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Was CB Jabbar Muhammad the Jaguars Most Surprising Cut?
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- Was CB Jabbar Muhammad the Jaguars Most Surprising Cut?
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
The Jacksonville Jaguars have finalized their initial 53-man roster with the regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns now only two weeks away.
Cut-down day is always a bummer. Over 1,100 players who worked hard and gave their all for months lose their jobs and face an uncertain future.
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While many will land on their feet by being claimed off waivers by another team or being signed to a practice squad, many won't. Those who don't must hope and wait for a new opportunity to arise. If none does, they must find work elsewhere.
The Jaguars trimmed their roster by cutting 35 players and placing defensive end Zach Durfee and guard Patrick Mekari on IR-Return, while placing offensive lineman Sam Mustipher on season-ending IR.
Players can be claimed off waivers by any of the other 31 teams and join that team's active roster. Once the players who go unclaimed, which are the overwhelming majority, clear waivers, they are eligible to be signed to a team's practice squad, either the team who cut them or any other.
Veterans with at least four accrued seasons are released rather than waived. They are not subject to waivers and can sign with another team immediately.
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There were a few surprises among those who were cut by Jacksonville.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Joey Aguilar, despite a stellar preseason, was let go. Whether Aguilar would sneak onto the roster was one of the Jaguars' most intriguing storylines. Unfortunately for Aguilar, he didn't make the cut. Did the Jaguars make the right decision?
Joining the rookie on the chopping block were both of the other QBs he was thought to be competing with for a roster spot behind starter Trevor Lawrence . Nick Mullens , who had been QB2, was released. His fate was sealed after the team traded for QB Quinn Ewers on Saturday, while Carter Bradley was waived with an injury designation.
Offensive tackle Chuma Edoga was also released in a mild surprise, likely a positive sign for Cole Van Lanen 's health.
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Linebackers Yasir Abdullah and Jalen McLeod were waived, despite strong preseason performances.
Undrafted rookie running back J'Mari Taylor, who looked impressive and was the offense's workhorse during the preseason, also missed the cut. Taylor should be a priority to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
While most of those players had a shot at the roster, no cut was more surprising than cornerback Jabbar Muhammad .
Made Plays All Offseason
Muhammad, who comes from a long lineage of defensive backs , spent the entire 2025 season on Jacksonville's practice squad.
Determined to earn a promotion in his second season, Muhammad looked like a different player right from the start of OTAs. He made plays all offseason and was even called a potential breakout player for the Jaguars' defense.
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Head coach Liam Coen added to the hype, singling out Muhammad as being the team's most-improved player from last season.
After looking great throughout OTAs and training camp, Muhammad wasn't able to duplicate that success in Jacksonville's three preseason games. He didn't play poorly by any means, but wasn't able to make the splash plays he regularly made in practice for months.
That slight regression was all it took for Muhammad to miss out on making the team.
Despite his uneventful preseason, the Jaguars' decision to cut Muhammad is shocking and definitely the team's biggest surprise. It appeared that Muhammad was no longer fighting for a roster spot, but was fighting to earn legitimate playing time once the real games began.
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Final Thoughts
Even though an overwhelming majority of players who didn't survive their team's final cuts clear waivers, Muhammad has a real chance to be claimed by another team.
A 24-year-old on the waiver wire who plays one of the NFL's premium positions, can play either in the slot or at outside corner, and has improved by leaps and bounds from his rookie year, is certainly going to attract the attention of several teams.
Will Muhammad be claimed by another team? We will find out on Monday. If he does, it should surprise nobody.
Unlike Muhammad being cut by the Jaguars, which surprised everybody .
