The Jacksonville Jaguars season came to a heartbreaking end as they lost 27-24 to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. The loss ended an eight-game winning streak by the Jaguars. The playoff game represented Jacksonville’s first since the 2022 season.
The playoff game marked a bitter end to what had been one of the best seasons in franchise history. Jacksonville’s 13 regular season wins were the most by the team since 1999. All hope is not lost for the Jaguars, the season was likely a success as the hiring of head coach Liam Coen turned the franchise around after a pair of disappointing seasons. A reporter went viral following the game, as she had some comforting words for Coen. However, what seemed to be a sweet moment in the face of defeat took a turn as it ignited debate over how reporters should act in press conferences. The reporter praised Coen for a remarkable season and told him to keep his head up despite the loss.
Now that the season is over, the Jaguars must move on and focus on the 2026 season. The Jaguars front office has done just that, as they have begun making moves.
Jacksonville Jaguars Announce Roster Moves
Following the season, the Jaguars announced several roster moves. One of which was signing running back Ja’Quinden Jackson to a reserve/future deal. A reserve/future contract is a non-guaranteed, one-year deal. It gives the team the player’s rights for the next season without impacting the current salary cap or roster. Jackson went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft but signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He missed out on making the 53-man roster this season for the Jaguars, but he’ll have another chance next offseason after signing this deal.
Jackson’s most productive season in college football occurred in 2024 as he had 149 carries for 790 rushing yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns while playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Draft Buzz called him a running back who “Offers potential versatility in specialized packages with background as a passer, creating potential wrinkles for creative offensive coordinators.” They projected him to be “a specialized hammer in an NFL backfield committee where his bulldozing running style and power-based game can be deployed strategically.”
Uncertainty with Travis Etienne
While Jackson may not be a long-term solution for the Jaguars at the running back position, he should provide the team with some nice depth. Depth is something the Jaguars may be looking for as starting running back Travis Etienne is set to be a free agent after the season. Etienne had a bounce-back season with the Jaguars as he finished with nearly 1,400 scrimmage yards.
Regarding his upcoming free agency and the possibility of having played his last game as a Jaguar, Etienne said it “would be crazy.” He also added that he likely wasn’t going to play in the cold, which increases the chances of his return to Jacksonville. During the regular season, ESPN reporter Mike Dirocco commented on Etienne’s chances of staying in Jacksonville, saying “The Jaguars are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Etienne”. DiRocco noted that head coach Liam Coen wasn’t enamored with Etienne. It is possible that Etienne’s performance down the stretch changed Coen’s perception of him.
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