Jacksonville Jaguars UDFA edge rusher Bryan Thomas Jr. is reportedly making the team's initial 53-man roster, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Thomas Jr. had been a standout performer during the preseason, and he capped off his impressive summer with a dominant outing in the team's preseason finale.
Against Tampa Bay, Thomas logged five pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and he was in on three sacks.
Sources: #Jaguars rookie DE Bryan Thomas Jr., out of South Carolina, has made the 53-man roster.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 30, 2026
Jacksonville now has two BTJs — one on offense and one on defense. pic.twitter.com/tJiX91fEiz
In total over the three preseason games, Thomas Jr. logged eight pressures and four sacks. Head coach Liam Coen also noted his play against the run.
"His play style is the right way," Coen said after the final preseason game. "It fits a lot of the things that we preach and that we're about as a team. When you have a gift of rushing the passer, man, it's something that you can't ignore. I thought he did some nice things against the run as well tonight. I thought the defense as a whole, obviously with the shutout, was huge, being led by Bryan. He's making it really difficult, which is a good thing. It's just what we're hunting up. He's had that skill set. That was something we really appreciated about his game. He's just continued to do it on this stage."
In a crowded defensive end room, Thomas Jr. faced an uphill battle when it came to making the final roster, but his steady production and regular flashes helped him stand out.
Fellow defensive ends Danny Striggow and BJ Green each made the Jaguars' 53-man roster last year as UDFAs.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars UDFA reportedly making initial 53-man roster
