Johnson produced a breakout campaign last season, logging 58 tackles (37 solo), two sacks and five interceptions. His growth is something Coen harped on through camp, and Johnson is set to take on a leadership role in his fourth season as a Jaguar.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like night and day, honestly, starting off as a core special team guy and then just gradually working my way up on the depth chart,\u201d Johnson said Aug. 11. \u201cI think I\u2019m a good representation for the younger guys \u2026 able to show them you\u2019ve got to work, you\u2019ve got to do your time on special teams sometimes, and it\u2019s okay, your time will come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Providing depth in the secondary, Caleb Ransaw and Rayuan Lane III each made the 53-man cut as well. Ransaw, a second-year pro out of Tulane, spent all of 2025 on injured reserve after suffering a major foot injury in last year\u2019s training camp. Fully rehabbed and prepped for 2026, he logged seven tackles through two preseason games.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also a second-year pro, Lane appeared in all 17 games last season as a rookie, logging 20 tackles, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery. Through the preseason, he totaled five tackles and a pass deflection, earning him a spot in Jacksonville\u2019s secondary in 2026.<\/p>\n

Rounding out the safety room, rookie Jalen Huskey made enough of a mark this preseason to solidify his spot on the 53-man roster. He tallied 10 tackles and a pass deflection through the preseason and has a chance to prove himself as a valuable depth piece in 2026.<\/p>\n

Special teams<\/p>\n

The Jaguars have found their franchise kicker in Cam Little, who has gone 57-63 over the past two seasons. He set the NFL record for longest field goal with a 68-yard boot in 2025 and knocked down a 70-yarder in last year\u2019s preseason. He went 30 for 34 in 2025 and will look to build off of a consistent season that saw him nail 8 of 10 field goals from 50-plus yards.<\/p>\n

Long snapper Ross Matiscik is returning for a seventh NFL season, and at punter, Jacksonville returns Logan Cooke for a ninth season. He\u2019s made 528 punts through 129 games, averaging 47.5 yards with a long of 73.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the return game, receiver Parker Washington is expected to remain in a punt return role, while running backs Byshal Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. are likely to fill in as kick returners for a second consecutive season.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo cap off the preseason this way with a physical outing and the guys playing their tails off just continues to reinforce the message to the team that that is our style of play, that is our brand of football, and for us to have success, we have to play that way,\u201d Coen said following Friday\u2019s 19-0 win over Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org<\/a>. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.<\/p>\n

\n The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Curan Ahern<\/p>\n

Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his sixth semester at The Alligator. He is currently a sports editor and football beat reporter for the Gators and the Jaguars. He previously served as a men’s tennis and sports enterprise reporter, and he is pursuing a public relations minor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the Buffalo Bills marched 66 yards downfield with under four minutes to play in a 27-24 win…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":386358,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[116,118,117],"class_list":["post-386357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=386357"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386357\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/386358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=386357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=386357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}