E.J. Perry – Syndication Server

Jaguars release QB from practice squad

Hours after finalizing its initial 2024 practice squad, Jacksonville released quarterback E.J. Perry from the squad on Thursday afternoon, the Jaguars announced.

Perry signed with Jacksonville before its final preseason game against Atlanta last week but was waived from the active roster on Tuesday amid cutdowns to 53 players. He joined the Jaguars’ practice squad Wednesday.

The stint marked Perry’s third with Jacksonville in a reserve role, after originally signing with the club as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and returning last season while starting Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence battled multiple injuries.

Jacksonville brought Perry in after former Jaguars backup C.J. Beathard suffered a groin injury against Tampa Bay in Week 2 of the preseason. Beathard was let go during Tuesday cutdowns as well.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke noted Tuesday that, given Beathard was released with an injury settlement, Jacksonville will not be eligible to bring Beathard back in an active roster or practice squad capacity until he is three weeks removed from his injury. Other teams could sign Beathard in that timeframe.

“It was a significant injury and it’s going to keep him away from ball for a while, at least four weeks of the season. Could be longer; could be shorter,” Baalke said. “Depends on how quickly he heals and how the rehab goes, but that’s the timeline right now.”

Meaning, if Jacksonville would like to carry a quarterback on its practice squad for at least the first seven weeks of the season, it will have to be someone other than Beathard, or Perry, seemingly.

Sixteen of Jacksonville’s 17 practice squad spots are now filled.

Press Taylor explains Jaguars making late preseason QB move

The Jaguars will likely take two quarterbacks into the 2024 season on their active roster, as they have done in each of Doug Pederson’s two years as Jacksonville’s head coach.

But the Jaguars added a fourth quarterback to their roster Wednesday morning, officially signing E.J. Perry away from the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League ahead of Jacksonville’s Friday preseason finale at Atlanta.

Jaguars offensive coordinator pointed toward the groin injury backup quarterback C.J. Beathard suffered against Tampa Bay on Saturday as the reason for Perry’s return to Jacksonville for a third stint with the team.

“Part of that was just that C.J.’s health just moving forward to make sure as we go into this next game, just not limiting our ability to play this game out as we go,” Taylor explained Wednesday.

Beathard will be sidelined against the Falcons Friday, per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonvlle’s starting offense are slated to play for about the entire first half, leading only one healthy passer for the second before Perry’s signing, Mac Jones.

Perry’s recent previous experience with the Jaguars — with whom he first joined as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season as a practice squad member in 2022, and returned to last December while Lawrence was in concussion protocol — should allow him to step into action if needed this week.

“E.J. is a guy we obviously have trust in and he’s been around us,” said Taylor. “He’s a guy that we can bring in at the very last minute and he is going to know 50 to 75 percent of the terminology from the jump.

“Guys are familiar with him, which I think that’s a part of it as well. Not everybody’s played with him, but a lot of guys have been here just through his time on and off the roster.”

In addition to his time with Jacksonville, Perry also spent offseason and preseason time with Houston last year.

Perry has yet to attempt a pass or appear in a game in the NFL, but has completed 67-of-112 attempts for 785 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions with Michigan in the UFL and USFL.

Over five years in college, two seasons with Boston College and three with Brown, Perry completed 63.5% of his 900 throws for 6,247 yards with 47 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, adding 16 scores on the ground.

“[E.J. is] a guy that we have confidence in as a coaching staff can help us through a game situation here,” Taylor concluded.

Report: Jaguars bringing QB back from UFL

The Jaguars are bringing quarterback E.J. Perry back following his summer season in the UFL, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Perry’s reportedly imminent signing follows Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson ruling quarterback C.J. Beathard out of Jacksonville’s Friday preseason finale due to a groin injury on Monday.

Perry spent the 2024 developmental league campaign with the Michigan Panthers, alongside recently-added Jaguars edge rusher and reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year Breeland Speaks.

From Andover, Mass., Perry began his NFL career signing with Jacksonville as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie 2022 season on the Jaguars’ practice squad.

He returned to Jacksonville’s practice squad last December while starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence was in concussion protocol and remained there through the campaign’s conclusion.

Perry has also spent offseason and preseason time with Houston.

Perry has yet to throw a pass or appear in a game in the NFL, but has completed 67-of-112 attempts for 785 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions with Michigan in the UFL and USFL between 2023-24.

Over five years in college, two seasons with Boston College and three with Brown, Perry completed 63.5% of his 900 passes for 6,247 yards with 47 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, adding 16 scores on the ground.

Jaguars allow 5 players’ practice squad contracts to expire

Five players who were on the Jaguars’ roster in 2023 became free agents Monday.

Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured the rights to 11 players from their practice squad by signing them to reserve/future contracts. On Monday, five players who finished the 2023 season with the team were allowed to become free agents.

The following players are no longer on the Jaguars roster, per the NFL’s transaction wire:

RB Snoop Conner
WR Jacob Harris
DT Henry Mondeaux
C James Murray
QB E.J. Perry

Conner is the only player on the list who was drafted by the Jaguars. The 2022 fifth-round pick appeared in eight games as a rookie, and had 12 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. Conner spent the entire 2023 season on the practice squad.

Harris appeared in two games as a standard elevation from the practice squad, but was never targeted as a receiver. The majority of his snaps came on special teams, although that included a missed tackle on kickoff coverage that helped spring the Houston Texans’ Andrew Beck for a 90-yard touchdown.

Other players across the NFL who had their practice squad contracts expire Monday included former Jaguars players Keelan Cole, Sidney Jones, Matt Overton, and Matthew Wright.

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Jaguars sign QB Matt Barkley from Giants practice squad

With Trevor Lawrence dealing with another injury, the Jaguars added an 11th year veteran to their active roster.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran quarterback Matt Barkley to their active roster from the New York Giants’ practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Barkley, 33, is now the oldest player on the Jaguars’ roster. The 2013 fourth-round pick has now been with 11 different NFL franchises, including two stints each with the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. The 11th year veteran has appeared in just 19 career games and started only seven. His last pass attempt was during the 2020 season.

Jacksonville spent the majority of the 2023 season with two quarterbacks, Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard, on the active roster and former CFL star Nathan Rourke on the practice squad. That changed last week when the New England Patriots scooped Rourke up off waivers.

To address the loss, the Jaguars signed E.J. Perry to their practice squad. But with Lawrence’s status in doubt due to yet another injury, the Jaguars now have three quarterbacks on the active roster. On Tuesday, coach Doug Pederson said it’s too early to tell if Lawrence will be able to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers and doubted that he’d be able to practice Wednesday.

To make room for Barkley, the Jaguars placed special teamer Daniel Thomas, who broke his forearm Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on injured reserve.

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Jaguars reportedly signing QB E.J. Perry to practice squad

The Jaguars addressed their sudden need at quarterback by adding a familiar face.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t waste time adding a quarterback. With Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol and Nathan Rourke off to join the New England Patriots, the Jaguars are reuniting with E.J. Perry, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Perry, who is represented by the same colorful agent as the Giants’ Tommy DeVito, first joined the Jaguars in 2022 after going undrafted. The former Brown University quarterback spent his entire rookie season on the Jacksonville practice squad.

Not long after the Jaguars signed Rourke, the team parted ways with Perry in March. The Houston Texans claimed Perry off waivers, but waived him themselves two months later.

Perry had a stint with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers and re-joined the Texans in August for two more weeks before getting cut again. While he’s had workouts with the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots this season, Perry has remained a free agent.

The addition makes plenty of sense for the Jaguars, as the team gets a quarterback who is already familiar with the offense head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor.

If Lawrence is unavailable Sunday, it’ll be C.J. Beathard who starts for the Jaguars against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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7 quarterbacks Jaguars could sign after Patriots claimed Nathan Rourke

The Jaguars are suddenly in need of a quarterback with Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol and Nathan Rourke claimed by the Patriots.

Update: The Jaguars signed E.J. Perry to their practice squad Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in sudden need of a quarterback.

For most of the year, the team has carried two quarterbacks on the active roster, Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard, as well as former CFL star Nathan Rourke on the practice squad.

Now the team temporarily has only one passer after Lawrence landed in the concussion protocol and Rourke was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots.

Rourke, 25, was signed to the active roster in October when Lawrence was questionable for a Week 7 game due to a knee injury. The Jaguars then waived Rourke and added him back to the practice squad after the game.

Jacksonville tried to do the same when an ankle sprain had Lawrence questionable for a Week 14 game. But the Patriots scooped up Rourke before he could get back to the Jaguars’ practice squad.

If Lawrence can’t play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there’s no doubt that Beathard will be the team’s starter. But there’s also no question that the Jaguars need to add another player at the position.

Here are seven quarterbacks on the market who could be considered by the Jaguars:

Analyzing the Texans’ recent transactions

The Houston Texans made a flurry of transactions Aug. 12-13. Here is what they could mean.

The Houston Texans were busy after their 20-9 win over the New England Patriots.

Coach DeMeco Ryans saw the Texans’ first preseason game as a decent entry.

“I think this was a great starting point for us as a team, but it also is great to get young guys reps, and it’s great to get the tape so guys can see where we need to improve, why are these small details so important, why are coaches harping on these things,” Ryans said. “Now, you see it in a game, and you see why, and I think guys will continue to improve.”

As part of that improvement, the Texans made a total of six roster moves on Aug. 12-13. Here is a look at those moves and what they could indicate.

Texans waive QB E.J. Perry

The Houston Texans have waived quarterback E.J. Perry.

The Houston Texans have seen enough.

The Texans waived quarterback E.J. Perry Thursday.

Houston signed Perry on March 8 off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Brown product went undrafted in 2022 and spent the majority of training camp and preseason with the Jaguars. At the start of the regular season, Perry made the Jaguars’ practice squad and spent the entire season there. At the end of the Jaguars’ season, Perry signed a reserve/future contract with Jacksonville.

The move comes as the Texans prepare for rookie minicamp May 12-13 with No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud working his way into the offense. Houston still has Case Keenum and Davis Mills on the roster.

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Texans claim QB E.J. Perry off waivers from Jaguars

The Houston Texans claimed quarterback E.J. Perry off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As expected the Houston Texans addressed the quarterback position in the offseason.

The Texans claimed Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback E.J. Perry off waivers Wednesday.

The waiver priority is identical to the first-round order in the 2023 NFL draft, which means if the Texans put in a claim, they are are second behind the Bears in acquiring the waived player.

Perry signed as a priority free agent with the Jaguars after the 2022 draft, and was later released with a non-football injury designation on July 24. Jacksonville brought back on Aug. 9, but then waived him at the end of preseason on Aug. 30 as part of a roster-massaging move to stash him on the practice squad. The former Boston College and Brown quarterback signed a reserve/future deal with the Jaguars on Jan. 23, but was waived on March 7.

Along with third-year Davis Mills, the Texans have two quarterbacks on their roster.

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