Urban Meyer explains Andre Cisco’s lack of snaps, Walker Little’s healthy scratch

Meyer explained the decisions to limit Cisco and scratch Little from the active roster.

While Jacksonville made a number of major upgrades in free agency, it also had 10 picks in the 2021 NFL draft, and those selections were expected to play a major role in helping turn the franchise around this season. But in a 37-21 loss to Houston in Week 1, a couple of the expected playmakers were afterthoughts.

Many expected that third-round pick Andre Cisco would become a starter at safety sooner rather than later. But in a relatively surprising move, Andrew Wingard made the final roster and was given the start in Week 1.

He didn’t play well, and Cisco eventually got some action later in the game. But he only played on 23 snaps, and coach Urban Meyer said that Cisco was limited by a “pitch count” heading into this season.

“Yeah, [Andre] Cisco is really coming on,” he said. “You know, he’s a guy that we were told when we drafted him—we really thought highly of him, we still do—is that he had that ACL, so he’s still—was a little bit on that pitch count during training camp. [Andrew] Wingard was the most consistent throughout, missed a tackle, had a chance to make a couple plays. We’re still, we’re not throwing anybody under the bus yet, but Cisco is a guy that we believe has a great future and he played pretty well when he was in there.”

Given the fact that Cisco is coming off knee surgery just under a calendar year ago, this is an understandable approach. But based on the way Wingard played, the Jags need Cisco on the field playing starting reps as soon as possible.

The approach with second-round offensive tackle Walker Little is a little more concerning. Little struggled during the preseason, and he was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Meyer said that Will Richardson gave the team a better chance as a reserve tackle.

“…well, I think it’s eight linemen,” Meyer said about the approximate number of offensive linemen who should be active. “And we just felt like [Will] Richardson has been more consistent than Walker [Little] right now.”

Both of Jacksonville’s starting tackles were just average on Sunday, with some penalties hindering otherwise solid play. But Little was drafted to eventually succeed Cam Robinson on the left side, and it seems he has a long way to go if that’s going to be the case.

Joe Cullen says Andrew Wingard will start vs. Texans, but Andre Cisco will see snaps

Cullen said that Cisco will see a lot of reps as a rotational player.

Jacksonville’s Week 1 depth chart featured a decision that surprised many fans. Third-year safety Andrew Wingard was named the starter at free safety over rookie Andre Cisco, a third-round pick out of Syracuse who impressed in the preseason.

Wingard started four games down the stretch last season, totaling two picks and five pass deflections to go with his 50 tackles. Though Wingard struggled at times in 2020, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen said the new staff has liked what he’s shown this offseason.

“Well, one, he’s reliable, two, he’s tough, he’s physical,” Cullen said. “We’ve got a great group back there with Rayshawn [Jenkins]. But he’s a guy, you know what he’s going to do when the ball is snapped, he’s going to do his responsibility and he’s going to do it at 100 miles per hour.”

However, Cisco is going to be far from an afterthought in the defensive backfield rotation. The rookie totaled 13 interceptions in just 26 career games in college, and though he missed significant time due to an ACL tear (in 2020), he’s healthy now and could end up being one of the steals of the draft.

Cullen said that Cisco isn’t far behind Wingard and will see a healthy number of reps in Week 1.

“Not far at all, I mean, he will be playing as well,” Cullen said when asked how far Cisco is from being fully prepared. “Anybody up is a starter, so if you get anybody—the depth chart says this, says that—if they’re up with a helmet, they are starting because they’ve got to go in the game at really any given time in certain positions, that’s one of them. Cisco can be in there second series, third series.”

Jacksonville made improving the secondary a priority this offseason, signing Shaquill Griffin and Jenkins while drafting Cisco and Tyson Campbell. Many expected Cisco to be a Day 1 starter if he was healthy, but it seems that Wingard’s camp and preseason impressed the coaching staff.

Still, it seems like only a matter of time before he’s supplanted by Cisco, who the team likely views as the long-term solution.

Andre Cisco was the preseason’s highest graded rookie safety, per PFF

Andre Cisco was one of Jacksonville’s preseason standouts, and PFF graded his preseason very well.

Jacksonville got an absolute steal when former Syracuse safety Andre Cisco fell to it at the top of the third round. Once considered a first-round prospect, Cisco’s college career was derailed by two separate knee injuries that caused him to only appear in 24 games with the Orange.

But those 24 games were spectacular. Cisco totaled 13 interceptions across them, and though the Jaguars knew his health could be a concern, it was easy to justify using a third-rounder on him, given his potential upside.

