The Jacksonville Jaguars made it abundantly clear that they won't suit up their starters in their Week 3 preseason matchup against the Miami Dolphins. This is the right call when you take into account that it doesn't make sense to expose your best players to injury risk in a meaningless game. That said, there are still plenty of reasons to tune in.
The Jaguars have depth at several key positions, so even though the starters will remain on the sidelines, you'll see plenty of talented players take the field. On top of that, there are a handful of roster spots up for grabs, and the team's brass will have a chance to decide who'll make the cut and who'll be shown the door.
With that in mind, here are three storylines to keep an eye on.
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The Jaguars could reveal what they plan to do with Travis Etienne
Travis Etienne started each of the first two preseason games. This could be a sign that he'll be RB1 come Week 1, but a rumor has made the rounds that the Jags could be showing him to any potential suitors. If that's the case, the former Clemson Tiger will start against the Dolphins. If he doesn't, rookie Bhayshul Tuten could get the nod.
The Jags could also keep their top running backs out of the game and give plenty of time to undrafted rookie Ja'Quinden Jackson. This would help them evaluate him and see what they do with him after the finale.
Which Jaguars cornerbacks will make an impression in the preseason finale?
The Jaguars have suffered a myriad of injuries at cornerback ahead of the finale. First, they lost Montaric Brown to a leg injury early in training camp, while Tyson Campbell was day-to-day. To replace him, they signed veteran Levi Wallace, but he also landed on the Injured Reserve list one week later.
And not long after placing Wallace on IR, Jacksonville lost Zech McPhearson. The good news is that Campbell should be ready for the season opener, and the Jags also have Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis, and Travis Hunter in the fold. That said, the bottom half of the depth chart is a work in progress.
Brown may not be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. That means the Jags will need to choose who'll take their last two spots on the cornerback depth chart. DeAntre Prince, undrafted rookie Ayden White, Keni-H Lovely, and Christian Braswell are in the mix.
Of the four, Braswell may have the best chance to make the team because he can also contribute on special teams. That said, nothing is set in stone, and the preseason will define who'll make the cut or if the team will need to resort to the waiver wire to fill the depth chart.
The Jaguars will have a chance to sort out the safety room (and show their players)
Like cornerback, the safety room is a work in progress, but for different reasons. The Jaguars have a surplus at the position and have yet to decide who'll start next to free-agent acquisition Eric Murray.
The preseason finale will bring clarity to the position. Heck, Jacksonville may even reveal its hand depending on who starts. For instance, if Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson start, it could mean that Darnell Savage is their guy. Then again, the three-way competition could come down to the wire, and if that's the case, it won't matter who starts.
Either way, the Jaguars' most heated position battle will soon come to an end.
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