Tag: Gregory Junior

Two former Jaguars join AFC South rival’s practice squad

Two former Jaguars join AFC South rival’s practice squad

The Colts signed two former Jaguars, defensive lineman Adam Gotsis and cornerback Gregory Junior, to their practice squad Wednesday.

Jacksonville will host Indianapolis in Week 5 for the first of two meetings between the Jaguars and Colts this season, on Oct. 6.

The Jaguars waived Gotsis and Junior on Aug, 6, the latter with an injury designation that briefly led him to Jacksonville’s injured reserve, which he was let go from with a settlement on Aug. 15.

Jacksonville signed safety Adrian Amos and defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall to fill the roster spots created by waiving Gotsis and Junior. Amos was released and Marshall was waived during the Jaguars’ preseason roster cuts. Both remain free agents.

Gotsis spent four seasons with Jacksonville, 2020-23, after launching his NFL career with Denver in 2016 as a second-round NFL draft pick out of Georgia Tech.

Gotsis tallied 109 total tackles including 16 for loss and 5.5 sacks, forced one fumble and broke up nine passes in 64 games with the Jaguars, starting 26.

Junior, an Ouachita Baptist product and Jacksonville’s sixth round, No. 197 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, appeared in 10 games over two seasons before his waiving. He recorded 17 tackles with two for loss and one defended pass with the Jaguars.

Giants hosted former Jaguars CB Gregory Junior

The New York Giants hosted free agent CB Gregory Junior, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, on Monday.

The New York Giants are still searching for help in their defensive backfield, even though the roster cut deadline is just hours away.

On Monday, they met with former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Gregory Junior, who was released with an injury designation earlier this month.

Junior played his college ball at Quachita Baptist in Arkansas and was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft (197th overall). He played just one game in 2022 and nine games last season.

In those 10 career games, Junior recorded 17 tackles (11 solo, two for a loss), and one pass defensed.

The Giants’ young secondary is currently banged up and could use some depth. Junior could also be a candidate for the practice squad.

[lawrence-related id=731824,731779,731809]

Jaguars waive CB with injury settlement

Jaguars waive CB with injury settlement

The Jaguars waived cornerback Gregory Junior from their injured reserve with a settlement on Thursday.

Junior went on the reserve earlier this month after experiencing a knee injury on Day 9 of Jacksonville’s training camp.

A sixth-round pick by the Jaguars in the 2022 NFL draft, from Division II Ouachita Baptist, Junior appeared in 10 games in two seasons with Jacksonville, recording 17 tackles, two tackles for loss and one defended pass.

Junior began his career on the Jaguars’ practice squad but was promoted to the active roster in Week 16. He appeared in one game as a rookie.

Junior spent about two months on Jacksonville’s injured reserve last season after he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1. He appeared in all but one game following his activation from the reserve, from Week 10 through the end of the campaign.

Jacksonville moves forward with Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, Christian Braswell, Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones, De’Antre Prince, Tre Flowers, Erick Hallett II, Tevaughn Campbell and Amani Oruwariye at cornerback.

22 Jaguars players set to become free agents in March, ranked

Which impending free agents should the Jaguars focus on bringing back?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent much of the 2023 offseason retaining their own free agents.

While Jawaan Taylor, Arden Key, Marvin Jones Jr, and Chris Manhertz were among those who left the team, the Jaguars made sure to keep several players, including Andrew Wingard, Dawuane Smoot, Adam Gotsis, and Tre Herndon.

After a disappointing 2023 season, there aren’t as many tough calls to make regarding the more than 20 players set to become free agents in 2024.

Free agency will begin on March 13, but the first decision for the Jaguars will come about a week before that when the franchise tag deadline hits on March 5.

With about two months to sort out their plans, here are the 22 players the Jaguars currently have set to leave the team as free agents:

Jaguars vs. Buccaneers inactives: WR Zay Jones ruled out

The Jaguars will be down another receiver Sunday against the Buccaneers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without wide receiver Zay Jones on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ninety minutes ahead of kickoff in the Week 16 matchup, the Jaguars released their list of inactives for the game, which included Jones and four other players.

Jones out of action isn’t much of a surprise after he pulled up with a hamstring injury in Week 15. On Friday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said it’d be a long shot for the veteran receiver to play in Tampa Bay.

“Probably not, he is trending well, he’s working off to the side with our trainers and medical staff,” Pederson said. “With a hamstring, it’s a touchy situation and I don’t want to risk anything further as we continue our season, so probably not.”

The more surprising inactive is Gregory Junior, who appears to be a healthy scratch and seems to be getting replaced in the lineup by rookie defensive back Antonio Johnson.

Back in the lineup for the Jaguars are defensive backs Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco, as well as rookie tight end Brenton Strange.

