Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson offered promising injury updates on marquee Jaguars’ free agent additions, defensive lineman Arik Armstead and safety Darnell Savage Jr. Monday.
Armstead is set to practice with the Jaguars for the first time this week while Savage will make his playing debut when Jacksonville faces Atlanta for Week 3 of the preseason.
“We’re going to see how [Armstead] is in practice. I can’t speak on the game just yet but we’re going to work some individual stuff and progress slowly with him,” Pederson said.
“And then Savage, his red [non-contact] jersey came off so he’s officially cleared to go. So, he’ll play this week.”
Armstead, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville after his release by San Francisco in March, has yet to participate in team activities in recovery from February surgery on a knee injury he suffered with the 49ers in 2023.
He missed the final five games of the regular season due to the injury but returned for the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LVIII, where San Francisco lost to Kansas City. He recorded 11 tackles and a sack in three playoff appearances, increasing his postseason career totals to 38 tackles and eight sacks in 12 games.
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In nine regular seasons with the 49ers, Armstead recorded 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes.
Armstead began Jacksonville’s training camp on the team’s physically unable-to-perform list but was activated Tuesday. Upon clearance to play, he is expected to start at defensive tackle along the Jaguars’ defensive line.
Savage, meanwhile, is listed as Jacksonville’s starting free safety but has primarily practiced as a nickel cornerback in his first offseason with the Jaguars.
He has regularly participated in training camp and other activities, but without contact as he continues to nurse a rotator cuff injury suffered with Green Bay last year.
Savage produced 302 tackles with nine for loss, nine interceptions, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles in five seasons with the Packers, adding 25 tackles with one for loss, one interception and two defended passes in seven playoff games.