RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesJACKSONVILLE, FL - JULY 30: Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) catches a pass during training camp on July 30, 2026 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Jacksonville Jaguars believe they have the luxury of rostering the best kicker, punter, and long snapper in the NFL.
“I’m very fortunate,” special teams coordinator and associate head coach Heath Farwell said Thursday after Day 7 of training camp. “There’s no question. Those guys are fantastic. They’re the best in the game at their positions.
“And then throw Parker Washington into that as well.”
“He’s a fantastic receiver,” Farwell allowed, “but he’s an elite returner. 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.”
Indeed, part of Washington’s recent breakout season was being a return man on special teams. In 2024, he became the first NFL player to score an international special teams touchdown with a franchise-record 96-yard punt return . Last season, he was promoted to primary punter returner and became the first Jaguar to house multiple returns in a single season. He finished first in touchdowns, fifth in yards (341), and sixth in yards per return (13.6) among all NFL punt returners. Washington’s career average of 14.2 yards per punt return ranks first in franchise history and fourth among active NFL players (min. 20 returns).
For the first time in his young career, Washington is expecting a full-time workload on offense, but it sounds like he’ll continue to give the offense a boost as the punt returner. “He says that he wants to play, wants to be back there, help the team win,” Farwell said. “That’s the culture Coach Liam [Coen] brought in, and he’s part of it. He wants to win. And how is he going to help us? It’s part of being a punt returner.”
Washington also spoke after Thursday’s practice. When asked about return duties, he said, “I’m just open to the opportunity, whatever it is. Obviously, we’ll get some more receiver play, but as I said, I want to come out here and be my best self. If that happens to be on return, shoot. I feel like I’ve been studying that for a while now. Let’s see if we can make some more plays.”
Washington’s unique drive was instilled by his family at a young age. “One day going into middle school, I was like, ‘I’ve got to make my parents proud.’ Whatever I’m doing, I’m going to make sure I give my absolute best … I couldn’t tell you what clicked. Something just in me just was like, I want to do something different. I want to be special.”
It seems like Washington couldn’t have made his special teams coordinator any prouder — but now, the person he’s most looking to prove himself to is his quarterback.
“The trust [Trevor Lawrence is] having in me on some of these passes is really cool. I know a couple years ago, he probably wouldn’t throw some of the passes he’s throwing now to me, so it’s just really cool for him to have that trust in me and I’m going to continue to make sure that he has that, and I’m going to make those plays for him.”
When asked about his reaction to Zay Flowers’ record-breaking contract extension, Washington — entering the final year of his rookie deal — said, “My focus is just coming out here. I need to make plays for Trevor.”
Given the option to fair catch the ball, punt returners don’t see enough action to really stress about extra hits. Washington should continue to trot onto the field when the Jaguars force a fourth down. But the days of his game-changing, fear-inducing abilities being limited to special teams snaps only are far from over.
Notes & Quotes
Farwell anticipates Caleb Ransaw joining Rayuan Lane III as the team’s starting gunners on special teams. “Ransaw has been a fantastic gunner … between those two guys, I think we have two of the better gunners in the National Football League.”
Usually, rookie receivers look like rookie receivers, but CJ Williams and Josh Cameron genuinely seem like veteran additions to the room. “CJ contacted me more this summer than anybody. And it’s a reflection of how much he cares,” Farwell said. “He’s done a great job for us.” And Cameron, who snatches a contested ball over defenders seemingly every practice, appears to be on track for a role on kick returns. “Cameron is a dynamic returner. I’ve been super impressed with him back here at training camp in practice,” Farwell said. “We have a bunch of guys that can do it. I think we’ve just got to kind of see how this thing all plays out with the roster, active on game days and playing times.”
Yesterday, I mentioned on the Prowler Podcast that Jabbar Muhammad has carried over his standout play from OTAs in such a way that makes me think he could earn a role in dime/nickel packages — with the caveat that his frame could cause natural limitations as a full-time perimeter player. Muhammad shut me up today by breaking up a pass to Brian Thomas Jr. on a dig route. His arrow continues to point up.
The play of the day belonged to Ventrell Miller, who’s competing with Branson Combs to fill a Devin Lloyd-sized hole at linebacker.
Get the ball out, 5-1 🥊 @Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/jLTyuwDFx2
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 6, 2026
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