For the Buccaneers, there will be no significant players missing from the lineup:

The question was whether the calf injury that kept Antoine Winfield Jr. out of practice Friday would keep him out Sunday. While the defensive back was questionable, he’ll be on the field against the Jaguars.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Doug Pederson provides updates on 8 Jaguars injured vs. Bengals

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson had a lot of injury updates to provide after a rough night against the Bengals.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ injury luck ran out Monday night.

After entering a Week 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals with only one player out due to injury (tight end Brenton Strange), the Jaguars suddenly have a lengthy list of players dealing with issues.

None is more important than quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury late in the game. While it initially looked to be a devastating issue, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson gave a relatively positive update on the third-year quarterback Tuesday.

Pederson’s update on wide receiver Christian Kirk wasn’t as positive, though.

Here’s everything Pederson said about the players who were banged up, some seriously and some not so bad, on Monday night against the Bengals:

Jaguars activate CB Gregory Junior from IR, waive RB JaMycal Hasty

Gregory Junior was added to the Jaguars’ active roster Saturday and JaMycal Hasty was waived to make room.

The Jacksonville Jaguars activated cornerback Gregory Junior from the injured reserve Saturday and waived running back JaMycal Hasty to make room.

Junior, 24, made a strong push for starting slot cornerback duties in August with a stellar training camp and preseason. While the role still went to Tre Herndon III, Junior looked to be solid depth for the Jacksonville secondary.

However, he played just two special teams snaps in Week 1 before landing on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. In October, the Jaguars opened the 21-day window for Junior to begin practicing before a return from the I.R.

The depth of the Jacksonville secondary was tested in October with Tyson Campbell missing two games, Andre Cisco sitting out one, and Junior on I.R. Now the team is set to have all three back in the lineup when the second half of the season begins this weekend.

Hasty, 27, was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars after he was cut by the 49ers in final cuts last season. He spent much of his first year in Jacksonville at No. 2 on the depth chart and finished the 2022 season with 194 rushing yards, 126 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.

But he was pushed to No. 4 after the Jaguars added Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson in the offseason. Hasty appeared in only three games so far this season and didn’t record a touch.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars open CB Gregory Junior’s 21-day window to return from IR

The Jaguars will get cornerback Gregory Junior back on the practice field this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Gregory Junior will be back on the practice field this week after the team designated him to return from the injured reserve.

The designation means Junior will have as many as 21 days to practice with the team without counting against the team’s 53-man active roster limit. At any point during the three-week period, the cornerback can be elevated to the active roster and become available to play.

Junior, 24, was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft and spent the majority of his rookie season on the Jaguars’ practice squad. After impressing this year in training camp and preseason, Junior earned a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster and made a strong push for Tre Herndon III’s slot cornerback role.

But Junior played just two snaps in the Jaguars’ Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts before landing on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

The Jaguars could use the return of Junior after placing rookie cornerback Christian Braswell on injured reserve as well, and recently losing Tyson Campbell to a hamstring injury.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars place CB Gregory Junior on injured reserve

Gregory Junior played only two snaps in the Jaguars’ Week 1 opener before suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed cornerback Gregory Junior on the injured reserve Saturday, ruling the second-year player out for at least four games.

Junior, 24, played only two snaps on special teams in the Jaguars’ 31-21 Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts before suffering a hamstring injury. After missing all three practices this week, Junior was ruled out by the team for a Week 2 home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

A sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Junior spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad, appearing in only one regular season game. This year, he earned a spot on the 53-man roster with an impressive training camp and a standout preseason, which included a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception.

While the Jaguars named Tre Herndon III the starting nickel cornerback, Junior was well-positioned to play a significant role in the Jacksonville secondary.

That could still come to fruition, but not until at least October. Junior will be eligible to come off the injured reserve as early as a Week 6 game against the Colts.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars CB Gregory Junior has advice for practice squad players

Gregory Junior has advice for the 17 players who landed on the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Gregory Junior spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad. The 2022 sixth-round pick was promoted to the active roster in December, but saw time in only one game.

A year later, Junior looks primed to play a significant role in the Jacksonville defense. The second-year defensive back made a push for starting slot cornerback duties with an impressive camp and preseason, and should see time in dime packages.

Junior, 24, knows better than anyone what positives can come from a year of development. So what’s his advice to the 17 players who were added to the Jaguars’ practice squad this week?

“I’d just say, this is the time when you grind harder,” Junior told Jamal St. Cyr of News4Jax. “It’s going to be ups and downs. Days where you feel like you’re supposed to be out there playing, but this is the time when God tests you the most.

“You just got to keep God first, keep working, and just make sure you have fun because, trust me, there’s a lot more people who would die to be in your position right now. So you just got to enjoy it and have fun.”

Among the players on the Jaguars’ practice squad are sixth-round rookie Erick Hallett II, 2022 fifth-rounder Snoop Conner, and seventh-round rookie Derek Parish.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]