JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Parker Washington isn't going to sneak up on defenses this year. Partly because he put himself on every defensive coordinators last year, and partly because the Jacksonville Jaguars are not about to keep him a secret.Washington was one of the Jaguars' top stories last year, playing a backup role in the offense during the first two months of the season before being thrust into a starting role after Travis Hunter's injury. Washington went on a hot streak in Hunter's place, and all signs from the three-day mandatory veteran minicamp are that the Jaguars are set to trust him even more in 2026. High point.@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/CnwNTDT4vb— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) June 9, 2026Washington's TrustWashington started seven games for the Jaguars in 2024, producing 32 catches for 390 yards and three touchdowns -- all increased numbers compared to his rookie season. Then the former sixth-round product out of Penn State exploded last season, setting career-highs and leading the team with 58 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns. While Hunter is still set to play some kind of role in Liam Coen's offense this fall, it is clear through minicamp and the early days of OTAs that Washington is set to be a core piece of what the Jaguars do in the passing game. Coen had some big things to say about Washington and how he is approaching his role, and earlier this offseason he also said he wanted to unlock Washington's potential with the ball in his hands. Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) throws the ball after catching punts during the Jaguars’ fourth OTA of the year, Monday June 1, 2026 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images“Yeah, a ton. I think he's a guy that every play, he comes back and has communication, what he sees out there. The relationship between he and Trevor [Lawrence] has continued to grow and develop," Coen said after the first day of minicamp. "And then for us as coaches, his toolbox of being able to play inside, play outside, run routes at all three levels. I think his football knowledge has just continued to ascend. What he knows he is seeing pre-snap to what the coverage does maybe post snap, how people and leverages change throughout some coverages. I just think his overall knowledge has really elevated over the last year, and so that makes it a lot easier to work with somebody and to trust them that they're going to do the right thing come game day.”From left, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, wide receiver Parker Washington (11) and quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) talk after an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesAccording to NextGenStats, Washington totaled a team-high 23.7% of the Jaguars' third-down targets last season while averaging 3.1 yards per route run on third down, the most among wide receivers with at least 75 routes run on third down ahead of Puka Nacua (3.0), DeVonta Smith (2.9) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2.7).