Jaguars Experimenting with Anton Harrison at LT

The Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to spice things up along the offensive line.

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At training camp practice on Friday, the Jaguars switched around their o-linemen, giving a couple of players looks at different positions. The team decided to experiment with longtime right tackle Anton Harrison, who, according to Jamal St. Cyr, "spent the day" at left tackle, and left tackle Walker Little, who was recently elevated to the first unit, switching over to the right side.

Harrison has been Jacksonville's starting RT since he was the team's first-round pick in 2023 and was recently given some praise from Houston Texans star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. 

Normally, a team getting a look at one of its players at a different position wouldn't be very newsworthy. It happens all around the league during training camp, especially along the offensive line, where quality depth is both hard to find and always a factor during the season. Having players with the versatility to play different spots along the line, if needed, is extremely valuable for a team.

However, the Jaguars experimenting with Harrison at LT could be more than that.

Jacksonville placed starting LT Cole Van Lanen on the PUP list before camp began. Van Lanen was injured at the end of last season and hasn't been able to practice all offseason.

Could Harrison Stay At LT Until Van Lanen Returns?

Without Van Lanen, the Jaguars turned back to Little as their starting LT. Little had that job to begin last season, but suffered an early injury that forced him to miss three games. Van Lanen was elevated to starter and never looked back, even after Little's return.

Little was moved to right guard, while Van Lanen was given a three-year, $51 million contract extension, a clear sign the LT job was now his. When he was at LT, Little had significant struggles that cast doubt on his future at the position even before the injury.

Would Jacksonville trust Little to start at LT if Van Lanen's injury persists into the regular season? Or could Harrison stay there until he returns? Harrison is a better pass-blocker than run-blocker, which could make him more valuable protecting Trevor Lawrence's blind side.

Little makes for an excellent swing tackle and was recently named to Bill Barnwell of ESPN's "All-Backup Team." Having him start at LT to begin the season, however, could be a cause for concern for the Jaguars. Might Jacksonville prefer to see what Harrison can do with an extended look on the left side?

Boselli Says It's Just Normal Camp Tinkering

An article from Paul Bretl of Jaguars Wire highlights Jags' executive (and Hall of Fame former LT) Tony Boselli's comments about the matter. Boselli spoke on the Brent and Austen Show and cautioned against reading too much into it, explaining that it is just normal camp tinkering, while allowing players a chance to show some versatility.

"'We did the same thing last year,' Boselli said. 'We move offensive linemen around during this period of time. And the reason why is, look at last year when we had injuries; we did not miss a beat at the offensive line. Why? Because Walker Little could go from left tackle to right guard. Cole Van Lanen played four positions for us last year. Right tackle, right guard, left guard, and then ultimately at left tackle at the end of the year, and so we want that same flexibility.'"

Final Thoughts

It sounds like Boselli and the rest of the organization are content with having Little remain at LT in Van Lanen's absence. However, the experiment with Harrison on the left side could change those plans.

Harrison is a more consistent player and has the higher ceiling. If Little begins to struggle as Van Lanen's replacement, the team may opt to go with Harrison at LT.

For now, Harrison is just getting a look at a different spot and a chance to prove he can play on either side.

Time will tell if it develops into anything more than that.

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