New Jacksonville defensive lineman Arik Armstead was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Tuesday, making him eligible to practice with the Jaguars for the first time.
Jacksonville placed Armstead on the PUP list July 20, days before its first training camp practice, as he continued to recover from a February knee surgery. He did not participate in offseason training activities or minicamps during the spring.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson suggested Monday that Armstead would likely not be cleared from the injury, which he suffered last season with the 49ers, until next week.
San Francisco made Armstead a first-round NFL draft pick in 2015, under former 49ers and current Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke.
In nine seasons with the 49ers, Armstead recorded 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes. He added 38 tackles with six for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 12 playoff games.
Pederson expressed a lack of concern about Armstead’s status ahead of training camp, noting his vast experience and the benefit of Armstead mentoring young Jaguars defensive linemen as they filled his anticipated practice reps.
“He’s played a ton of football — [he is a] veteran player. I don’t have a lot of concern with it. I want to make sure guys like that,” Pederson said July 24. “We brought them here to help us, but at the same time we’ve got make sure they’re healthy before we put them on the field.
“He knows what it takes. I’ve seen him during OTAs, I’ve seen him even while he was here during our little three days with the rookies and just how he’s kind of another coach right now on the field until he gets ready to go. That’s invaluable — that’s gold out there on the field.”
The Jaguars return to the Miller Practice Facility Wednesday, for their first of two joint practice sessions with the Buccaneers this week. Jacksonville will host Tampa Bay for its second preseason game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Doug Pederson: New Jaguars DL Arik Armstead ‘close’ to activation
New Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead is nearing activation from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared Friday.
Armstead has yet to practice with the Jaguars since signing a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the club in March, after undergoing meniscus surgery in February, treating an injury suffered in his final season with San Francisco.
He has been observed performing rehabilitative work and monitoring defensive line individual drills throughout Jacksonville’s offseason and preseason practices thus far.
“Because [Armstead is] on PUP right now, obviously he can’t get through any walkthroughs or nothing like that with the team. But he’s continuing to work and getting close,” Pederson said.
Armstead missed the final five games of the regular season due to the hurt but returned to action for the 49ers’ playoff run, through San Francisco’s loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVIII.
Armstead was sidelined during Jacksonville’s offseason team activities and minicamp amid his recovery from the operation. He was placed on the Jaguars’ PUP list July 20.
Pressed about a timeline for Armstead’s clearance, Pederson wouldn’t offer specifics but again suggested the veteran defensive lineman is “close” to practicing.
“No, not necessarily. He’s getting close. Could be any day, could be next week, could be three weeks from now, could be the end of camp,” said Pederson. “But no, he’s getting closer.”
A first-round pick by the 49ers in 2015, who were run then by current Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke, Armstead has compiled 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes in his regular-season career.
Armstead has added 38 tackles with six for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 12 playoff games.
Jaguars CB Ronald Darby assured entering Year 10: ‘Been making plays’
Nine seasons, five stints on injured reserve, two anterior cruciate ligament tears, a dislocated ankle and probably more soft tissue lesions than he would like to recount later, Ronald Darby remains confident in his ability to lock down an opposing wide receiver.
“I’ve always been able to play,” Darby told Jaguars Wire. “My biggest thing was, you know, getting hurt.”
The Jaguars, who signed Darby in March, are his fifth team in the NFL and fourth since 2020, when he last played a full season.
But no matter the injury, the competition he faced or the scheme he had to learn — “I done played in almost all of them,” he said, “from the zone ones to the man ones to the Cover-0 ones” — Darby typically found a way to establish himself as one of the league’s better cover corners.
“As long as I’m able to run, move — you know, each year I learn and I just get better,” Darby expressed. “It’s like, I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
He has, and he’s right.
Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Ronald Darby (28) upends Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) during the second half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Per Pro Football Reference, Darby’s 44.2% coverage completion rate with Baltimore in 2023 was not only his career-best in seasons he played 10 or more games, it led all qualifying NFL coverage defenders.
Darby’s 2022 performance with Denver was even more dominant, albeit finite.
Over four-and-a-half games before tearing his ACL, Darby allowed just seven receptions over 18 targets (38.9%), per PFR. He gave up no more than 20 receiving yards in a single game.
