Category: Practice Squad

Report: Jags to sign veteran RB Duke Johnson to their practice squad

The Jags lost Travis Etienne this preseason due to a foot injury and it left a void to be filled at the RB position. With six days left before their season opener, they’ve decided to add a veteran with similar abilities.

The Jacksonville Jaguars only named three running backs to their initial 53-man roster, so many fans came into this week expecting a signing at the position. On Monday, the team did just that by bringing in veteran running back Duke Johnson, who is signing with them as a practice squad player, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Johnson, 27, is a Florida native who went to high school in Miami, Fla. (Miami Norland Senior High School) and attended The University of Miami (Fla.). He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and spent four seasons with them (2015-18). Afterward, he joined the Houston Texans from 2019-20 and will enter his career with the Jags with 459 carries for 1,931 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also has 307 career receptions for 2,829 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.

The Jags lost Travis Etienne for the season as he sustained a Lisfranc injury in their second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. He was a player the Jags invested a first-round pick in this April and they clearly had plans for him to help out in the receiving game. That’s an area where Johnson thrives and it’s not shocking to see that Urban Meyer wanted his speed on the roster.

Starting Johnson off on the Jags’ practice squad will give the veteran time to get acclimated in terms of conditioning and the playbook. Once he’s clear on that end, it probably won’t take long for the Jags to start making him active on game days.

Jaguars add specialist to complete practice squad

The Jags completed their practice squad by adding the specialist who has bounced around throughout his career.

Jacksonville added the final piece to its practice squad on Thursday, as specialist Kaare Vedvik signed with the team. Vedvik, originally from Norway, played college football at Marshall and started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. He has since bounced around the league and has one career appearance.

That came in a 2019 game for the New York Jets, in which he missed an extra point attempt and a 45-yard field goal. Vedvik spent the 2020 season with Buffalo, Carolina, and Washington.

Though Jacksonville has one of the best specialist groups in the NFL with Josh Lambo and Logan Cooke, Vedvik is capable of playing both kicker and punter, giving him some versatility as a practice squad option.

The Jags have already signed a number of preseason contributors to the practice squad, including receivers Phillip Dorsett II and Laquon Treadwell. With the addition of Vedvik, the practice squad is now full and Jacksonville will not be able to add more players unless it releases someone or a player is signed to an active roster.

Jags sign QB Kyle Lauletta, TE Matt Sokol to their practice squad

The Jags have added two more players to their practice squad, including a new QB.

Many fans were hoping that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be able to stash quarterback Jake Luton on their practice squad this week, but that was not the case. Instead, the second-year signal-caller was signed by the Seattle Seahawks after the Jags waived him Tuesday, eliminating a potential reunion if that’s what the team had in mind.

With the need for a No. 3 quarterback, the Jags turned to a familiar face from the preseason in Kyle Lauletta. He’ll be joining the Jags’ practice squad after playing them Week 3 of the preseason with the Cleveland Browns.

Lauletta, 26, was drafted by the New York Giants out of Richmond in the fourth round in 2018. While there, he participated in two games and took 19 offensive snaps (the only regular season snaps of his career). He was 0-of-5 in terms of his completion rate and all five passes were attempted against the Washington Football Team on Dec. 9 of his rookie season.

Lauletta also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and, of course, the Browns. All of those stints were as an offseason player (Falcons and Browns) or on their practice squads (Falcons and Eagles). When he took the field against the Jags last month, he was 19-of-27 for 212 yards and two touchdowns.

Also joining the Jags practice squad will be tight end, Matt Sokol. He previously spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers and was waived two days ago. He had been with them since last season (and in 2019, too) and participated in two games with them. He wasn’t able to register a catch in any of those games.

Sokol once was on the Jags’ practice squad in 2019. He’s also been with the Detroit Lions as an offseason player and practice squad player.

With both Lauletta and Sokol joining the Jags’ practice squad, they are now at 15 players. That leaves one available slot on the unit.

Jags call on help from practice squad for season finale, place Collin Johnson on IR

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a few transactions Saturday afternoon by elevating offensive lineman Tre’vour Wallace-Simms off the practice squad and signing receiver Terry Godwin from the unit. The Jags also placed rookie receiver Collin Johnson on …

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a few transactions Saturday afternoon by elevating offensive lineman Tre’vour Wallace-Simms off the practice squad and signing receiver Terry Godwin from the unit.

