Rookie Report: Updates on Jaguars' draftees at bye week

The Jacksonville Jaguars have arrived at their bye week. After going 4-2 through the first six games, the team will use this week to rest as they prepare for the remainder of the season.

The team had several strong performances in their opening slate of games with two one-score losses against potential playoff opponents. They have had contributions from several key players and a few players who’ve stepped up as they were thrusted into larger roles.

The Jaguars drafted 10 players in April as they try to continue fleshing out the “Jaguars DNA” in the building.

From Coen: Jaguars coach Liam Coen staying optimistic despite 1-1 London trip

A few of those players have already become routine contributors for the club, with several still clawing their way

through the ranks of the roster. With the offseason program, training camp, preseason and six regular season games behind us, let’s take a look at how each of the draft picks shape up.

It should be noted, Bryan Thomas Jr. was an undrafted free agent who made the roster. He isn’t included in this list because he wasn’t drafted.

TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 56)

Boerkircher has fallen into the routine contributor category through six games with the Jaguars. He’s allowed them to play more 12 and 13 personnel (two and three tight end sets) as well as free Brenton Strange to become more involved in the passing game. Boerkircher caught his first touchdown as a professional against the Texans — a nice one-handed snag with a defender glued to him. He’s trending upward as the team continues through the season.

DT Albert Regis, Texas A&M (Round 3, Pick 81)

Regis is a player who started coming on strong just before the season but was derailed by an injury in the wanning days of training camp. Then he hurt his elbow during a practice and has been inactive for the last several games. However, head coach Liam Coen said Regis and fellow rookie Wesley Williams had a strong week of practice in London. Coen called the Thursday practice prior to the game against the Texans one of the most physical practices of the season and gave kudos to those two for their efforts. That’s a good sign as Regis comes along.

G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (Round 3, Pick 88)

Pregnon might be the best draft pick in the rookie class for the Jaguars. The rookie out of Oregon earned a starting spot on Jacksonville’s offensive line in training camp and hasn’t looked back. He’s a player who constantly receives compliments from coaches when he’s asked about — which isn’t always the case with young players. The rookie lineman has also been celebrated on film breakdowns for his physicality against opponents. He’s been key to Jacksonville’s revamped rushing attack and is continuing to trend in a positive direction.

DB Jalen Huskey, Maryland (Round 3, Pick 100)

Huskey is a player who had a relatively quiet offseason program and start to training camp. He flashed once pads went on and physicality increased, though. He made plays in multiple of Jacksonville’s preseason games and seemed like he was primed to see the field early in his career in major spurts. That hasn’t materialized yet as he’s been inactive for several of Jacksonville’s games to start the season. Even as fellow safety Caleb Ransaw headed to IR, the Jaguars turned to their practice squad rather than Huskey. It’s not an inditement of the type of player he’ll be, but he hasn’t had an immediate impact the way he was projected to.

DE Wesley Williams, Duke (Round 4, Pick 119)

As previously noted, Williams was credited by Coen for having a strong week of practice prior to the game against the Texans. He’s another player who’s routinely been inactive through the first six games of the season. To be fair, he’s at a position where the Jaguars have already allocated several position spots ahead of him. He showed some versatility to play inside and outside on the defensive line, something that will be valuable when his number is called. For now, he can keep stacking good days in practice as he gets used to life in the NFL.

TE Tanner Koziol, Houston (Round 5, Pick 164)

The big body tight end, standing at 6-foot-7, with dynamic catch making ability hasn’t displayed that aspect of his game yet, but it’s still very early in his career. He’s appeared in four of the six games this season as a depth tight end. Koziol has been part of Jacksonville’s revamped rushing attack as he allows Coen the ability to play multiple tight ends at the same time. It’s good flexibility to have as each of the tight ends can clear space as run blockers while also serving as receivers in the case of play action passes. Koziol will continue to be a vital piece of Jacksonville’s offense as the season goes on.

WR Josh Cameron, Baylor (Round 6, Pick 191)

Quite possibly the steal of the draft, Cameron wears so many hats for the Jaguars it’s hard to keep track at times. He’s a kick returner, punt protector, pass catcher, run blocker, energy player and so much more. He’s had a strong start to his career with multiple touchdown passes and high usage in Jacksonville’s offense due to his physical run blocking ability. Cameron is a player who is on an upward trend, and it could get higher after Jacksonville’s bye week. Coen and company will be evaluating everything this week and if they see a way to implement Cameron more, they’ll do it. On a team that’s loaded with receivers, Cameron has already become a fixture with the Jaguars.

WR C.J. Williams, Stanford (Round 6, Pick 203)

Williams had a very strong campaign this summer. He made several impressive catches during the offseason program and seemed like he was primed to earn immediate play with Jacksonville’s offense. That hasn’t been the case through the first six weeks as Williams has been inactive for many of Jacksonville’s games. Williams is a player who could see his number called depending on what happens with Brian Thomas Jr., but as of now the sixth round selection hasn’t made a real impact.

DE Zach Durfee, Washington (Round 7, Pick 233)

Durfee had a strong showing in training camp around the time that the team did their intersquad scrimmage. He was injured shortly after and tapered off a bit as he missed on-field time. He was placed on the injured reserved list with a designation to return.

LB Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee (Round 7, Pick 240)

Hughes was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list during training camp. Prior to that he was battling for a depth roster spot.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Rookie Report: Updates on Jaguars' draftees at bye week