Jacksonville Jaguars rookie safety Jalen Huskey settles into his roles

Jacksonville Jaguars free safety Eric Murray is 32 years old. Strong/box safety Antonio Johnson is in a contract year, and as the Jaguars found out with linebacker Devin Lloyd, a great season from the fourth-year pro could lead to his departure in free agency if the team doesn't waive a big second contract at him.

The job now is to squeeze every ounce of football left in Murray, entering his 11th season, and hoping Johnson, motivated by money as any pro would be, plays an entire season like he did in the second half of 2025.

The good news is that the Jaguars have talented younger players behind them. Second-year safeties Rayuan Lane III(backing up Murray) and Caleb Ransaw (behind Johnson) have had good training camps and their special-teams value

is an added boost.

The wild card is third-round pick Jalen Huskey from Maryland (6 feet 2, 201 pounds) who has flashed at camp, made rookie mistakes that are to be expected, but has displayed the aggressiveness in playing the run and the willingness to pay his dues on special teams that the Jaguars envisioned when they drafted him ― higher than "experts" predicted.

Jalen Huskey's almost TD

Huskey closed the preseason with two tackles and a near touchdown in the Jaguars' 19-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Aug. 28 at EverBank Stadium, giving him seven tackles (three on special teams) and one pass breakup in three preseason games. During training camp, he had two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery in 11-on-11 team periods.

About that visit to the end zone against the Bucs: With Bryan Thomas Jr. applying heavy pressure, Bucs quarterback Jalon Daniels appeared to fumble the ball forward into the open field. Huskey scooped it up and scored, celebrated with his teammates and watched as the Jaguars' huge video board screamed the word "Touchdown!"

However, an official replay overturned the play, ruling that Daniels' arm was moving forward when Thomas hit him, making it an incomplete pass.

Still, a nice few seconds for Huskey.

Huskey stresses communication skills

Huskey said the biggest adjustment to the NFL is the most crucial part of playing in the secondary.

"A lot more communication is put on your shoulders, especially as a safety," he said after the Jaguars' joint practice with the Tampa Bay Bucs on Aug. 25. "But it's been a whole lot of fun, and I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world."

Huskey is thankful for the guidance he's received from Murray and Johnson, and the friendship he's struck up with Ransaw, who missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury, and Lane, who played at the U.S. Naval Academy, 28 miles from Maryland's Byrd Stadium.

"Those guys [Johnson and Murray] have been great leaders, great vets throughout my entire time here. They'll continue to be as long as they're here and as long as I'm here," he said.

What he appreciates most about Lane and Ransaw are the fun times and laughter off the field.

"Those guys are hilarious," Huskey said. "They're guys that I like spending time with … and they help me along the way just like AJ and Eric do. They've been in the system for a year, so they helped me a whole lot. And then when it comes to special teams, Ray is a really good special teamer, and he just helped pour that into me. That's all the coaches want to see, and that's all that matters when you're on special teams. Who wants it more?"

Huskey embraces special teams

Even when Huskey was a starter at Maryland, when he was a second-team All-Big Ten player (after being All-MAC at Bowling Green, then returning to his home state) and tied for 16th in the nation with four interceptions, he was an enthusiastic special-teams player.

"It's just another chance to get on the field," said Huskey, who helped two high schools win Maryland state championships, Middletown and Quince Orchard (with three interceptions in the two state title games).

"At Maryland I played special teams … punt and kickoff last year, mainly punt," he said. "But here, I want to be a four-core [special] teamer. I have to show up every single day with the right mindset, giving all out effort on every single play to earn a spot on special teams. The guys on special teams take pride in what they do. I am just trying to earn my way onto the special teams and be a contributor there."

But Huskey said he's learning fast about his main job on defense.

"I think my technique has taken a big jump," he said. "Being able to play better technique when I am tired and being able to communicate loud and have my teammates count on me and know that I am going to say the right things and be in the right place, I think that's taking a huge jump. There is obviously still more work to do, but I think those two areas are where I've taken the biggest step."

Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile was direct when asked about Huskey's progress on defense.

"He's got room for growth … like any young guy at this point," he said. "But he's done some good things and he's working hard to get better. He's done what we've asked of him to this point. So, I'm pleased with where he's at but obviously, he's got room to grow, and we're trying to help him do that. He's putting in a lot of good effort right now.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars rookie safety Jalen Huskey settles into his roles