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Training camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars kicks off in about a month, so as part of our preview of what's to come, we will be evaluating each positional battle that is expected to unfold.
What took place during offseason programs laid the foundation for each of these competitions and provided us with some insights into where things may stand. That said, what takes place during training camp and the preseason will ultimately determine who wins these roles.
Up next is the safety position.
Well, there might not really be one.
This position group seems to be fairly well set. Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson are the presumed starters, while Caleb Ransaw could fill the third safety role, which does see steady playing time in Anthony Campanile's defense. Jalen Huskey was a third-round pick this year and could help on special teams right away, while Rayuan Lane was a core special teams contributor as a rookie.
That's already five roster spots accounted for, which is typically how many safeties most teams keep on the 53-man.
If a competition does emerge, perhaps it will be Huskey pushing Ransaw for the third safety role.
Johnson put together a breakout season in 2025, and facilitating that rapid growth is his ability to fill a variety of roles on defense. Whatever defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile needed from Johnson, he provided, creating a deeper understanding of the defense.
"Cool thing about him is he's had a lot on his plate," Campanile said. "Maybe more than even some other guys because Antonio plays both safety positions, nickel, dime, he does a lot. So when you do that, it's hard to learn all that stuff, but in the end, the silver lining is you know the defense as good or better than anybody and I think he's at the point now here he can coach a lot of the techniques that we're asking the guys to play, which is cool."
Ransaw, who missed his rookie season due to a foot injury, also appears to have hit the ground running this spring upon his return to the field. As the third safety in this room, Ransaw will still see steady playing time in Campanile's defense. His ability to handle the deep safety duties will allow Campanile to continue moving Johnson around.
Providing stability on the back end is Murray. Along with his experience, his ability as a communicator is what also sets him apart at this position. Communicating assignments and pre-snap adjustments is a vital part of playing deep safety.
"Huge," Coen said of having Murray's experience on defense. "It allows us to be able to move Antonio around and that in the back end we've got consistency. A guy that's going to come down and make plays in the run game, get us in the right checks and balances in the back end from a coverage standpoint. Eric plays the game nasty. He plays this game violently. He's made some plays on the ball."
As I mentioned above, I expect Murray and Johnson to start, with Ransaw seeing snaps as the third safety. Huskey and Lane will provide depth, while also contributing heavily on special teams.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars training camp battles: Safety room seems pretty well set
Continue reading...
What took place during offseason programs laid the foundation for each of these competitions and provided us with some insights into where things may stand. That said, what takes place during training camp and the preseason will ultimately determine who wins these roles.
Up next is the safety position.
What Jaguars training camp competition is taking place at safety?
Well, there might not really be one.
This position group seems to be fairly well set. Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson are the presumed starters, while Caleb Ransaw could fill the third safety role, which does see steady playing time in Anthony Campanile's defense. Jalen Huskey was a third-round pick this year and could help on special teams right away, while Rayuan Lane was a core special teams contributor as a rookie.
That's already five roster spots accounted for, which is typically how many safeties most teams keep on the 53-man.
If a competition does emerge, perhaps it will be Huskey pushing Ransaw for the third safety role.
What did we learn during offseason programs?
Johnson put together a breakout season in 2025, and facilitating that rapid growth is his ability to fill a variety of roles on defense. Whatever defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile needed from Johnson, he provided, creating a deeper understanding of the defense.
"Cool thing about him is he's had a lot on his plate," Campanile said. "Maybe more than even some other guys because Antonio plays both safety positions, nickel, dime, he does a lot. So when you do that, it's hard to learn all that stuff, but in the end, the silver lining is you know the defense as good or better than anybody and I think he's at the point now here he can coach a lot of the techniques that we're asking the guys to play, which is cool."
Ransaw, who missed his rookie season due to a foot injury, also appears to have hit the ground running this spring upon his return to the field. As the third safety in this room, Ransaw will still see steady playing time in Campanile's defense. His ability to handle the deep safety duties will allow Campanile to continue moving Johnson around.
Providing stability on the back end is Murray. Along with his experience, his ability as a communicator is what also sets him apart at this position. Communicating assignments and pre-snap adjustments is a vital part of playing deep safety.
"Huge," Coen said of having Murray's experience on defense. "It allows us to be able to move Antonio around and that in the back end we've got consistency. A guy that's going to come down and make plays in the run game, get us in the right checks and balances in the back end from a coverage standpoint. Eric plays the game nasty. He plays this game violently. He's made some plays on the ball."
Prediction: What does the Jaguars' safety depth chart look like?
As I mentioned above, I expect Murray and Johnson to start, with Ransaw seeing snaps as the third safety. Huskey and Lane will provide depth, while also contributing heavily on special teams.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars training camp battles: Safety room seems pretty well set
Continue reading...