It’s still early, but that gamble seems to be paying off. Cisco is fully healthy, and he logged a lot of playing time in the preseason. He hasn’t officially been named the Jags’ starter opposite free-agent acquisition Rayshawn Jenkins, but it’s probably just a matter of time.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cisco was the highest-graded rookie safety in the preseason, coming in at 81.1. That slightly edges out Denver Broncos safety Jamar Johnson (78.8), a fifth-round pick out of Indiana.

In the Jags’ three preseason games, Cisco totaled eight tackles, two pass breakups, and a hit on the quarterback.

Cisco could end up being one of the best value picks from the entire draft, and it seems like just a matter of time before he supplants sixth-year Jacksonville veteran Jarrod Wilson, who wasn’t named to the final roster after starting in 30 games for the team in the last three years.

5 defensive players to watch in Jags’ preseason game vs. Saints

The Jags’ defense could put the NFL on notice Monday night with many around the nation watching. Here are some players on the unit to keep in mind when they take the field.

Week 2 of the NFL preseason is about to come to an end, but not before the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints take the field for a Monday night battle at Caesars Superdome. Both teams will not only be looking for their first preseason wins in the process, but looking to garner some momentum as regular season football is weeks away.

In their first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, the Jags’ defense had both some positive and negative takeaways. The most notable one was their stoutness against the run, but at the same time, they struggled mightily against the screen game. The hope is that they will be able to clean that up against the Saints, who are a team with notable threats in the backfield.

From an individual standpoint there are also a variety of players Jags fans will be tuning in to see tonight as the unit has some gelling to do. Here are five players we think will be worth watching as the Jags will once again be taking a national stage this week.

CBS Sports says this rookie is in line for a key role in Jags defense

Jacksonville made perhaps its best value pick in the entire draft by taking Andre Cisco in the third round. The safety could compete for a starting job on Day 1 if he’s healthy.

Most of the attention has been placed on rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence since the Jacksonville Jaguars took him with the first overall pick in 2021, and for good reason. His selection was the most important in the class.

But to find the best draft pick from a value perspective, one may have to look elsewhere. And though he certainly enters the league with some question marks, it’s hard to name a player in the Jags’ 2021 class that could end up being a bigger steal than Andre Cisco.

The former Syracuse safety could have easily been a first-round prospect were it not for a pair of injuries that limited him to just 24 games in college. Instead, he slid to the Jags in the third round allowing the team to make a great value pick. And according to CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, he could be one of the post-Day 1 picks to make a major impact as a rookie.

Throw Cisco in the group of prospects that had no business lasting as long as they did in the draft. Third round? For a thick, super-rangy safety who averaged better than an interception every other game in college? Those dudes don’t grow on trees, NFL. And I don’t care about the ACL tear. It happened in September. Cisco’s going to be every bit as explosive this September as he was before the injury. He’s a thumping tackler too. On paper, Jacksonville’s secondary is still abysmal. Cisco will help make it more respectable in 2021.

If he can stay healthy, Cisco should compete for the starting free safety job on Day 1. Returning starter Jarrod Wilson made 41 tackles with one interception last season, but he totaled just three passes defensed on the entire season.

Jacksonville upgraded at the strong safety spot this offseason by signing Rayshawn Jenkins from the Los Angeles Chargers, and it seems Cisco was drafted to eventually start at safety, as well.

Despite his relative inexperience, he made the most of the action he received with the Orange, totaling an almost unthinkable 13 interceptions in his 24 games. He didn’t participate in organized team activities as he continues to recover from knee surgery, but he’s now nearly nine months removed from that surgery.

After he was drafted in April, Cisco said he felt like he was at “about 85%.” That should be a good sign for his status during the preseason and the early part of the season, and if he’s able to strap on the pads during fall camp, he will certainly compete with Wilson for a starting spot.

Jaguars sign 2021 third-round pick Andre Cisco

The Jags now have five of their 2021 rookie selections under contract.

Another member from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2021 draft class has put pen to paper. On Thursday the team announced that Andre Cisco had signed his rookie contract, making him their fifth draft selection to sign with Jalen Camp, Luke Farrell, Jordan Smith, and Jay Tufele also under contract.

Cisco, 21, was selected in the third round by the Jags (No. 65 overall) out of Syracuse. While with the Orange, Cisco started in 21 games and was able to accumulate 136 total tackles (94 solo), 29 pass breakups, and 13 picks. Unfortunately, he only played in two games last season due to tearing his ACL, but draft pundits felt he was on his way to becoming a selection who could go earlier than he did.

Cisco could push Jarrod Wilson for one of the Jags’ two safety spots and will be a player to watch especially when training camp rolls around. If he wins the competition, he’ll battle alongside free agent pickup Rayshawn Jenkins, who is looking like one of the leaders of the backfield so far in organized team activities.

With Cisco’s signing, the Jags only have their first and second-round picks (Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tyson Campbell, and Walker Little) left to sign.