Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars

In the NFL, earning a starting spot is never guaranteed—even for players with years of experience. For Andrew Wingard, the 2025 season marks a long-awaited milestone: the sixth-year safety has been named the starting strong safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars, beating out incumbent Rayshawn Jenkins and rookie fourth-round pick Kamren Curl for the role. Wingard, who spent his first five seasons with the Jaguars as a key reserve and special teams standout, has long been praised for his work ethic and versatility, but injuries and roster depth kept him from securing a full-time starting job—until now. With the Jaguars looking to shore up a secondary that allowed 24 passing touchdowns last season, Wingard’s promotion is a vote of confidence from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, who views the safety as a “steady, reliable presence” in the backend. For Wingard, this opportunity is the culmination of years of patience and preparation, and Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars is the story of how he turned potential into a starting role.

Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars begins with a look at Wingard’s journey to this point. Undrafted out of Wyoming in 2020, Wingard signed with the Jaguars as a priority free agent, impressing coaches immediately with his football IQ and tackling ability. During his rookie season, he played primarily on special teams, recording 18 tackles and forcing one fumble, but he also saw limited snaps on defense as a backup safety. Over the next four seasons, Wingard’s role expanded: he filled in as a starter in 12 games due to injuries, recording 85 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 6 pass breakups in those contests. However, he could never lock down a full-time starting spot—until this offseason. After Jenkins struggled with inconsistency in 2024 (allowing 4 touchdowns in coverage), Caldwell opened up the competition at strong safety, inviting Wingard, Jenkins, and Curl to battle for the role. Wingard seized the opportunity, putting together a standout offseason: he led all Jaguars defensive backs in interceptions (3) during training camp scrimmages, and he didn’t miss a single tackle in preseason games. By the end of camp, Caldwell had seen enough, naming Wingard the starter.

A closer look at Wingard’s skill set reveals why the Jaguars are confident he can excel as a starter. At 6-foot-0 and 205 pounds, Wingard isn’t the biggest safety in the NFL, but he makes up for it with his instincts and physicality. His greatest strength is tackling—he’s recorded 245 career tackles with just 6 missed tackles, a rate that ranks among the top 10 safeties in the league since 2020. This is critical for the Jaguars, who ranked 21st in run defense last season; Wingard’s ability to stop running backs in the flat and support the run from the secondary will help shore up that weakness. Wingard is also a reliable coverage safety: he has experience playing both man and zone coverage, and he’s shown a knack for reading quarterbacks and jumping routes—evident in his 3 career interceptions. During training camp, he showcased this skill repeatedly, including a game-sealing interception in the final preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he read Baker Mayfield’s eyes and stepped in front of a pass intended for a tight end. Wingard’s versatility is another asset: he can line up as a strong safety, free safety, or even in the box as a nickel linebacker, giving Caldwell flexibility to adjust his defense based on opponents’ schemes.

A critical factor in Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars is the impact Wingard will have on the Jaguars’ secondary as a whole. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary has been a work in progress in recent years, but with Wingard at strong safety, Patrick Peterson at cornerback, and free safety Andre Cisco returning for his fourth season, the unit finally has the potential to be a strength. Wingard’s communication skills have already proven valuable in camp: he’s taken on a leadership role, helping Cisco and the young cornerbacks (like rookie Kelee Ringo) align correctly and understand coverage assignments. During one practice, Wingard noticed a misalignment in the secondary and corrected it before the snap, preventing a potential touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence to Calvin Ridley. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this leadership is just as important as Wingard’s on-field play; the secondary needs a steady voice to keep everyone on the same page, especially in high-pressure situations. Caldwell noted, “Andrew doesn’t just play the position—he understands it. He’s able to help his teammates, and that makes the entire secondary better.” This cohesion could be the difference between a mediocre secondary and a top-15 unit.

Another key aspect of Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars is the competition that pushed Wingard to earn the starting spot—and how it will keep him motivated. The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t just hand Wingard the job; they made him earn it, and they’re not letting him get complacent. Jenkins, who is now the backup strong safety, is still a talented player, and Curl has shown promise as a rookie, meaning Wingard will have to continue performing at a high level to keep his spot. This competition is healthy for the team: it ensures that no player takes their role for granted, and it gives the Jaguars depth at a position that’s often hit hard by injuries. Wingard has embraced this, telling reporters, “I know I have to bring my best every day. Jenkins and Kamren are great players, and they’re pushing me to be better. That’s good for me, and it’s good for the team.” For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this depth is a luxury they haven’t had at safety in recent years; if Wingard gets injured, they have capable replacements ready to step in. This peace of mind will allow Caldwell to use Wingard more aggressively—sending him on blitzes or using him in man coverage against tight ends—without worrying about the backup.

As the Jaguars prepare for the 2025 regular season, Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars remains one of the most inspiring storylines for the team. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wingard’s promotion is a reminder that hard work and persistence pay off—and it’s a message to other young players on the roster that they can earn opportunities if they put in the work. Wingard’s first test as a full-time starter will come in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, where he’ll be tasked with covering Panthers tight end Ian Thomas, who caught 52 passes for 570 yards last season. How Wingard performs in that matchup will be an early indicator of whether he’s ready to be a long-term starter. Regardless of the outcome, Wingard has already made his mark: he’s gone from an undrafted free agent to a starting safety, a journey that few players accomplish. In the end, Andrew Wingard Starts at Safety for Jacksonville Jaguars is more than a roster announcement; it’s a story of resilience and determination—a story that Jaguars fans will be cheering for all season long. And for Wingard himself, it’s just the beginning: he’s ready to prove that he’s not just a fill-in starter, but a player who can help lead the Jaguars to the playoffs.