Brandon Scherff – Syndication Server

Pederson issues ‘day-to-day’ tags for handful of Jaguars injuries

The Jaguars are banged up ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. They are navigating injuries to six starters suffered in Jacksonville’s Sunday loss to the Green Bay Packers, to pair with starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) missing the team’s last two games.

Cornerback Ronald Darby (hip), wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder), and offensive guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle) evaded long-term injury in Week 8.

However, most of the group enters Week 9 “day-to-day,” per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

“Darby’s good, Darby will be out there. [Thomas], we’ve just got to wait and see. He’s going to be day-to-day. Gabe’s going to be day-to-day. [Scherff is] day-to-day. Ezra, day-to-day, ankle. We’ll see how he is at the end of the week,” Pederson said.

The sixth starter to go down against the Packers, wide receiver Christian Kirk, suffered a season-ending broken collarbone, which was reported late Sunday.

Pederson suggested Etienne, who the head coach considered a game-time decision for each of Jacksonville’s last two games, is inching closer to returning to play this week.

“Yeah, should get him back,” Pederson said. “Looking forward to getting him out there and getting some reps, see how he feels.”

As Jacksonville kicks off its week of practice before facing Philadelphia, Pederson said the Jaguars are leaning on the development of their roster depth this past offseason as they manage their battered lineup.

“Next man up. I mean honestly, it’s easy as that,” Pederson said. “You know, the games are still going to come and the league is still going to continue on, and we’re going to continue on.

“We’ve got to coach. That’s why we develop guys in the offseason, you know, for opportunities like this. So, whether it’s a young player, a rookie, a vet or a practice squad elevation, we’re going to continue to coach everybody and get them prepared for each week.”

Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries vs. Packers

In addition to confirming a broken collarbone for wide receiver Christian Kirk and revealing receiver Brian Thomas Jr. avoided a major injury, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday shed light on Jacksonville’s other injuries from its 30-27 loss to Green Bay in Week 8.

Wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), offensive guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle), and cornerback Ronald Darby (hip) each got hurt during the game, with only Scherff returning to action before the final whistle.

“Gabe should be fine. Again, it was just the shoulder. He just lost some feeling in there and we were just kind of waiting for that to come back a little bit during the game. Sometimes those are funny things but should be fine,” Pederson explained about Davis, suggesting he aggravated a previous injury.

Davis was on Jacksonville’s injury report with a hurt shoulder between Weeks 4-5.

“Ezra, ankle. He will be probably, as of today, probably day-to-day going into the weekend,” Pederson continued. “Scherff came back. Scherff’s going to be sore. Tough guy. Battled. Came back, finished the game. Should be okay for this weekend. Darby will be more day-to-day.”

The Jaguars return to practice Wednesday ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia. Jacksonville’s next batch of injury updates will come out following that session.

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns

Coming off a tough loss in South Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set for their home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as both teams look to avoid an 0-2 start.

This week Jacksonville looks to be more consistent with its offensive production while Cleveland is again forced to deal with quarterback Deshaun Watson and his off-field issues as the Browns await the return of all-world running back Nick Chubb.

Week 2 will give both teams a better picture of what and who they are moving forward into the 2024 campaign. The Jaguars hope for better execution in their offensive approach following their blown lead to the Miami Dolphins.

With that in mind, Jaguars Wire is here to identify some key matchups for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with Cleveland. Here are three matchups the Jaguars must win to avoid a winless start to the season.

Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson vs. Jacksonville’s defense

One of the key takeaways from this past Sunday was the Jaguars’ admirable defensive performance against the explosive Dolphins offense. They mostly limited significant explosive plays and generated four-man pressures through their front four.

Browns head coach and play-caller Kevin Stefanski is known for his offensive creativity and has put Watson in positions to succeed. But since returning from suspension nearly two seasons ago, the former Clemson standout has yet to return to his pre-2021 form.

Watson’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys offered a clear sign of his current abilities.

