Tag: Brandon Linder

HC Doug Pederson discusses what OL Tyler Shatley brings to the Jaguars starting lineup

Jaguars center Tyler Shatley now sits in the driver seat for the starting job after Brandon Linder announced his retirement on Monday.

Minutes after Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson finished speaking with reporters at the annual NFL owners meeting, the team’s longest -tenured player, Brandon Linder, elected to retire. The longtime starting center announced the decision via his Instagram after being drafted by the Jags in 2014 and spending his whole career with the franchise.

Without Linder, the Jaguars will turn to backup center Tyler Shatley to take his place. He currently sits in the driver’s seat to start because Jacksonville re-signed him on a two-year deal this offseason.

Head coach Doug Pederson met with reporters to discuss the team’s plan at center following Linder’s retirement and what Shatley brings to the table.

Shatley also joined the Jaguars at the same time as Linder but Shatley came as an undrafted free agent. He’s appeared in 111 games while making 33 starts during his career.

“Tyler is a smart guy, and (he) can make all of the decisions and all the calls,” Pederson said, according to Pro Football Network’s Mike Kaye. “And that’s where it starts. It takes a lot of pressure off your second-year quarterback to be able to handle all of that communication.”

The center position was critical to Pederson’s success in Philadelphia. He relied heavily on All-Pro center Jason Kelce to make protection calls while also making key blocks in the Eagles’ screen game.

“It’s a key component to what we do,” he said. “And the (offense) really starts from the center out.”

Pederson clearly values intelligence at the center position and believes Shatley possesses that. However, the Jaguars also hold 12 picks in next month’s draft and could use one on a center to compete with Shatley.

Jaguars center Brandon Linder announces retirement

One of the Jags’ longest-tenured players, Brandon Linder, is hanging up his cleats after eight seasons.

One of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ longest-tenured players is hanging up his cleats. That player is center Brandon Linder, who has been on the roster for eight seasons, which is tied for the most time on the roster alongside the player who backs him up, Tyler Shatley.

The news about Linder contemplating retirement broke over a week ago. That news came after he and general manager Trent Baalke met on March 16, which is when the new league year started. According to the Associated Press, Baalke planned to tell Linder that the team was releasing him to help save some cap space, but the organization decided to give Linder time to think about his decision to retire.

Linder was drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft in the third round out of Miami by former Jags general manager Dave Caldwell. He played in 88 games for the Jags (all of which are starts) but has missed over 40 in his entire career. Those injuries range from injuries to his knees, shoulder, ankle, and back.

Linder’s decision will make him a lifelong Jaguar upon his retirement unless he returns to the NFL with another team.

As for the Jags’ plans heading forward, they re-signed Shatley to a two-year deal worth $8.4 million last month. He’s started in 33 games while appearing in 111 throughout his whole tenure. Of course, some of those starts came at center in Linder’s place as well as guard, too.

The Jags could also look to the draft for help along the interior offensive line. There are options like Dylan Parham, Cole Strange, Zion Johnson, Dohnovan West, and Luke Fortner who the Jags could look at, to name a few.

REPORT: Jaguars center Brandon Linder contemplating retirement

Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder is mulling retirement, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Many thought Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder would be the next cap casualty for the franchise after their decision to release linebacker Myles Jack to create $8 million in cap space. If Jacksonville elected to release Linder, the team would save $9.53 million. However, the Associated Press’ Mark Long reported that Linder is mulling retirement after eight injury-filled seasons.

They reported that Linder and general manager Trent Baalke met on Wednesday when the Jaguars originally planned to tell him in person that they are releasing him. But Baalke agreed to give Linder time to decide whether he wants to retire or play elsewhere, according to their anonymous source.

Linder has played and started in 88 games since Jacksonville drafted him from Miami in the third round in 2014, but he has also missed 41 games due to various injuries and 22 the past two seasons.

There is no doubt that Linder would find a landing spot elsewhere if he wants to keep playing in the NFL.

Jacksonville already has a contingency plan in place once Linder makes a decision. It re-signed backup center Tyler Shatley to a two-year, $4.8 million contract last month. The move to bring him back was an attempt to bolster the offensive line unit that allowed second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence to be sacked 32 times in 2021.

Shatley, who has been with the Jags since 2014, can play both guard and center for the team. In 2021, he registered eight starts in Linder’s place after the veteran center sustained an ankle and MCL injury Week 5 against Tennessee. Shatley finished the season with a Pro Football Focus grade of 60.7 after taking 532 total offensive snaps. His versatility gives them options heading forward in terms of what the team could add to the interior of the offensive line in free agency or the draft.

Poll: Should the Jaguars retain Brandon Linder?

The Jags are set to owe Linder $10 million in 2022, per Spotrac. When considering his injury history, could they look to shed that salary this offseason?

