With Foyesade Oluokun reportedly expected to miss “several weeks” due to a foot injury, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed Wednesday that second-year linebacker Ventrell Miller will step into Oluokun’s spot in Jacksonville’s starting defense.
Miller, Jacksonville’s fourth-round, No. 121 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, has logged nine total tackles and one defended passes in his first regular season playing for the Jaguars this year, including six tackles against Buffalo in Week 3.
“He’s done really well,” said Pederson. “He’s gotten valuable snaps. Played good the other night, played physical, you know? Obviously there’s some things we can clean up but he’s really done a nice job.”
Miller missed his rookie campaign after suffering an Achilles injury during the 2023 preseason. It was not the first time Miller, who starred at the University of Florida in college, was hurt and sidelined for an extended period of time in his football career.
The Lakeland, Fla. product played through a foot injury during his super senior season with the Gators, posting 74 tackles with 8.5 for loss, one year removed from a bicep tear that limited him to two appearances in 2021.
Miller drew from his previous experience navigating serious injury to prepare for his regular-season debut with the Jaguars this year.
“Man, it was definitely tough. But I done been through it before …” Miller told Jaguars Wire this offseason.
“The work I’ve put in this whole offseason, it’s just flowing in. I came back bigger, faster, stronger, excited for the year, ready to make a play. It’s been a year since I played football, so I’m itching to make a play.”
Oluokun exited Jacksonville’s Week 3, 47-10 loss to Buffalo in the second quarter with what has been reported as plantar fasciitis.
Pederson does not consider Oluokun, Jacksonville’s current and back-to-back-season leader in total tackles, as a candidate for injured reserve placement at this time.
“I don’t think so,” Pederson said. “Not at this point.”