The Jags also placed rookie receiver Collin Johnson on injured reserve.

The decision to place Johnson on IR comes after he missed the Jags’ last game against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury he sustained Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens. He was ruled out on the final injury report Friday, which is why it was pretty much a given that they would end his season and call on help from the practice squad.

As for Godwin, Sunday will mark the third game he’s taken part in this season as he suited up against Green Bay and Pittsburgh. He’ll enter Sunday’s game with nine offensive snaps and 10 special teams snaps to his name this season.

As for Wallace-Simms, Sunday will mark his fourth game of the season as he participated in the Jags’ games against Tennessee, Baltimore, and Chicago. He has yet to take the field for any offensive snaps, but has taken eight special teams snaps.

Jaguars make several transactions before Week 16’s game against the Bears

The Jags decided to bolster their numbers at running back and other positions before taking on the Bears Sunday.

With running back James Robinson set to miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to bolster their numbers at running back Saturday. They activated both Craig Reynolds and fullback Bruce Miller through standard practice squad elevation.

The Jags also signed cornerback Quenton Meeks to the active roster off their practice squad and elevated offensive lineman Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms via COVID-19 replacement. Both were promoted to the active roster last week, too.

Sunday will mark Reynolds’ second game as a Jag after he participated in Week 12’s game against the Cleveland Browns. He took the field for five special teams snaps in the process.

Miller has already participated in seven games this season and started in four with the Jags. He’ll enter Week 16 with one reception for two yards.

Meeks will be taking the field for the third time this season in a Jags uniform.  He re-joined the team three weeks ago (went undrafted to them in 2018) when they signed him to their practice squad (Dec. 7). After taking the field Weeks 14-15, he’ll enter the week looking to register his first statistics though he has registered 12 special teams snaps with the Jags this season.

As for Wallace-Simms, Sunday will mark his third game, too. He took part in the Jags’ last two games and registered five snaps in the process.

Jags make roster transactions on defense in preparation for Texans

the Jags elevated a few practice squad players from defense before their Week 9 game against the Houston Texans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made several roster transactions on defense by elevating multiple players from their practice squad for Week 9’s game against the Houston Texans. They utilized their two standard elevation spots to bring up linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and cornerback Josh Nurse.

The Jags also promoted safety Doug Middleton to the active roster and placed rookie linebacker Shaquille Quarterman (knee) ​on injured reserve.

Giles-Harris joined the Jags last season as an undrafted free agent out of Duke. He participated in five games in 2019 as a rookie and was able to garner three tackles on the season. Giles-Harris’ promotion not only comes after Quarterman was sent to injured reserve, but also after linebacker Dakota Allen (ankle) was ruled out Friday on the final injury report.

Nurse’s elevation could be due to Sidney Jones’ situation. While he wasn’t on the final injury report, he was limited all week with a rib injury. If the injury hinders him, it appears Nurse will be on standby to provide depth at cornerback.

Middleton’s elevation comes after the Jags had two safeties surface o the injury report in starter Jarrod Wilson and Brandon Watson. Wilson was limited all week with a hamstring injury although he wasn’t listed on the final report while Watson was limited on Thursday and full on Friday with the same type of injury.

Lastly, Quarterman was healthy all week but surfaced on the final injury report. He didn’t participate in Friday’s practice as a result and it appears the staff believes he’ll need some time to recover.

Jaguars elevate 2 from practice squad, activate RB Devine Ozigbo

Jags RB Devine Ozigbo has finally been activated and will get to take the field Week 7 against the Chargers.

As they typically have this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a few Saturday roster transactions to add some final touches to their team for Week 7’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

They announced that they used two standard elevation spots from their practice squad to temporarily promote safety Doug Middleton and tight end Eric Saubert to the active roster. The transactions come after the Jags ruled veteran safety Jarrod Wilson (hamstring) and tight end Tyler Eifert (neck) out on Friday’s injury report.

Sunday’s game won’t be the first time Middleton has been activated for the Jags this season. They also had to activate him for Week 4’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The team released him after the game and picked him back up on practice squad the following Monday.

Middleton has also spent time with the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans and will enter Week 7 with four starts and 35 tackles.

Saubert joined the Jags’ practice squad in September. He was a fifth-round pick for the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and also spent time with the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears. He’ll enter Sunday’s game with seven receptions for 69 receiving yards.

