Ahead of Jacksonville’s matchup with Miami on Sunday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson noted that defensive newcomer Arik Armstead is all systems go despite the long-term recovery from surgery on a meniscus injury that he suffered in the second half of last season.
Pederson anticipates Armstead will play Sunday with no limitations or snap count, allowing the 30-year-old to showcase what he means to the new-look Jaguars defense. While listed as the starting defensive tackle on the depth chart, Armstead is expected to play all over the defensive front.
“With Arik, we’ll see how the week goes with practice and how he feels,” Pederson said Wednesday. “He shouldn’t be limited in any way.”
Leaving the 49ers after nine seasons, Armstead landed in Jacksonville on a three-year deal worth $43.5 million in March.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Armstead spent much of the offseason sidelined after his knee surgery in February, which he underwent after missing five regular season games and playing in the postseason, but was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Aug. 13.
Starting in 21 games over the last two seasons, Armstead is out to prove he has gas left in the tank in new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme. Over that span, Armstead accumulated 38 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and 17 quarterback hits for the Niners.
A veteran presence, the Jaguars’ coaching staff isn’t concerned with how Armstead will fit in the defense despite his time on the sideline over the last few months.
Bringing in veterans with playoff backgrounds was a priority for the Jaguars in free agency, and they hoped that the additional experience paired with talented young players could take them to the top of the AFC South.
“I think … all of our free agents that we brought, one, they’ve added the value and the competition that we were looking for at their positions, and also some leadership. Veteran players that have played a lot of football, they’ve been on winning teams,” Pederson said Monday.
“Obviously, Arik, he’s been to a couple Super Bowls, and he knows how that is and [cornerback Ronald] Darby the same way. I look at [center] Mitch [Morse] and [wide receiver] Gabe [Davis] and all the guys too, offensively, that have been to the top in the AFC. It’s just their leadership, I think, and the value that they bring there, not only with their skill set and what they can provide offensively and defensively.”
Lining up against a high-powered offense in Miami, the Jaguars should have their hands full with Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, resulting in a Week 1 litmus test.