5 Jaguars to Watch in Preason Bout vs. Panthers: CJ Williams Takes Priority

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars will kick off the second week of the preseason tonight vs. the Carolina Panthers, offering several members of their roster a stage to standout.

It is still to be determined if the Jaguars' starters will make an appearance in the home preseason opener at EverBank Stadium, but the Jaguars' backups are set to play most of the game one way or the other.

So, which Jaguars will we be watching the closest after this week's joint practice with the Panthers on Wednesday? We take a look at a few names to consider below.

WR CJ Williams

CJ Williams stood out during the practice with the Panthers on Wednesday, making a few key catches during team drills that reflected the safety blanket he has become for the Jaguars' wide receiver room. Williams and fellow rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron have each hit the ground running ever since the spring, but it is Williams who I am watching especially closely against the Panthers on Friday night.

Williams has made a lot of highlight catches for the Jaguars over the course of camp, though I would also say he has not been as reliable on a down-to-down basis as a pure catcher as Cameron has, which included a drop last week against the Saints. Seeing Williams put together a consistent performance from start to finish against the Panthers would help further validate the place on the Jaguars' depth chart that his flashes have currently gotten him.

OL Jonah Monheim

Jaguars run game coordinator Brian Picucci runs drills with offensive lineman Jonah Monheim (60) during the Jaguars’ fourth OTA of the year, Monday June 1, 2026 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The string of injuries along the Jaguars' offensive line over the course of training camp has led to plenty of key reps for second-year lineman Jonah Monheim. He has impressed in the process, putting forth some quality practice time at center and both guard spots for the Jaguars as needed. With the Jaguars likely to sit most of their key linemen such as Anton Harrison, Ezra Cleveland, and Robert Hainsey, Monheim should be expected to get the start on Friday.

Considering the fact that Monheim was one of the Jaguars' last selections on Day 3 a year ago, the fact he has developed into such a reliable and versatile backup has become a true best-case scenario. With Monheim slated to be in a starting role more likely than not against the Panthers, he will once again have a chance to show why he has been able to ascend on the Jaguars' offensive line depth chart over the last two seasons.

DL Ruke Orhorhoro

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (99) prepares to hit a blocking sled during the sixth day of NFL training camp at the Miller Electric Center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Jaguars defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro showed several flashes in last week's game against the Saints, but there is still more he has to do to earn snaps in the Jaguars' defensive rotation. It is clear the Jaguars see veteran defensive lineman Matt Dickerson as the defacto No. 3 defensive tackle behind Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton, but that does not mean Orhorhoro can't carve out a place in Anthony Campanile's scheme.

It seems clear the kind of juice that Orhorhoro can bring the Jaguars' front as an interior pass-rusher, but it is the running game where I am most interested to see him tonight. If Orhorhoro can help anchor the Jaguars' run defense without their starting defenders around him to support, that could go a long way when it comes to his playing time.

LB Branson Combs

Jacksonville Jaguars Linebacker Branson Combs (50) stands up the sled during the Jacksonville Jaguars 10th day of NFL Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, August 9, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Both Branson Combs (17 snaps) and Ventrell Miller (23 snaps) played against the Saints last week, and I am curious to see if we see an even type of workload on Saturday. Part of their snaps a week ago likely had to do with the Jaguars' injury situation at lineup, but part of it also might have been because the two are still in the middle of a battle to see who replaces Devin Lloyd in the starting lineup.

Combs had some highs and lows vs. the Saints a week ago, and this week could give him a chance to put together a more consistent performance. When the race to start is as tight as it is between him and Miller, he needs every chance he can get to try to stake his claim to the job. Friday night is a significant one.

RB J'Mari Taylor

Jacksonville Jaguars Running Back J'Mari Taylor (30) takes around with teammates after the Jacksonville Jaguars eighth day of NFL Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, August 7, 2026. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

J'Mari Taylor took a positive step forward with his performance against the New Orleans Saints in the preseason opener last Saturday, and he has a chance to pick things up from there. The Jaguars' running back room is seemingly now one of oppurtunity after an injury to LeQuint Allen earlier this week knocked him out for the rest of camp, and Taylor could use Friday night vs. the Panthers to try to take advantage.

Taylor got a lot of work against the Saints a week ago and should once again on Friday. In terms of the pecking order, it seems like he still has some catching up to do when it comes to veteran running back Ameer Abdullah. Taylor scored in the joint practice vs. the Panthers and another strong outing against their backup run defense would do him some good entering the final week of the preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.

Add us as a preferred source on Google