Working back from a ruptured knee ligament proved easier the second time for Darby than the first.
Darby was a starter under Doug Pederson in Philadelphia in 2017, but a dislocated ankle in Week 1 cost him eight games. He returned and played very well during the Eagles’ stretch run to Super Bowl LII. In 2018, he didn’t appear in a game after Week 10 after suffering his first torn ACL. He played in Week 1 the next season, but strained his hamstring in Week 4 and his hip in Week 16.
He went unsigned in free agency until 10 months after his second ACL tear, when Baltimore coveted an experienced player after starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey endured a foot injury last August.
“To be honest, it wasn’t [a challenge] when I signed with Baltimore. I was, like, eight months out of my surgery,” Darby explained.
“But me going through my first one, I knew what I had to do for my second one, and I got on it early. I was doing two-a-days, like rehab, and I was doing a lot of running, so I knew how to come back from it a lot faster.”
Despite learning a new defense three weeks before the season, Darby logged 69 defensive snaps with the Ravens in Week 1, fifth-most on the team.
If not for a Week 18 illness, Darby would have appeared in every game last year. He took the field for 624 total snaps in 2023, his third-most in a regular season since 2018.
Darby fared particularly well against star wide receivers throughout the campaign.
Per Pro Football Focus, Darby held San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel to one catch for nine yards over two targets; Miami’s Tyreek Hill to two-of-four for 17 yards; Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins a combined two-of-five for 15 yards with two pass breakups; and Houston’s Nico Collins’ zero-of-two with a pass breakup in the playoffs after Collins went three-of-five for 46 yards against him in Week 1.
While he was limited to 48 of 67 possible appearances over the last four seasons, with three different teams in that span, Darby never allowed a year-long completion percentage higher than 54.3% (ranking No. 27 of 274 coverage defenders in 2021).
Some observers ding Darby for not intercepting a pass in that same stretch. However, his 32 defended passes since 2020 rank No. 28 among the 247 cornerbacks who have recorded at least one.
All but two players on the list in front of Darby have appeared in more games. Eight have appeared in at least 20 more.
Jacksonville managed to add Darby on a two-year contract with a $4.25 million average annual value. If he can remain healthy and perform as he has in recent years over a full season in 2024, the deal could end up a steal for the Jaguars.
“I just go out there and work,” said Darby. “You know, this [is] Year 10 for me. Like, I’ve been making plays. You don’t make it to Year 10 not being able to play. So I just go out there and do what I gotta do, like I do all the time.”
Pederson, now the Jaguars’ head coach, desired to reconnect with Darby this offseason as part of Jacksonville’s effort to strengthen its roster with established veterans; players who have been there, done that and can help the Jaguars battle through adversity to reach their goals.
This year, they entail a return to the postseason — and ideally a playoff run — after Jacksonville lost its grip on seeding in the AFC bracket in Week 18 of the 2023 campaign, following a 1-5 slide to end the season.
Darby is one of five free agents Jacksonville signed with at least six games worth of playoff experience, joined by center Mitch Morse (13), defensive lineman Arik Armstead (12), wide receiver Gabe Davis (seven) and safety Darnell Savage (seven) in that department.
“With Ronald, a veteran guy, he comes in here competing for that spot and just really embracing the opportunity. But at the same time, being able to lead because we got some young guys at the corner position,” Pederson detailed in June.
“Being able to I think show them how to practice, how to study, how to prepare, are all things that guys like that really bring to us.”
Darby is expected to start opposite freshly extended cornerback Tyson Campbell, with safeties Andre Cisco and Antonio Johnson returning and Savage expected to occupy the nickel cornerback position in Jacksonville’s revamped secondary.
July 25, 2024: Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby during Jacksonville’s 2024 training camp. [Credit: Zach Goodall – Jaguars Wire/USA TODAY SMG]Darby believes his experience and coverage savvy will benefit the Jaguars as they vie for a return to playoff contention.
And while he understands his influential role, Darby is convinced Jacksonville’s roster features plenty of similarly capable players.
“I know what it takes,” Darby said. “Like, I’ve been there. Even last year, [Baltimore] made it to the AFC Championship. I just know what it takes.
“You know what you gotta do throughout the year. You’ve got to stay focused and go out there and just compete, really. Just have fun and compete. We’ve got a lot of guys that like to compete, so it’s gonna be good.”
Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries ahead of training camp
The Jaguars enter their 2024 training camp with a relatively clean bill of health.
Only two players are on Jacksonville’s injured lists at this point in the offseason: Defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee) is on the active/physically unable to perform list; wide receiver David White Jr. (knee) is on injured reserve.
The Jaguars aren’t rushing Armstead, one of their prized free agent signings of the year, back onto the field as he continues to recover from surgery on a torn meniscus suffered last season with San Francisco, according to Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson.
“This guy, he’s played a ton of football, right?” said Pederson. “I wanna make sure guys like that — you know, we brought them here obviously to help us. But at the same time, we’ve got to make sure that they’re healthy before we put them on the field.”
Armstead missed five games due to the injury and returned to action below full health during the 49ers’ 2023-24 three-game playoff run, waiting to operate on the hurt until after the campaign.
In nine years with the 49ers, who picked him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Armstead tallied 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes. He added 38 tackles with six for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 12 playoff games, including two Super Bowl appearances.
“He knows what it takes. He’s a vet. I’ve seen him during OTAs, I’ve seen him even while he was here during our little three days with the rookies,” Pederson said.
“He’s kind of another coach right now on the field until he gets ready to go. That’s invaluable. That’s gold out there on the field. So I’m not concerned right now this early that he’s not out there. I just wanna make sure that when he is out there, that he’s a hundred percent.”
Pederson also shared that Jaguars’ rookie running back and return specialist, Keilan Robinson, suffered a sprained toe during Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp, forecasting the injury would limit the fifth-round draft pick to begin camp.
Yet Robinson participated in position and team drills without wearing a no-contact jersey during Wednesday’s practice, appearing unrestrained during the workout.
Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Steven Jones “tweaked” his calf during a pre-camp conditioning test on Tuesday, per Pederson. Jones was not observed during Wednesday’s practice.
While his injury wasn’t mentioned by Pederson, Jaguars free agent safety signee Darnell Savage sported a no-contract jersey while participating, including during team drills, in Wednesday’s practice.
Savage was similarly active while limited during Jacksonville’s offseason team activities and mandatory minicamp while continuing to recover from a rotator cuff injury suffered with Green Bay in Week 13 last season.
Savage inked a three-year, $21.8 million deal with the Jaguars after posting 302 tackles with nine for loss, one sack, nine interceptions, one pick-six, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles in five seasons with the Packers.
The Jaguars placed defensive lineman Arik Armstead on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list Saturday, the team announced.
The move casts doubt on Armstead’s ability to practice when Jacksonville’s training camp begins this week. The Jaguars can remove Armstead from the PUP list at any time, however.
Per Jaguars team reporter Kainani Stevens, Armstead continues to rehabilitate from surgery on a torn meniscus, an injury that sidelined the defensive lineman for five regular season games with San Francisco in 2023.
Armstead played through the hurt for three games during the postseason before operating on it in February.
In nine seasons with San Francisco, Armstead compiled 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes. He added 38 tackles with six for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 12 playoff games.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson stated his belief in June that Armstead and fellow experienced free agent signees will offer the team much-needed leadership as Jacksonville aspires to return to the postseason, after being eliminated from contention in Week 18 at 9-8 last year.
“Just the experience that he’s had, I think being on San Francisco and the success that they’ve had, bringing that experience to us and our young players. That leadership is going to be vital to the success that we have and having more of those guys on the roster only helps,” Pederson said.
“Once we get him out there on the grass working with the guys, I think you’re going to see an ultimate pro in the way approaches everything.”
Jacksonville’s veteran players will report for training camp on Wednesday, with rookies having checked in on Friday.
The Jaguars were active as ever this offseason, dishing out the two biggest contracts in team history by extending quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen, signing eight free agents and making one trade in March, and drafting nine rookies in April after moving down in the first round and collecting future picks.
Jacksonville’s aggressive approach to retooling its squad followed its second consecutive 9-8 campaign last year. But unlike the season before when the Jaguars made an AFC Divisional round appearance, they were eliminated from postseason action in Week 18, igniting their urgency to tweak their personnel.
