The Jacksonville Jaguars have the top priority in the waiver claim and there was little doubt that they wouldn’t look to use it Wednesday. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, one player they’ve already exercised that luxury on is former Los Angeles Chargers receiver Tyron Johnson, who is entering his third NFL season.
The #Jaguars are claiming WR Tyron Johnson off waivers from the #Chargers, per source. They have top priority and are using it.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2021
This decision was one fans saw coming from a mile away because the team only named five receivers to its initial roster. Additionally, the cuts were a sign of Urban Meyer wanting more speed and explosiveness at receiver, as the unit struggled to create separation at times.
While with the Chargers last season (his first on a regular season roster), Johnson registered 20 receptions for just under 400 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, he registered a 19.9 receiving yard average, which speaks volumes about what he offers as a threat down the field.
Johnson went undrafted in 2019 out of Oklahoma State to the Houston Texans. That same season, he spent time on the Buffalo Bills, Texans, and Carolina Panthers’ practice squads. He then joined the Chargers afterward where he was paired with the strong-armed Justin Herbert.
With many comparing Jags rookie Trevor Lawrence to the Chargers’ franchise signal-caller, the hope is that Johnson can help the rookie by providing some more speed to a group that already has fast weapons like DJ Chark and Tavon Austin.