1 Sleeper Who Could Completely Shake Up Jaguars' 53-Man Roster

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars' roster, there doesn't expect to be many surprises waiting ahead on Sunday's cut down day. But that doesn't mean there are none.

The Jaguars' 53-man roster will be a tough one to crack for any sleeper, simply based on the fact that the Jaguars brought back most of last year's roster while also adding double-digit draft picks, nine of which are eligible for this year's active roster.

But there is one name who has continued to make a case for himself: undrafted rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr., who is continuing to become a difficult sleeper to keep off the roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. (57) pressures Carolina Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (12) in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium in the second preseason game on Friday night, August 21, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Bryan Thomas Jr.'s Case

Dubbed as "the other BTJ" on the Jaguars' roster, Bryan Thomas Jr. has flashed ever since the Jaguars added him following the 2026 NFL Draft. That is why he has a fighting chance to make the Jaguars' roster, even with their other investments at the position.

“He definitely has shown me some things," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Monday. "He's played explosively in the games, and I think he's jumped out. His play style, his effort, that's jumped out. And that's what we saw in him watching his tape at South Carolina."

Thomas is one of multiple rookie defensive ends on the roster, joining Day 3 picks Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee, along with fellow undrafted rookie defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan. Thomas' college skill-set and production certainly stood out to Jacksonville, with the rookie pass-rusher playing in 46 games (19 starts) over four seasons at South Carolina (2022-25) .

bryan thomas — Aug 15, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Hunter Dekkers (13) runs against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. (57) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In that time, he recorded92 career tackles (52 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles and earned All-SEC Third-Team honors in 2025. He succeeded there for the same reasons he has continued to flash for the Jaguars, and Campanile has noticed.

"He was a guy that was going to run and hit. He was going to play his ass off every play," Campanile said. "That's what, honestly, we really liked about him and we were fired up to get him in here for that reason. He's proven to do that here in the summer and since the spring, since he's been here.”

Thomas has seemingly been racking up pressures at will over the first two weeks of the preseason, showing similar preseason flashes as B.J. Green and Danny Striggow did in the same position a year ago. Thomas has even more competition than them to make the roster, though, and it very well could come down to him or Durfee for the final spot.

“I mean, they can come in and play and make plays immediately. Obviously, you can tell just by putting on the tape, man, we have a lot of young guys that are proving themselves. There’s not a lot of spots to fill," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said Sunday.

"And so, when you have a lot of great guys that are playing good football, especially young guys, who is going to be those one or two guys that are going to make the cut? And all those guys are battling for those one or two spots. It’s like that in a lot of different rooms as well. So, they're coming in with the right approach. And basically whoever plays better, whoever's the better football player is going to make this team, basically. But they all can make it. I'm just excited to see what that final cut's going to be. I'm going to be upset to see what that final cut's going to be, and just got to take it the way it is.”

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