The Jags also activated running back Devine Ozigbo after he was designated to return from injured reserve a week ago. He was placed on the Jags injured reserve list before Week 1’s game with a hamstring injury. Ozigbo was expected to share the workload with James Robinson this season after a solid training camp performance and will now get a chance to be worked into the offensive mix.

To make room for Ozigbo’s transaction, the Jags placed veteran running back Chris Thompson on their Reserve/ COVID-19 list. He was mostly used for third-down situations and left the active roster with 16 receptions for 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. As a rusher, he was also able to garner five carries for 17 yards, but has yet to get his first rushing touchdown with the team.

Jags elevate DE Jabaal Sheard for Week 6 game vs. Lions

The Jags have decided to elevate some veteran help on the edge of their defensive line as Josh Allen was ruled questionable Week 6.

The Jacksonville Jaguars utilized a standard elevation from their practice squad to promote defensive end Jabaal Sheard to their active roster. As a result, the veteran will be available to take the field Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

The decision comes after starting defensive end Josh Allen was ruled questionable on Week 6’s final injury report and was a non-participant in Friday’s practice.

Sheard signed with the Jags on Oct. 12 after working out for the team on Oct. 6. Prior to this year, the Hollywood, Florida native played for the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Browns, for four seasons before joining the New England Patriots (2015-16) and Indianapolis Colts (2017-19).

Sheard will be entering his tenth season when he takes the field Sunday. During his time with the Browns, Colts and Patriots, he was able to garner 103 career starts, 387 total tackles, and 51.5 sacks.

If Allen can’t go, Sunday’s game will mark the second consecutive matchup he’s missed with a knee injury.  That said, it appears the Jags wanted a veteran like Sheard to help alleviate the pressure off K’Lavon Chaisson, who is trying to find his way as a rookie this season.

Patriots snag Carl Davis from Jags’ practice squad

The Jags’ practice squad got smaller Wednesday as the Patriots plucked Carl Davis from the unit.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad got a tad smaller Wednesday after the New England Patriots were able to snag defensive tackle Carl Davis from their practice squad. The move comes after the Jags cut Davis earlier in the week to place him on practice squad Tuesday, however, that was short lived.

Davis, 28, was drafted in the third-round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Iowa by the Baltimore Ravens and spent three seasons there. He was released by the team in September of 2018 and claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. After his tenure in Cleveland, he spent time with both the Jags and Indianapolis Colts in 2019.

Over the span of his career Davis has participated in 36 games while starting in 12. He’ll enter his career as a Patriot with 32 combined tackles and a half of a sack.

Davis’ departure puts the Jags at 15 practice squad players at the moment. With one spot remaining, the Jags will undoubtedly look to fill it before their next game on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Jags promote K Jon Brown from practice squad with several other moves

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a pretty active Monday as far as transactions go, including some promotions from their practice squad. With the team’s kicking game struggling Week 5 against the Houston Texans, Doug Marrone made a change at the …

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a pretty active Monday as far as transactions go, including some promotions from their practice squad. With the team’s kicking game struggling Week 5 against the Houston Texans, Doug Marrone made a change at the placekicker position by releasing Stephen Hauschka.

Taking his place recent practice squad addition Jon Brown, who previously spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.

The decision comes after Hauschka had a rough first game as a Jaguar against Houston. He missed two field goals late in the first half, one of which was wide left (24-yarder) and one of which was short (49-yard attempt).

With the Jags’ initial starting kicker, Josh Lambo, eligible to return from injured reserve many were hoping to see him back this week. Unfortunately, coach Doug Marrone revealed that he’s not quite able to return from the right hip injury he sustained before the Jags’ prime-time game against the Miami Dolphins.

Brown, who went undrafted in 2016, will be participating in his first regular season game Sunday when the Jags take on the Detroit Lions. He initially attended Kentucky where he played soccer before transferring to Louisville.

The Jags also released defensive lineman Carl Davis and signed another defensive lineman in his place, Caraun Reid, who was called up from the Jags’ practice squad Saturday to occupy one of their two additional game-day roster spots. The seventh-year player took the field for eight snaps Sunday against Houston, and despite not registering any stats, he did enough for the Jags to officially want him on the active roster.

The veteran has participated in 48 games throughout his career and has registered 16 starts. Reid will continue his career with the Jags with 50 total career tackles and 3.5 sacks to his name.