According to Next Gen Stats, Watson was pressured on 44.6% of dropbacks, finishing 5-of-17 for 22 yards against pressure while being sacked six times. His 23.2 percent dropback success rate was the lowest in a game in the Next Gen Stats era.

Watson has declined, and the Jaguars have the defense to force him off his spot and into bad decisions. Plus, Jacksonville has the athletic defenders necessary to stick with Watson in quarterback contain.

If defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s unit can generate pressures and rattle Watson early, it should be a good day for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville’s offensive line vs. Cleveland’s defensive line

The trenches will be a key matchup in this game but none more crucial than the Jaguars offensive line against the Browns stellar pass rush, led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.

Jacksonville’s front five did a decent job of protecting franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence against the Dolphins, allowing a pressure rate of 32%, ranking No. 14 in the NFL in Week 1.

However, Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is arguably the best in the game at his position and finds ways of consistently getting to the QB. Against the Cowboys, most of the Browns’ pressures came from a defensive front featuring three defensive ends and one defensive tackle.

Having an extra edge rusher lined up at the three-technique could prove disadvantageous for Jacksonville’s guards due to the speed and quickness of Cleveland’s rushers. Schwartz will likely deploy this fairly often in passing situations.

The biggest concern will be if the Jaguars can limit Garrett, arguably the best pass rusher in the world. This offensive line will also have to account for defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, and defensive ends Za’Darius Smith and Alex Wright.

Jacksonville seems up for the challenge considering its Week 1 performance. Right guard Brandon Scherff must have a better game after an up-and-down showing in Miami. However, left guard Ezra Cleveland and center Mitch Morse held their own against the Dolphins and can build upon their performances this week.

Tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison will have a lot on their plate Sunday, but another solid day from these five linemen could signal success for the Jaguars in Week 2.

Jacksonville’s skill players vs. Cleveland’s back-seven

Once again, the Jaguars’ group of offensive skill players will face another tough secondary only this time on their home turf.

The Browns have a defensive unit that allowed a negative .20 expected points added (EPA) per play allowed. Their back seven is led by star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward with more quality defenders roaming the second and third level.

For most teams, including Jacksonville, facing Cleveland’s back seven is a tall task. Nevertheless, the Jaguars have last week’s first-half performance to go off of when it comes to taking on other stout back seven defenders.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. must be a focal point Sunday. The offense was humming when he was being targeted and he adds a level of explosiveness and playmaking ability this unit has not had in quite some time. His zero targets in the second half were inexcusable.

This weekend could be a good time for the Jaguars to deploy Evan Engram into the passing game in his new versatile role as the F-move tight end and fullback. He could be the X-factor against a tough Browns secondary.

Finding explosive plays and getting the ball to the team’s best playmakers will be another crucial aspect in their pursuit of a home-opener victory.

CBS poses ‘biggest question’ for Jaguars entering training camp

Will center Mitch Morse’s addition to Jacksonville’s offensive line be enough to elevate the unit?

That’s what CBS analyst Bryan DeArdo wondered when he penned the “biggest question” every AFC team faces ahead of training camp, which opens to fans in Jacksonville on July 24.

Because, aside from Mirse’s free agent signing in March, Jacksonville is running it back up front, returning its intended starters from 2023 at left and right tackle and left and right guard.

Did they do enough to improve the O-line?

The Jaguars believe that injuries and a lack of continuity were the main reasons why their O-line struggled last year, especially when it came to running the ball. To help address those issues, the Jaguars made a [splash] in free agency when they were able to sign former Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse.

Personally, I think the Jaguars’ O-line will be better this year with the addition of Morse and the expected growth of Ezra Cleveland second-year right tackle Anton Harrison. The development of rookie fourth-round pick Javon Foster (whom the Jaguars view as their future swing tackle) is also key. But the Jaguars need veterans Brandon Scherff and Cam Robinson to stay healthy after injuries hindered their effectiveness in recent years.