As the Jacksonville Jaguars enter the 2022 offseason, they’re set to have among the most cap space in the league to spend once again. Per Spotrac, the Jaguars are slated to have the fourth-most cap space in the league with the projection sitting at just over $61 million.

While that gives the team a lot of options in free agency, it may look to shed more money. After all, this is shaping up to be a transitional offseason with a new head coach and possibly a new general manager at the helm. As a result, the Jags could reexamine some of their pricier contracts on the books, and that could lead to tough questions involving some of the team’s veterans, such as Brandon Linder.

The center has been a franchise centerpiece for nearly the last decade. A third-round pick out of Miami in 2014, he has started all 88 games he’s appeared in over the last eight seasons. He’s under contract through 2022 on a five-year, $51.7 million extension which made him the highest-paid center in the league when he signed it in 2017.

At one point, he was living up to that contract. But after an injury-plagued season in 2021 in which he missed eight games, it may be time to reconsider. The final year of his deal is set to be one of the most expensive with a projected cap hit of $10 million.

Injuries have been a recurring theme throughout his career, as he’s missed 41 games since entering the league. His play has also dropped off a bit. Once among the NFL’s best centers, he graded just 25th out of 38 centers for the 2021 season, per Pro Football Focus.

Moving on from Linder with one year left on his deal would leave the Jags with yet another important position to address this offseason, but they could almost certainly find a cheaper option who, at the very least, would be able to stay on the field. If that’s the route the team wishes to go down, its choices regarding Linder could be limited.

Given the eight-figure salary in 2022 and his injury history, Jacksonville would probably be hard-pressed to find a trade suitor for him. Realistically, if it wanted to save that cap space this offseason, it would likely need to cut him.

He’s one of several players that could become a cap casualty this offseason, but with that being said, the Jaguars aren’t exactly pinching pennies and could afford to keep him around if they wanted to.

Should the Jags keep Linder for the final year of his contract and reevaluate next offseason when he becomes a free agent? Or should they make a move now and release him to give the team more to spend? Let us know in the poll below.

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Jaguars Week 16 final injury report: Center Brandon Linder ruled questionable vs. Jets

Jags center Brandon Linder was a late addition to the injury report due to a quad injury and has been ruled questionable against the Jets.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their injury report Friday for Week 16’s game against the New York Jets and only two players surfaced in the status column. Those two players were center Brandon Linder (quad) and defensive end/ outside linebacker Lerentee McCray (ankle).

Linder wasn’t initially on the injury report, but surfaced on it Friday and didn’t practice. If he can’t play Sunday, the Jags will insert Tyler Shatley into the game in his place as he’s started in six games already this season.

As for McCray, he was limited Friday, which means there is a chance that he will suit up Sunday.

On the Jets’ end, they ruled five players questionable. Among those players were linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins. Receiver Jamison Crowder was ruled doubtful, while safety Elijah Riley was ruled OUT.

Urban Meyer says Brandon Linder not expected to play against Tennessee

Linder left Sunday’s game with a back injury, and the Jags don’t expect him to play against Tennessee on Sunday.

If Jacksonville is going to win its first game over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville since 2013 on Sunday, it will have to do it without its best player on the offensive line. According to ESPN’s Mike DiRocco, center Brandon Linder is not expected to play after not practicing the last two days. Linder suffered a back injury in last weekend’s 37-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and he didn’t return to that game.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Linder, who spent much of the season on the injured reserve after suffering an ankle and MCL injury in the first game against the Titans, a 37-19 loss for the Jaguars. That was in Week 5, and Linder just made his return two weeks ago in the loss to the Falcons. Without Linder available, Tyler Shatley is set to make his sixth start of the season at center.

Meyer said that the team is expecting to get everyone else back, which means right guard Ben Bartch, who had to exit the game against Los Angeles, will be back in addition to cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who missed the last two games with a concussion. Fellow cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Nevin Lawson, who were both shaken up at different points in Sunday’s game (with Campbell having to leave the field), are expected to play, as well. Campbell has been a limited participant in practice the last two days, but Lawson was a full participant on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday.

This Jaguars team has a lot of weaknesses among the starting group, so it has very little depth to speak of. Having these players back is a huge bonus, even though Linder’s absence will make things difficult for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense.

Jaguars Week 14 injury report: Shaquill Griffin fully participates in Wednesday’s practice

Shaquill Griffin was a full participant in practice for the first time since sustaining a concussion weeks ago against 49ers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ injury report for Wednesday included 12 players, but the good news was that cornerback Shaquill Griffin (concussion) was a full participant. In fact, he was the lone full participant of the whole group.

The veteran is now back on track to return to the field after sustaining a concussion against the San Francisco 49ers a few weeks ago. His change in status came as he was limited last Friday (despite being ruled out against the Los Angeles Rams), but missed the Jags’ last two contests.

