Jaguars special teams are one of their strengths entering 2026 season

The Jacksonville Jaguars' special teams are pretty darn special.

Kicker Cam Little, punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik are entrenched as the three main specialists. Parker Washington is one of the most dynamic punt returners in the NFL and was the main reason the Jaguars were fifth in the NFL in punt returns in 2025 (13.7 yards per attempt).

While the Jaguars could stand to improve kickoff coverage that was 24th in the NFL (27.4 yards per return) last year, their punt coverage was fourth (6.6 yards).

However, the Jags have a knack for avoiding momentum-turning special-teams scores and plays by other teams. They haven't allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown in 48 games or a punt return for a touchdown in 149 games. The only time

Cooke has had a punt blocked in his eight-year NFL career was in 2021, 76 games ago.

The last time an opponent blocked a field-goal attempt was 28 games ago and the last extra-point attempt that was blocked was 61 games ago.

Whatever issues Jaguars coach Liam Coen thinks his team has going into the opening game on Sept. 13 at EverBank Stadium against the Cleveland Browns, special teams isn't high on the list.

It's no wonder that special teams coordinator Heath Farwell was the only coach at his level to be retained from Doug Pederson's staff when Coen arrived in January of 2025.

"It's huge to have that continuity, chemistry," Coen said early in training camp about Farwell and the special teams. "It's not like I'm coaching any of those guys on how to kick or what to do from that standpoint. They're very diligent and detailed in the way that they go about their business and approach. And I think Heath and Luke [Thompson, Assistant Special Teams Coach] and those guys do a phenomenal job."

With kicking, punting and snapping in safe hands, Farwell's main job in training camp has been to develop rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron as a punt returner should Coen ever decide Washington is too valuable on offense to continue returning punts, and to replace "four-core" special teams player Andrew Wingard.

Farwell looks around at the young, athletic players he has available for the latter spot, such as second-year pros Rayuan Lane III and Caleb Ransaw as the punt team gunners, and sleeps very well at night.

"Dewey was a great player for us, a leader and a team captain," Farwell said of Wingard, who is now with Arizona. "But the guys we have, Caleb Ransaw, has been a fantastic gunner. I anticipate him being a starting gunner, right there with Rayuan. Between those two guys, I think we have two of the better gunners in the National Football League.”

Coen said the enthusiasm Farwell has in coaching the special teams easily spills over to the players and gives them the pride to not view playing on the punt, kickoff and placekick teams as a necessary evil or as something to do while waiting for their chance to start on offense or defense.

He also said the specialists set a great example.

"The players trust [Farwell and Thompson], not just schematically, but they trust that they have their best interests in mind," Coen said. "They love to play for those guys. And I think that the leadership of obviously Logan and Ross and Cam continuing to come into his own, I think the players, the other players on the special teams units just have so much confidence because those three set the tone.”

What is the biggest question facing the Jaguars’ special teams?

If Parker Washington continues to be Trevor Lawrence's main target at wide receiver, how much longer do the Jaguars ask him to play offense and return punts? He'll gladly do both but until Brian Thomas Jr. redeems his lackluster 2025 season and re-asserts himself as the primary receiver, Washington is likely to open the season with double duty again. Rookie Josh Cameron is the likely replacement as punt return. He was an All-American at punt returner for Baylor in 2025.

However, Farwell seems to be inclined to leave it up to Washington.

“That's something we talked about in the spring with Parker and he expressed that he wants to return as well," Farwell said. "He's a fantastic receiver, but he's an elite returner, and he's a game changer. He's feared across the league. He's the best returner in the National Football League as far as I'm concerned."

To a lesser extent, the same question may be asked about using Bhayshul Tuten in kickoff returns. That will depend on his offensive workload with Chris Rodriguez and LeQuint Allen Jr. as the season progresses.

Who is the most important player for Jaguars’ special teams?

Tough one. You could argue that Little's 140 points and record-breaking field goals are the focal point, or at least what attracts the most attention. Washington was one of five punt returners with two touchdowns last year. Cooke is the best net punter in NFL history. But Little's kicks and Cooke's punts don't happen unless Matiscik gets the ball back cleanly, which he has done 769 times in a row in his six years in the NFL.

Projected starting specialists for Jaguars' special teams

Cam Little (kicker), Logan Cooke (punter), Ross Matiscik (long snapper), Parker Washington (punt returns), LeQuint Allen Jr., Bhayshul Tuten (kickoff returns), Rayuan Lane III, Caleb Ransaw (outside gunners, punt team), Josh Cameron (upback, punt team).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars special teams are one of their strengths entering 2026 season