The Jaguars finished last season with 59.6 pass-blocking and 40.6 run-blocking grades, ranking No. 21 and No. 31 in the NFL in those respective categories, per Pro Football Focus.

Morse is expected to replace Luke Fortner, Jacksonville’s starting center since his third-round selection by the club in 2022. Fortenr’s 44.3 PFF offensive grade ranked No. 56 of 57 NFL centers who logged at least one snap in 2023; Morse’s 64.5 mark ranked No. 22.

Otherwise, the Jaguars hope the unit can benefit from continuity, and believe it will perform better with improved health and availability.

Cam Robinson enters his eighth year as Jacksonville’s left tackle after missing eight games in 2023, four due to suspension at the beginning of the campaign and another four near the end due to injury. Opposite is Anton Harrison, the Jaguars’ 2023 first-round pick, who flashed promise as a rookie right tackle against several premier NFL edge rushers.

Seasoned NFL veteran and rising third-year Jaguars right guard Brandon Scherff is back on a restructured contract. So is Ezra Cleveland on the left, who Jacksonville traded for around midseason in 2023 and re-signed in March.

Cleveland dealt with multiple injuries during the season, a foot injury with Minnesota before the trade and a knee injury with the Jaguars.

“If you look at it, Week 18 was kind of that snapshot of what the offensive line was supposed to look like with Cam, Ezra, Luke, Brandon and Anton,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said in March.

“When we got Ezra, that was supposed to be what it looked like. They only played one game together. We’re excited for this upcoming offseason to get those guys working together.”

In addition to Javon Foster’s acquisition, Walker Little also returns to the Jaguars’ offensive line after serving as a backup tackle/guard hybrid in 2023. Jacksonville’s second second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Little has started 17 games in three seasons.

Jaguars restructure Brandon Scherff’s contract to save about $5 million

The Jaguars reworked Brandon Scherff’s deal to save some cap space and keep the veteran guard on the roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff restructured his contract with the team for the second time in as many offseasons, clearing about $5 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The exact terms of the restructure haven’t been revealed yet, but the new deal will fully guarantee Scherff’s salary for the 2024 season and add three voidable years on the end of the deal. Scherff already had three voidable years added to the contract last year, so the salary cap hits for the offensive line are now expected to stay on the Jaguars’ books through the 2030 season.

Scherff, 32, was due to count just under $24 million against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2024 prior to the latest restructure. The new deal will push that number closer to $19 million.

With Ezra Cleveland also brought back by the Jaguars, the reworked deal for Scherff means the team will likely keep four of its five starters along the offensive line heading into next year. It appears only the center position, which has been manned by Luke Fortner in the last two seasons, is set to be replaced.

Scherff was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in seven seasons with Washington before joining the Jaguars in 2022 on a three-year, $49.5 million deal. He earned a grade of 72 or higher on PFF in all of his time in Washington, but received 60.6 and 67.3 grades in the last two years.

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Jaguars reportedly working to restructure Brandon Scherff’s contract

The Jaguars are reportedly close to another restructure with Brandon Scherff, which would keep him with the team in 2024.

The Jacksonville Jaguars restructured Brandon Scherff’s contract in 2023 and they’re finalizing the details of another restructure this offseason, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Scherff, 32, is due to count $23,967,000 against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2024, but the team could clear as much as $10,717,500 in space with another restructure. It will, however, push more dead money into Jacksonville’s future. After the 2023 restructure, Scherff is due to count $7,401,000 against the Jaguars’ cap in 2025 despite his contract automatically voiding after the 2024 season.

Assuming the Jaguars are able to agree with Scherff on a restructured deal, it would seemingly guarantee that the veteran lineman is again the team’s starting guard in 2024. With the return of Ezra Cleveland on a three-year deal and general manager Trent Baalke’s assurances that Cam Robinson will return, it seems the Jacksonville offensive line in 2024 will largely mirror its 2023 line.