However, Jacksonville’s efforts resulted in a C+ offseason grade from ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder, with coaching staff changes, free agency and trade additions and departures, draft picks and contract extensions factoring into his mark for every NFL team.
Walder’s report card rubric “focused on the choices each team made based on the situation it was in at the start of the offseason,” he wrote.
For example, he deemed Chicago’s expected No. 1 overall NFL draft selection of quarterback Caleb Williams in April less influential than the Bears trading for wide receiver Keenan Allen to support their anticipated rookie passer in March.
Beginning his analysis with Jacksonville’s staff shakeup, Walder questioned the team’s firing of defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and retention of offensive coordinator Press Taylor, suggesting he would have considered the opposite moves after the Jaguars ranked No. 26 in expected offensive points added and No. 14 in defensive EPA in 2023.
He didn’t comment on Jacksonville hiring former Atlanta defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to supplant Caldwell.
Walder called Lawrence’s extension the Jaguars’ “biggest move” of the offseason and expanded on the contracts he and Allen received between April and June.
The most significant moment in Jacksonville’s offseason came last week, though, when the team signed Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million contract with $142 million guaranteed at signing. Though the $55 million per year number ties Joe Burrow for the most expensive APY, Burrow’s deal was signed a year ago and therefore was more expensive.
Though big money, after adjusting for cap inflation Lawrence’s deal is not among the top 10 contracts in terms of APY over the past decade and is closer in line to Dak Prescott’s deal in 2021, according to historical contract data from OverTheCap. I’m a believer in Lawrence and think signing him now makes sense — the price will go up next year because of cap inflation but also because he’ll likely be coming off a better season.
The team also signed edge rusher Josh Allen to a five-year deal with $76.5 million fully guaranteed, averaging more than $28 million per year. I’m a little wary given that Allen has just one season with 11 sacks or more (17.5 last season) and his pass rush win rate is just average at 16%. I might have been tempted to let him play on the franchise tag in 2024 and see if he can repeat his performance.
Of the roster acquisitions Jacksonville made and the exits it allowed, Walder praised the Jaguars for trading down to take wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the draft and expressed distaste about the team releasing former starting cornerback Darious Williams.
Jacksonville picked up a 2024 fifth-round pick, which it used on running back Keilan Robinson, and 2025 third and fourth-rounders by exchanging the No. 17 overall selection with Minnesota for No. 23, where the Jaguars took Thomas, who posted 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final season at LSU.
Thomas is expected to replace Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville’s leading receiver in 2023, in the Jaguars’ offense. Ridley signed with AFC South rival Tennessee on a four-year, $92 million deal in free agency.
Williams was cut amid the Jaguars’ defensive scheme change under Nielsen, creating $11.5 million in salary cap space. Jacksonville signed veteran Ronald Darby on a two-year deal worth $4.25 million per season to replace Williams.
Walder also recognized Jacksonville’s signing of former San Francisco defensive lineman Arik Armstead as the team’s attempt to upgrade its rushing defense, and commended the Jaguars for bringing in former Buffalo center Mitch Morse and extending guard Ezra Cleveland on the opposite front, the offensive line.
On offense, the Jaguars lost a key player in wide receiver Calvin Ridley. While a blow, I don’t think I’d fault the Jaguars for not matching the high price. Instead, the team signed Gabe Davis and drafted Thomas to join Christian Kirk. The Thomas selection came after the team made a heist of a trade with the Vikings, moving down six spots in exchange for third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks across 2024 and 2025.
The Jaguars signed defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who is coming off knee surgery, to a deal that included $28 million fully guaranteed. They hope he can shore up their run defense, the weakness of their defense last season, and assist the pass rush. The team also got value in signing center Mitch Morse and re-signing guard Ezra Cleveland, but lost Williams, who is coming off a strong season in which he allowed a better-than-average 1.0 yards per coverage snap, to the Rams in free agency.
Do you agree with Walder’s analysis? Should Jacksonville have received a better or worse grade? Let us know your thoughts via social media at JaguarsWire on Facebook and @TheJaguarsWire on X (formerly known as Twitter).
SI: Jaguars among ‘least improved teams’ entering 2024
The Jaguars guaranteed a combined $188 million to veteran players this offseason by extending franchise edge rusher Josh Allen and signing eight free agents, before making nine selections in the 2024 NFL draft, most notably including wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round.
But, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, that might not have been enough to steer Jacksonville back toward postseason action in 2024.
The Jaguars were Breer’s choice as the least-improved team in the NFL this offseason, with fellow SI writers, Matt Verderame picking the Denver Broncos, Gilberto Manzano choosing the Minnesota Vikings and Conor Orr opting for the Dallas Cowboys.
“I was bullish on the Jags as a Super Bowl darkhorse last year, and that didn’t work out. And I think, on a few fronts, they spun their wheels this offseason preparing to open the vault for Trevor Lawrence,” Breer wrote.
“They swapped out Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones for Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis. They signed Darnell Savage, who Green Bay replaced with Xavier McKinney, to take Rayshawn Jenkins’s spot. I like Arik Armstead on the defensive line, and Mitch Morse and Ezra Cleveland on the offensive line, but I’m not sure, especially given the age of Armstead and Morse, how much those additions move the needle.
“What makes Jacksonville’s offseason worse is how aggressive the other teams in the AFC South were in building around their young quarterbacks. That, of course, all puts a little more on Lawrence to make up the difference. I think he’s capable of elevating to the next level. But it’s tough being in a position where you need that to happen.”
The Jaguars finished with a 9-8 record for the second consecutive campaign in 2023. But unlike Jacksonville’s exciting run to the AFC Divisional Round the year before, they were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 18 last season, making this offseason critical as the team hopes to maximize the value of Lawrence’s rookie contract before his anticipated extension.
Accordingly, Jacksonville prioritized acquiring seasoned veterans like Armstead, Morse, Davis and Savage, along with cornerback Ronald Darby and wide receiver/return specialist Devin Duvernay on deals lasting no longer than three years. Each player should occupy a starting role with the Jaguars in 2024, at least.
After taking Thomas on Day 1, the Jaguars picked defensive lineman Maason Smith, cornerback Jarrian Jones, offensive tackle Javon Foster, nose tackle Jordan Jefferson, cornerback Deantre Prince, running back/return specialist Keilan Robinson, kicker Cam Little and edge rusher Myles Cole between the second and seventh rounds of the NFL draft in April.
Do you believe Jacksonville did enough to improve its roster this offseason? Let us know your thoughts via social media at JaguarsWire on Facebook and @TheJaguarsWire on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Pederson: Jaguars veteran trio should be cleared for training camp
Jacksonville wide receiver Gabe Davis and defensive linemen, Arik Armstead and Roy Robertson-Harris, should be cleared from injuries that have impacted their offseasons for Jaguars’ training camp in July, head coach Doug Pederson said Monday.
The trio of veterans have been limited or sidelined throughout Jacksonville’s voluntary offseason team activities (OTAs) this summer.
Pederson updated their statuses after confirming undrafted rookie wide receiver David White Jr.’s torn ACL, suffered last week.
“David is the only significant [injury]. The other guys should be cleared and ready to go for training camp,” Pederson said.
Davis, who signed with Jacksonville via free agency in March, continues to nurse a knee sprain suffered at the end of his fourth season with Buffalo, earlier this year. In front of reporters, Davis has been limited to individual drills during OTAs.
Over four seasons with the Bills, Davis caught 163 passes for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Armstead and Robertson-Harris have each worked to the side of the field during OTAs, witnessed riding stationary bikes and observing their position groups throughout drills while recovering from injuries. Armstead played through a meniscus injury at the end of the 2023 season that continues to limit him; Robertson-Harris has been seen wearing a boot on his right foot.
Armstead, also a 2024 free agent signee with Jacksonville, spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with San Francisco. He accumulated 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes with the 49ers.
Robertson-Harris, a three-year Jaguar and seven-year pro, has tallied 191 tackles including 23 for loss, 17 sacks and 13 defended passes in his career.
Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries entering OTA Week 2
The Jaguars are being cautious with several veteran players during their offseason team activities (OTAs), keeping a handful of contributors limited or on the sidelines during the voluntary workouts of the offseason’s third phase.
Of note, free agent wide receiver signee Gabe Davis continues to be limited by a knee injury suffered in January at the end of his stint with Buffalo. He missed the first two days of OTAs following the birth of his child, too.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson noted Tuesday that Davis has progressed over the last week but that he will remain out of team drills to prevent any setbacks.
