The Jaguars Have an Underrated Return Specialist Unit in 2026
The Jacksonville Jaguars and their impressive special teams unit were put on the map throughout 2025. Mainly, the fans and media focused on the former Arkansas Razorbacks kicker Cam Little, who set two NFL records last season. However, there is more to the special teams unit in Duval County than their shockingly good leg power. Specifically, the Jaguars have some elite speed in their return specialists entering 2026, who very well could find themselves as one of the best groups in the entire conference or even the league as a whole.
When taking a look at the team’s current kick returners, the Jaguars are currently led by two second-year running backs in Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen. Tuten will mainly be the team’s main running back option this upcoming season, meaning his return snaps will be more split amongst athletes like Allen and former Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas. In 2025, the former Hokie had 19 kick returns for 539 yards, with his longest being 54 yards. Meanwhile, Allen returned 24 kick returns for 617 yards, with his longest return being 50 yards. Dallas will be the veteran backup option, although he’s had a fair share of kick returns throughout his career. In six seasons, the former Miami Hurricane has 89 kick returns for 2,254 yards and one touchdown, with his longest return being a whopping 96 yards. Expect Dallas’s veteran presence to make the unit a dangerous team to defend when returning those opening kickoffs.
Meanwhile, the punt returners are led by one of the team’s best wideouts in Parker Washington, alongside former Los Angeles Rams veteran Austin Trammell. Washington, who shocked many fans across the league with an outstanding 2025 campaign, will likely be the main punt returner throughout the 2026 season. In 2025, the former Nittany Lion had 25 punt returns for 341 yards and two touchdowns. In 2024, Washington set the Jacksonville record for longest punt return in franchise history with a 96-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots in London. After a borderline Pro Bowl season in 2025, expect Washington to add more highlight reel returns in 2026. For Trammell, the former Owl has 28 career punt returns for 205 yards alongside seven kick returns for 155 yards. Expect him to be in more of a backup role throughout the season, coming in for when one of the starters either needs a rest or suffers an injury.
