WATFORD, England — Next Safety Up for the Jacksonville Jaguars will be The Last Remaining Safety Up.
Literally.
Jalen Huskey, your time is now, after starter Eric Murray (concussion protocol) was a limited practice participant here on Oct. 9 and back-up Caleb Ransaw (left knee) was placed on injured reserve.
The Jaguars’ three healthy safeties on the 53-man roster are Antonio Johnson, Rayuan Lane and Huskey. They could call up Kaevon Merriweather or Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig from the practice squad.
A third-round pick (No. 100 overall), Huskey was a healthy scratch in the Jaguars’ first four games, but said watching from the sideline has been, “very beneficial for me.”
“I’ve been able to prepare like I’m going to start and then be on the sideline and understand
how everything works,” he said after practice Oct. 7. “Now that I may get some reps, it will be sliding in place. I’m ready. I know the guys around me have confidence in me.”
Huskey appeared to be competing with Ransaw for the No. 3 spot throughout training camp and Huskey clearly made more plays. But Ransaw’s experience with the system (even though he didn’t play last year) was likely a key factor. So why wasn’t Huskey active? Lane brought — and brings — special teams value and the Jaguars opted to dress four safeties.
“(Huskey was) in competitive situations and played a ton throughout the preseason,” coach Liam Coen said. “He’s been coming along. I like his play energy — he got his hands on the ball in (the joint practices) and made some downhill, physical plays. … Hopefully we lock him in to be able to give us communication and stability back there. I’m excited about him getting a potential (opportunity).”
How the Jaguars deploy Huskey is uncertain. If comfortable with how he can play, they could slide Huskey right into Ransaw’s role as the third safety in dime personnel (six defensive backs) or they could use a rotation between Huskey and Lane.
Regardless of his role, if he is active, Huskey said: “I’ll be super excited. I’ve dreamed about this moment and I’ll be ready to take full advantage.”
Any message from the veterans during the first part of the season?
“They told me, ‘Be ready,’” Huskey said. “They expect the most out of me, as they should.”
About the Jaguars/NFL
1. Respect for Fangio: Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is in his 40th NFL season and his only year with the Miami Dolphins (2023) was a boon for current Jaguars defensive pass game coordinator Mathieu Arajuo.
Arajuo was the Dolphins’ assistant defensive backs coach.
“Unbelievable (experience),” he told me of working for Fangio. “The amount of money people would pay for that opportunity. I couldn’t retain the information fast enough.”
Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile was the Dolphins’ linebackers coach in 2023.
2. Rare favorite over Eagles: The Jaguars opened as a 4 1/2-point favorite over Philadelphia and that climbed to seven points by mid-week. It will mark the first time since Oct. 12, 1997, the Jaguars are favored over the Eagles. Granted, it only a seven-game favorite streak for Philadelphia, but it amused me anyway.
The Eagles have won the last five meetings dating back to 2010. Of note was when the teams opened the 2014 season in Philadelphia and the Jaguars stormed to a 17-0 lead … but lost 34-17.
3. Long-range makes: I caught up with Jaguars kicker Cam Little after his 54-yard miss at Denver and 70-yard miss against New England. After the Patriots game, I promised I would talk to him after his next long-range make.
Little was good from 54 and 55 yards against Cincinnati.
“Let’s go!” Little said when I wandered over to his locker after practice. “It felt good. Obviously, (the misses) were two opportunities from a little deeper so it was nice to put some points on the board and it gives you confidence.”
4. Beware the Tottenham turf: During my previous trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the Buffalo Bills-Jaguars game in October 2023, I took a venue tour and something, well, felt off about the playing surface. Like it was really hard. I thought it was just because I was standing on the sideline. Wrong. After the game, several Bills players said complained about the surface; one player, cornerback Taron Johnson, called it, “(bleeping) cement.”
5. Extra points: Week 5 started with five 0-4 teams, tying 2009 and 2019 for most of any season in the 2000s. Tampa Bay improved to 1-4 with its win over Dallas on Oct. 8. … Referee Ron Torbert has been assigned to the Eagles-Jaguars. His crew has called 15, 15, eight and eight penalties in their four games. Torbert’s last Jaguars came was Dec. 10, 2023, at Cleveland (31-17 Browns). … The NFL sent out this penalty data after last week’s league-wide hue and cry about the number of flags: The total penalties per game through the last five Week 4s are 14.38 (2022), 15.34 (2023), 15.52 (2024), 15.52 (2025) and 16.86 (2026). The Jaguars’ 13 penalties was the second-most in franchise history in a game they won (15 against the New York Jets in 1996). … Quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s 122.5 passer rating against Cincinnati last week was the sixth-highest of his regular-season career and his completion rate of 78.3 was tied for seventh-best. … Ransaw, placed on injured reserve earlier this week, was walking around the locker room on Oct. 7 with a sleeve on his left knee. He is out a minimum of four games (Philadelphia, Houston, Indianapolis and Baltimore). … Defensive end B.J. Green (elbow) is eligible to come off injured reserve next week. … The Jaguars are the only NFL team without a fourth-down attempt this year.
UNF alum shuts down Yankees
Hat tip to Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker, an alum of North Florida who saved all three wins in the American League Division Series win over the New York Yankees.
Baker, 31, debuted for Toronto in 2021 and also played for Baltimore before he was traded to Tampa Bay in July 2025.
Baker entered the season with four career saves, but had 41 this year, tied for most in the American League with Cleveland’s Cade Smith. Baker had a 1.44 earned run average.
The Rays open the ALCS on Oct. 12 against Cleveland or the Chicago White Sox.
Weekend selections
Philadelphia (plus 7) vs. Jaguars: The Eagles limped onto their Atlantic Ocean-crossing flight beset by injuries. But there are still players participating who won a Super Bowl two years ago. Jaguars 27-21.
Buffalo (plus 2 1/2) at L.A. Rams: Starting 1-3 would have put a dent into the Rams’ title chances. Their rally at Philadelphia last week sets the table for a big run. Rams 34-27.
Houston (minus 7 1/2) at Tennessee: Desperation, thy name is taking over the play calling, which is what Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has done this week on defense. This isn’t the start of something for the Texans, but it is a win. Houston 13-10.
South Carolina (plus 11 1/2) at Florida: A game that is equal parts bounce back/must win for the Gators, who play Texas and Georgia later this month. And respond they will. Florida 37-20.
Georgia (plus 1 1/2) at Alabama: The kickoff time over here in England for Dawgs-Tide is 12:30 a.m. so I’ll have to catch up on the highlights. Georgia 24-20.
Records: Straight — 2-3 last week (18-12 season). Spread — 2-3 last week (9-21. Baby steps, people. Baby steps).
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays ("First Coast Football Friday" 4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars rookie Jalen Huskey ready to make impact in depleted secondary
