JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars have big shoes to fill at linebacker following the departure of second-team All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd to the Carolina Panthers in March.
The frontrunner for the position appears to be Ventrell Miller, who returns for his fourth year in the NFL. Miller spent 2025 as Lloyd’s understudy, which he believes helped him develop as an athlete.
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“I feel like Dev just taught me how to be a pro ... being able to get eyes on him, see how he’s doing things and see how he kept his body fresh for the whole last year,” Miller said.
Body maintenance was especially important for Miller, who started his NFL career in 2023 on the sidelines. Miller suffered a series of injuries throughout his college career at the University of Florida, followed by an Achilles rupture during his rookie year.
Miller now takes an intentional approach to his training, both on the field and in the weight room.
“The best ability is availability,” Miller said Tuesday. “Just having the mindset to come back bigger, faster, stronger, that was always my mindset.”
Miller recorded 27 tackles and four passes defensed across 17 games in the 2025 season. He was also the only NFL player under 250 defensive snaps to record an interception and a forced fumble.
Pro Football Focus named Miller to the 2026 NFL All-Breakout Team. And he’s certainly made his case during the first two weeks of training camp.
On Thursday, Miller forced a fumble on running back Ameer Abdullah after a short pass. He then recovered it himself, showing off both his physicality and reaction time.
But it’s not going to be easy for Miller.
Branson Combs, a linebacker who was on the practice squad for the start of the 2025 season, has made a statement this summer.
He made a handful of standout plays on Tuesday, breaking up a pass during red-zone work and holding his own on a strong downfield rep against Parker Washington.
Some of his defensive IQ may stem from his experience as a wide receiver himself.
Combs scored 58 touchdowns in high school, where his finished his career fourth in Indiana history in career receiving yards. He spent the beginning of his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Southern Illinois, before switching his position in 2021.
After finishing out his football career at Wake Forest, Combs went undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft. Last season, he spent 10 weeks on the Jags’ practice squad before getting elevated to a roster spot.
But he says his path has not discouraged him.
“Whether you’re drafted or undrafted, I’m in the building,” he said. “Once we’re out on the field … you come out here on the grass and you play. It really doesn’t matter where you were.”
Last season, Combs recorded mostly special teams work on the stat sheet, with seven tackles and one solo defensive tackle.
And despite his experience last season, he says he is here to compete.
“I think it was just a year under my belt, kind of knowing what’s going on … you get a little more comfortable,” he said. “But it’s still, 100% you’re competing.”
Both Combs and Miller say they will continue to bring the energy, and neither are shying away from the battle for the starting linebacker role.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Miller said. “I’m coming out here and competing everyday still.”
The linebacker starting role has not been decided yet, but coaches will continue to evaluate throughout the next couple weeks in August.
The Jaguars will host the next open practice on Aug. 9, followed by an open joint practice with the Panthers on Aug. 19. The rest of the Jags training camp schedule can be found at their website.