However, the Jags had two of their other two top corners on the injury report with Griffin in Nevin Lawson (foot) and Tyson Campbell (groin) after both temporarily exited Sunday’s game before returning. The good news is that both were limited, though, and could see an upgrade in status over the next two days.

The other notables who were limited alongside Campbell and Lawson were guard Ben Bartch (back) and running back James Robinson (heel/knee). Robinson was expected to be on the injury report as he’s been battling his injuries dating back to when the Jags played Seattle. Bartch also isn’t a surprise addition after he exited Sunday’s game against the Rams early with his injury, but Urban Meyer did say he should eventually be fine for Week 14. With him not returning to the game, the Jags inserted Will Richardson into the contest to take the snaps that remained.

Among the players who didn’t practice on defense were notables like edge-rusher Josh Allen (shoulder), linebacker Myles Jack (knee), and defensive lineman Malcom Brown (toe). Allen is a new addition, while Jack and Brown were previously on the injury report and still played Sunday.

On offense, receiver Marvin Jones (rest), Andrew Norwell (rest), and Brandon Linder (back) were the notables who sat out of Wednesday’s practice. Of course, Norwell and Jones will return soon, but Linder will be the player worth watching (Meyer says he’s day-to-day) as he exited Sunday’s game a little before half-time with Tyler Shatley taking his place along the way.

As for the Tennessee Titans, their injury report included notables like cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins (ankle), outside linebacker Harold Landry III (hamstring), defensive lineman Denico Autry (knee), and linebacker Rashaan Evans (ankle). To get more on their situations, Titans Wire has the latest.

Jaguars center Brandon Linder questionable to return against Rams

Linder suffered a back injury in the first half against Los Angeles.

Just after getting back to full strength along the offensive line, the Jacksonville Jaguars are already forced to return to their depth. Center Brandon Linder exited Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams with a back injury wound the half-time period, and he is listed as questionable to return for the second half, per the Jaguars PR Twitter account.

Linder just made his return from the injured reserve in last week’s loss to Atlanta after he suffered ankle and MCL injuries in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. With Linder out, Tyler Shatley will be called on to take his reps in the meantime.

This is a Jaguars offense that really can’t afford any more injuries, and it’s struggling mightily against the Rams, notching just seven points in the first four quarters. It’s already down one starter on the offensive line from the beginning of the season in A.J. Cann, and the Jags have lost two of their top receivers with running back James Robinson also being limited by injuries.

This team needs Linder back in the lineup down the stretch if it has any hope of salvaging things offensively in Trevor Lawrence’s rookie season.

Jacksonville’s highest graded players in Week 12, per Pro Football Focus

Here were the top-performing Jaguars players in Week 12, according to PFF.

Jacksonville is back in the loss column for the third-straight game after falling short in its comeback bid against the Atlanta Falcons. The Jaguars trailed 21-3 at one point, but 11 unanswered points cut that deficit to just seven. However, the Jags couldn’t get it done on their final drive, turning it over on downs to fall to 2-9 on the season.

It was another frustrating game, and injuries continue to prove costly for this team on both sides of the ball. But with that being said, a few players had very good games against Atlanta, with one in particular grading very highly according to Pro Football Focus.

Here were Jacksonville’s top five players in the loss to the Falcons, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jags activate O’Shaughnessy, Linder from IR, also elevates Brown from practice squad

The Jags are bringing back two of their most experienced offensive players from IR before taking on the Falcons.

Earlier this week, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer told the media that the team had plans to activate veteran tight end James O’Shaughnessy and center Brandon Linder from the injured reserve, and on Saturday, those plans came into fruition. The Jags announced that both veterans were officially placed back on the active roster, putting them both in position to take the field against the Atlanta Falcons.

O’Shaughnessy had been on injured reserve since the Jags’ Week 2 game against the Denver Broncos with an ankle injury. The injury was one that occurred early in the game and only allowed O’Shaughnessy to see the field for three snaps. As a result, the Jags were temporarily without their top pass-catching tight end, but have picked up notables Jacob Hollister and Dan Arnold since.

As for Linder, he sustained an MCL and ankle injury Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans on a goal-line rushing attempt. As a result, he was carted off the field and his injury left the Jags without a top-8 center in the league.

With Linder back, it could help the Jags struggling offense and Trevor Lawrence tremendously, while O’Shaughnessy could give the team a better option at the TE2 position.

The Jags also elevated receiver John Brown from their practice squad for the second consecutive week. With the need for some speed on the perimeter, the Jags signed him earlier this month. He received one target against the 49ers last week, but could see more time on the field against Atlanta with another week under his belt.

Brown will enter Sunday’s game with 320 career catches for 4,748 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns. He last registered statistics with the Buffalo Bills in 2020 after starting in eight games with the team and totaling 33 catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns.