Mandatory minicamp will take place for the Jacksonville Jaguars from June 9-11. This is often the last big milestone in the NFL offseason calendar before training camp arrives in late July.
Through the first two weeks of OTA practices, we’ve gained some valuable insights into where things stand on the depth chart, along with who may be standing out early on, but questions at each position group remain, and that’s normal at this time of the year. It won’t be until training camp and the preseason take place that playing time and final roster decisions are made.
So as part of our Jaguars’ minicamp preview, let’s highlight the one big question facing each position group. Up next are the tight ends.
What does playing time at tight end look like for the Jaguars?
We know that Brenton Strange will lead the way with this unit, but how the depth chart and playing time behind him shakes out remains to be seen.
By re-signing Quintin Morris this offseason, along with drafting Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol, the Jaguars have positioned themselves to lean heavily into two or even three tight end sets this season.
Going heavy on offense forces a defense to match personnel, or it gives the offense the size advantage. It’s also one way to combat the frequent usage of split safety looks that today’s defenses utilize and provides an extra blocker or two in the run game.
But if the Jaguars do intend to use more multiple tight end sets, who’s going to be on the field with Strange? Will Boerkircher overtake Morris for the TE2 role right away? Will Koziol see snaps on a weekly basis as a pass-catching presence? And will Hunter Long be left off the final 53-man roster?
All questions that truly won’t be answered until we see how training camp unfolds.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Big question facing Jaguars tight end position heading into minicamp
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
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By Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
