​A lot of attention is expected to be focused on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker position as training camp opens, given the team must find a replacement for Devin Lloyd. Lloyd, who signed with Carolina in free agency, earned All-Pro honors in 2025, and his departure leaves a notable void at the heart of the defense. The challenge of filling Lloyd’s vacated role has drawn careful consideration from analysts, with Kevin Patra of NFL.com underscoring the stakes. “If no one comes to the forefront, the Jags D could be in a rough spot,” Patra cautioned. “Lacking playmaking in the middle would highlight some of the questions up front, where there wasn’t always consistent pressure from the front four.”
Ventrell Miller has been the projected starter beside Foye Oluokun, positioning him as the leading candidate to step into Lloyd’s middle linebacker duties. Miller had been in the mix for snaps last summer before Lloyd’s breakout season propelled him into a larger role. Yet, the competition appears far from settled. In offseason programs, Branson Combs emerged as a potential challenger for those snaps, signaling that the Jaguars could be cultivating more than one option behind Oluokun.
John Shipley of Jaguar Insider noted that Miller “will not just be handed the linebacker role,” while describing Combs as a “true riser.” That dynamic suggests the Jaguars are intentionally evaluating multiple paths to fill the middle, rather than banking on a single, predetermined successor to Lloyd’s production. The coaching staff appears willing to explore different combinations to preserve the reliability and versatility required at the second level.
Even as the identity of the starter is still taking shape, the obligation won’t rest solely on the shoulders of the linebackers. Linebackers coach Tem Lukabu recently emphasized that the role is a team effort, extending beyond the linebacking corps. The unit’s effectiveness will rely on a coordinated approach that includes the several layers of the defense, not just the person occupying the middle line.
How Anthony Campanile leverages that unit as a whole will be critical. His schemes and personnel packages will influence how the defense uses the available linebackers, and how much is asked of the secondary and the pass rushers to support the middle. Campanile has a track record of extracting high-end play from linebackers at each of his prior stops, suggesting he could craft schemes that maximize a capable replacement for Lloyd without demanding an unsustainable burden on any single player.
The Jaguars will be watching how they deploy the lineup and assign responsibilities, with the hope that a cohesive approach enables whichever linebacker earns the starting job to perform at a high level. The plan seems to be leaning toward flexibility and collective responsibility: a group effort that leverages the strengths of multiple players and the strategic vision of their coaches. The goal is to maintain the consistency and playmaking presence Lloyd provided, while also building a defense that can adapt and thrive under various game situations.
As training camp unfolds, the Jaguars’ decisions at middle linebacker will be closely scrutinized. The team will need to balance developing a clear starter with cultivating depth and competition, ensuring that the middle remains a strength rather than becoming a question mark. The integration of the defense’s secondary and front-four pressure will be essential in supporting the new starter, allowing the Jaguars to maintain their competitive edge as they navigate the post-Lloyd era. This evolution will be a test of leadership, coaching, and execution, with the outcome shaping Jacksonville’s defensive identity for the upcoming season.