After 'crazy' cutdown weekend, Nick Mullens 'glad' to stick with Jaguars

Since entering the NFL in 2017, quarterback Nick Mullens has been with four teams, started 20 regular-season games, been cut six times and traded once. He’s seen a lot. But the events of cut-down weekend on Aug. 29-30 were a new experience.

The back-up quarterback last year who started all three preseason games this year, Mullens was released after the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins. Mullens was then signed to the practice squad.

“It’s a crazy business,” Mullens told me at his locker after practice on Sept. 9. “You go out there every single day and try to do the job to the best of your ability and trust and rely that it’s good enough and I guess I wasn’t good enough through camp.”

Was Mullens, who was 14-of-21

passing for 160 yards and one interception in the preseason, surprised by the Jaguars’ about-face?

“It’s the decision they made; I’m just going to leave it at that,” he said. “I was proud of what I did. I know I didn’t score enough touchdowns in the preseason.”

Mullens said the Jaguars immediately asked him to sign with the practice squad.

“Not really (a tough decision to stay) because my options were go hang out at home or help the Jags win football games,” he said. “The people, the culture, the team, the sport of football — there was no reason for me to go anywhere else. I’m glad to still be here.”

Before practice on Sept. 11, coach Liam Coen said the Jaguars have not made a decision on who will be the No. 2 quarterback (Ewers or Mullens).

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Around the Jaguars

1. Washington’s contract: Things can instantly change, but Jaguars receiver Parker Washington went through practice this week without a contract extension.

“We’ll continue to keep the talks going,” Washington told me. “I want to be here, the Jags want me here and that’s what it’s all about. Me and (quarterback) Trevor (Lawrence) are on the same page, the receiver room has been great and we’re ready for Sunday and get things rolling.”

I asked Washington if he likes to get regular updates from his agent, Zeke Sandhu, or has told him to just be alerted when things are close.

“We’re in great communication,” Washington said of he and Sandhu. “Whenever there is any type of update, we’re talking.”

2. Washington remains punt returner: Despite an anticipated big role on offense, Coen said Washington will continue to return punts.

“He’s the guy right now, absolutely,” Coen said. “We’ve messed around with a couple of other guys being able to catch punts and do some different things. At some point, Travis (Hunter) will get some of that stuff, too. We have to continue to put him in positions to get the ball in his hands and see what that looks like. But right now it’s Parker.”

3. Cleveland back to right guard: The Jaguars so wanted to get rookie Emmanuel Pregnon on the field at left guard that they moved Ezra Cleveland to right guard. Cleveland started nine games at right guard for Minnesota in his rookie year (2020).

“It’s something I have to deal with,” Cleveland said. “When I moved over to the right side, I started grinding and trying to get as comfortable as possible.”

Said offensive coordinator Grant Udinski: “The one thing that never disappears with Ezra that we love and is kind of the foundation of his play is the finish and the effort and bringing the edge whether it’s in in the run game or pass protection game.”

As for Pregnon, right tackle Cole Van Lanen was asked if he had any advice for the young fella’s NFL debut.

“Just take deep breaths,” Van Lanen said with a laugh. “It’s the same game we’ve played forever.”

4. UMass pride: Coen was all smiles on Sept. 7 when I asked him about UMass’ upset win over Rutgers on Sept. 3. The Minutemen snapped a 16-game losing streak, beat a Power 4 Conference team for the first time and won 37-21 as a 29 1/2-point underdog.

“That was awesome,” said Coen, a record-setting quarterback for UMass when it played at the FCS level.

Coen said he texted UMass administrators and coach Joe Harasymiak after the game.

“The respect I have for Joe as a human being and as a coach, I couldn’t be more proud,” Coen said.

5. Advance scouting Cleveland: Jaguars pass game specialist John Van Dam is tasked with advance scouting, which means he started to dig into Cleveland weeks ago. But the layers of preparation are many because defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg (an ex-Jaguars assistant under Gus Bradley and Doug Marrone) has never called plays in a regular season game.

“For sure, it’s a high level of difficulty,” Van Dam said. “You have to look at where he’s been, who he’s been with, how he’s been influenced in his career. You do a little bit of evaluation of the preseason games, but they’re going to keep those vanilla. You have to go into the game with options and then make in-game adjustments.”

About the NFL

1. $55 Million Club: Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Sept. 8. The $55 million average is tied for third-best with Lawrence, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Green Bay’s Jordan Love and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford. The top two are Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes ($64 million) and Dallas’ Dak Prescott ($60 million). Only Mahomes and Stafford have won Super Bowls.

2. New playoff teams: The NFL rolled out its “Every Team Has A Chance,” statistics during the week and rightly so. Since 1990, a streak of 36 consecutive years, at least four new teams have qualified for the playoffs. Last year, there were six (Jaguars, Carolina, Chicago, New England, San Francisco and Seattle).

3. Henry nears milestone: Baltimore running back Derrick Henry, “The Yulee Bulldozer,” needs one rushing touchdown to tie Marcus Allen for third-most in NFL history (123), behind only Emmitt Smith (164) and LaDainian Tomlinson (145). Smith, Tomlinson and Allen are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Weekend Selections

Cleveland (plus 7 1/2) at Jaguars: The Jaguars rush for 100 yards and throw for 250 yards. Jaguars 27-17.

Oklahoma (minus 5 1/2) at Michigan: The Big Ten won’t be able to steal another win for the Wolverines. Oklahoma 24-13.

Ohio State (plus 1 1/2) at Texas: Marquee game in primetime. A big stage for Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. Ohio State 30-27.

Buffalo (plus 1 1/2) at Houston: Houston has been a house of horrors for the Bills' Allen. It continues. Texans 20-17.

Denver (plus 3) at Kansas City: Week 1 wraps up with this Monday night game. Welcome back, Mahomes. Chiefs 28-23.

Records: Spread — 1-4 last week (1-9 season; pathetic). Straight up — 5-0 last week (8-2 season).

Contact O’Halloran at [e-mail] 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: After 'crazy' cutdown weekend, Nick Mullens 'glad' to stick with Jaguars