“We’re gonna go slow with him. He worked in last week. He’s going to work in some more today,” Pederson said. “Just kind of keeping them out of the team stuff at this juncture. Just don’t want to get tangled up or something to happen out there.
“But a lot of the individual stuff, you know, he’s getting a lot of work with [quarterback] Trevor [Lawrence] right now, which is good.”
Before the team’s fourth OTA workout Tuesday, Pederson shared that new Jacksonville defensive lineman Arik Armstead and third-year Jaguars lineman Roy Robertson-Harris would be non-participants in drills with undisclosed hurts, instead working with rehabilitative staff to the side of the field.
Inside linebacker Foye Oluokun remained in an orange no-contact jersey while performing in positional drills. Per Pederson, Oluokun has been nursing a wrist injury this offseason.
“They’re working off to the side. Just don’t want any setbacks, it’s early,” Pederson said. These are veteran guys that know how to play, know how to work”
Running back Travis Etienne and left tackle Cam Robinson were absent from the workout, the former for undisclosed reasons and the latter due to travel following the birth of his child, according to Pederson.
‘One-on-one game’: Jaguars’ Ryan Nielsen on Josh Allen, matchups
Of Josh Allen’s 869 snaps along the Jaguars’ defensive front in 2023, 797 (91.7%, per Pro Football Focus) were logged on the right side of the line, against the left side of the opposing offensive line.
While Allen reached a single-season career-high 17.5 sacks last season and, as a result, received the biggest contract extension in Jaguars’ history in April, his positional snap-split should be expected to change moving forward.
New Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said as much Monday, discussing the versatility his scheme will demand of players with reporters before Jacksonville’s first offseason team activity (OTA).
“We don’t want [Allen] just to be on the right side and they know he’s right here all the time and they can chip or put a tight end to his side and take what he does away,” Nielsen explained when asked about Allen’s deployment.
“Then we’ve got to beat two guys to get to the quarterback. So if we move him, it makes him a little bit harder for an offense to find out and identify where he’s at every snap.”
Nielsen’s comment about Allen represents his big-picture approach to coordinating Jacksonville’s defense.
The 45-year-old, first-year Jaguars play-caller spoke about the importance of avoiding placing players in “pigeonholes,” instead allowing them to test multiple positions within his defensive scheme throughout the offseason, specifically during OTAs.
The thought process applies across the board, whether that’s edge rushers flipping sides or sliding into the interior defensive line; off-ball linebackers rotating between the middle, weak-side and strong-side spots; or defensive backs aligning at nickel corner in addition to cornerback or safety duties.
“We’re going to put them at these different positions in OTAs because it’s a great opportunity to see what guys can do,” Nielsen said. “Then as we see their job and if they can do certain jobs [and] then we’ll start to fine-tune a package more for their skill set.”
This isn’t a new practice for the rising second-season NFL defensive coordinator. Nielsen followed the same philosophy throughout his pro-play-calling debut campaign with Atlanta in 2023.
Of the Falcons’ 11 most-frequently deployed defenders under Nielsen last year, four spent at least 25% of their defensive snaps away from what could be considered their primary position, per PFF: Defensive tackle David Onyemata, inside linebacker Kaden Elliss, and safeties Jessie Bates III and Richie Grant.
Accounting for field-side (snaps at left vs. right inside linebacker, for example), all 11 defenders would qualify.
The Jaguars retooled their defense this offseason in addition to their change at coordinator.
The club allowed several starters and key contributors to leave via free agency or release before adding veterans in defensive lineman Arik Armstead, Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage to the unit in March.
Draft prospects, defensive linemen Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson, cornerbacks Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince, and EDGE Myles Cole, followed in April.
Paired with Allen, former first overall EDGE Travon Walker, linebacker and two-time NFL leading tackler Foyesade Oluokun, and vested starting defensive backs Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco, among others, these players will occupy various roles in the months to come as Nielsen determines optimal personnel packages for the Jaguars’ defense.
“It’s a matchup game, right?” Nielsen pondered. “We want to have the best matchups for our guys to have success. So, we’ll manipulate the front, covers, and things that we’re doing to put our guys in the best matchups for them and then ultimately play our best defense and win games.