Scherff, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Washington Commanders, signed a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Jaguars in 2022. He’s been named an offensive team captain in both of his seasons in Jacksonville, but hasn’t been able to recreate the elite play of his time in Washington.

While Pro Football Focus gave Scherff a grade above 72 in all seven of his seasons with the Commanders, he’s earned 60.6 and 67.3 grades in his two years with the Jaguars.

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Doug Pederson ‘really feels comfortable’ with current offensive linemen

Yes, it’s lying season, but it sure doesn’t sound like the Jaguars are planning to make big changes to their offensive line.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL during the 2023 season. It struggled to protect Trevor Lawrence despite rarely facing blitzes and allowed Travis Etienne to be stuffed for no gain at a league-high rate.

But Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t seem too concerned about finding replacements up front.

“Cam [Robinson] missed eight games last year, our left guard was a little bit of an injury revolving door type thing, Luke Fortner at center, Brandon Scherff, and then Anton [Harrison], the rookie, was learning every week and played every game for us,” Pederson said during an NFL Network appearance during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

“We really feel comfortable with the guys we have there, we just have to get back to what they do best. To me, that’s kind of simplifying, put it on their shoulders, but at the same time, as coaches, putting them in position to just go out and execute.”

Earlier in the week, Pederson noted that continuity was a big issue for the line too.

“If you think about it, Cam, Ezra [Cleveland], Luke, Brandon and [Anton Harrison] played one game together,” Pederson said. “We didn’t have consistency; we didn’t have continuity. That affects five guys up front. That’s what we have to get back to, we have to get back to a little bit more consistency there.”

Should Pederson be taking at face value? Maybe not. There’s little incentive for the coach to throw his linemen under the bus in late February when there’s still plenty of offseason to sort out changes on the roster.

Yet, Jaguars brass has also had no issue with underlining cornerback as a spot on the roster that needs work.

Trent Baalke told reporters he expects Cam Robinson to stay on the roster, he’s in negotiations to bring Ezra Cleveland back, and the Jaguars appear to be in no rush to part with Scherff either.

It seems Fortner is the Jaguars offensive lineman most in danger of being replaced, but wholesale changes up and down the line are looking increasingly unlikely.

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2024 NFL draft: 10 year history of the No. 5 overall pick

Here’s a quick look back at every player selected at No. 5 overall dating back to the 2014 NFL draft.

With the Chargers holding the No. 5 overall pick, here is a look at the past ten years of fifth selections in the NFL draft.

8 moves the Jaguars could make to create cap space in 2024

The Jaguars may need to create cap space if they hope to make moves this offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are projected to enter the 2024 offseason with much more salary cap space than they did when they were over the limit heading into the 2023 offseason.

This time around, the Jaguars have more room to maneuver, but there are also some moves that could eat up that space quickly. For one, the team seems likely to franchise tag Josh Allen, which would guarantee the pass rusher about $22 million for the 2024 season.

If Jacksonville hopes to make that move along with any other additions or extensions in the 2024 offseason, the team simply has to find a way to create more room.

Fortunately for the Jaguars there are ways to make that happen. Some of the decisions will be relatively easy, others will be a much tougher call.

Here are eight ways the Jaguars could cut costs and clear space this offseason:

5 Jaguars players to watch vs the Buccaneers in Week 16

Can the Jaguars get their offense back on track in Tampa Bay?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are finally, mercifully done playing AFC North teams. After playing the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens three weeks in a row, the Jaguars fell from 8-3 to 8-6.

This makes Jacksonville’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers much more important. The Jaguars have a narrow lead — only due to tiebreakers — over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, who also sit at 8-6.

Tampa Bay is also playing for its division, though. The Buccaneers are 7-7, as are the New Orleans Saints, so they will need to keep to their winning ways if they want to earn a playoff spot.

While the Buccaneers have talent on both sides of the football, Jacksonville has the talent to get the job done if it can put things back together.

Here are five Jaguars players to watch when they travel to Tampa Bay to play the Bucs in Week 16: