Throughout the summer, former Tennessee Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar did everything he could to turn heads and battle for a roster spot in Jacksonville. At the last minute, though, the Jags went out and traded for former Texas signal-caller Quinn Ewers, who now immediately jumps into the QB2 spot behind Trevor Lawrence.
Just like that, Aguilar's NFL future now looks a bit murky. Not long after the Ewers trade, it was announced that Aguilar was getting cut by Jacksonville, though insider Aaron Wilson has reported that the Jags are planning to bring him back to the practice squad.
On one hand, sure, this sucks for Aguilar, as he no doubt wanted to make the 53-man roster and be a difference-maker for the AFC South side if his number ever got called. Despite this setback, if there's one thing everyone has learned about Aguilar, it's that he's not going to stay on the ground when knocked down. It's time for him to remind everyone of that:
#Jaguars releasing quarterback Joey Aguilar, who completed 17/20 for 230 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions in preseason, per league source. Plan is for 6-3, 229-pound former @volsfball to join practice squad pic.twitter.com/oA6Ovbz724
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 30, 2026
Joey Aguilar getting cut by the Jaguars will only motivate him to keep going
Aguilar is no stranger to people counting him out, only to prove the doubters wrong. This was exactly the case last year, as he transferred to UCLA from App State, only to be shown the door once the Bruins brought in former 5-star Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Aguilar, no question, was down in the dumps over that, basically being thrown to the side.
Not to worry, as Josh Heupel came calling, with Aguilar instantly becoming a fan favorite in Knoxville. That's not going to change soon, as countless Vols fans are wishing him nothing but the best as he starts his pro journey. Said journey is starting with some adversity, which is something the youngster is quite familiar with.
Hey, you can't blame Jacksonville for making this Ewers trade, as he provides the Jaguars with needed experience behind Lawrence. With Aguilar being an UDFA, the hill to climb was always going to be a tough one for him to make the Week 1 roster - the Ewers trade essentially made it impossible for him.
Despite that, should Aguilar clear waivers, he's expected to return to Jacksonville, where he'd have to wait his turn on the PS and see if he eventually makes his way up. It's telling that the Jags would want to bring him back, as head man Liam Coen praised his play in recent weeks.
Could a surprise be on the way, and could a team end up signing him first? Hey, you never know what might happen, as we've all learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to Aguilar's career trajectory. After throwing for 3,565 yards and 24 TDs last season with the Vols, Aguilar showcased what he can do on a big stage despite being overlooked.
More of the same will be needed from him now that his back is against the wall a bit. As we mentioned, adversity is nothing new to Aguilar, who will be ready to attack things head-on now that his future is a bit uncertain. He's used to this, though, and if the Jaguars aren't smart enough to keep him in town this fall, another organization surely will be.
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