Tag: Jaguars

4 Dolphins out, 8 limited on Wednesday injury report for Week 1

The Dolphins’ injury report is much longer than Jacksonville’s, although it’s because a few players had a veteran rest day.

The Miami Dolphins kept four players out of practice Wednesday and had another eight limited ahead of a Week 1 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell were among those held out of practice, but it was a veteran rest day for two of the oldest players on the roster. Instead, all eyes are on Jaelan Phillips and Jalen Ramsey, who were the other two out of practice.

Phillips is still working his way back from an Achilles tear that ended his 2023 season. According to the injury report, it’s a hamstring that has kept Ramsey out of action.

https://www.twitter.com/Marcel_LJ/status/1831431827908915239

A few of the players who were listed as limited were also getting veteran rest. Among the eight who had limited reps Wednesday, center Aaron Brewer may be the biggest concern as he’s working to get on the same page with Tua Tagovailoa after missing much of camp with his hand injury.

On the other sideline, the Jaguars expect to have a nearly completely clean bill of health. The sole player listed on the team’s Wednesday injury report was defensive back and special teamer Daniel Thomas.

https://www.twitter.com/Jaguars/status/1831422092438597680

Both teams will practice Thursday and Friday before applying injury designations for Sunday.

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Pederson: Arik Armstead ‘shouldn’t be limited’ in Jaguars vs. Dolphins

Pederson: Arik Armstead ‘shouldn’t be limited’ in Jaguars vs. Dolphins

Ahead of Jacksonville’s matchup with Miami on Sunday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson noted that defensive newcomer Arik Armstead is all systems go despite the long-term recovery from surgery on a meniscus injury that he suffered in the second half of last season.

Pederson anticipates Armstead will play Sunday with no limitations or snap count, allowing the 30-year-old to showcase what he means to the new-look Jaguars defense. While listed as the starting defensive tackle on the depth chart, Armstead is expected to play all over the defensive front.

“With Arik, we’ll see how the week goes with practice and how he feels,” Pederson said Wednesday. “He shouldn’t be limited in any way.”

Leaving the 49ers after nine seasons, Armstead landed in Jacksonville on a three-year deal worth $43.5 million in March.

The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Armstead spent much of the offseason sidelined after his knee surgery in February, which he underwent after missing five regular season games and playing in the postseason, but was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Aug. 13.

Starting in 21 games over the last two seasons, Armstead is out to prove he has gas left in the tank in new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme. Over that span, Armstead accumulated 38 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and 17 quarterback hits for the Niners.

A veteran presence, the Jaguars’ coaching staff isn’t concerned with how Armstead will fit in the defense despite his time on the sideline over the last few months.

Bringing in veterans with playoff backgrounds was a priority for the Jaguars in free agency, and they hoped that the additional experience paired with talented young players could take them to the top of the AFC South.

“I think … all of our free agents that we brought, one, they’ve added the value and the competition that we were looking for at their positions, and also some leadership. Veteran players that have played a lot of football, they’ve been on winning teams,” Pederson said Monday.

“Obviously, Arik, he’s been to a couple Super Bowls, and he knows how that is and [cornerback Ronald] Darby the same way. I look at [center] Mitch [Morse] and [wide receiver] Gabe [Davis] and all the guys too, offensively, that have been to the top in the AFC. It’s just their leadership, I think, and the value that they bring there, not only with their skill set and what they can provide offensively and defensively.”

Lining up against a high-powered offense in Miami, the Jaguars should have their hands full with Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, resulting in a Week 1 litmus test.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach reveals thoughts on cutting Louis Rees-Zammit

Kansas City #Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reveals thoughts on cutting Louis Rees-Zammit | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with plenty of prospects due to roster cuts as they reshaped their roster for the 2024 season.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke with reporters on Thursday via Zoom about the decision to cut former Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.

“We kept it open; we wanted the kid to really look at maybe some different opportunities as well. It’s pretty remarkable when you think about a player that doesn’t have any pro-American football experience. No middle school, no high school, no big-time college experience.” said Veach. “We were kind of thinking about it going through camp. Imagine not having any sort of foundational background, just being thrown in and doing one-on-one pass-pros with a Drue Tranquill or a Nick Bolton. I mean, that’s pretty incredible.”

Rees-Zammit played in all three preseason games, showing his versatility in different positions. Veach took notice but potentially didn’t see his development working in time to make the roster.

“Running back, maybe a big slot receiver, I think he does have some potential as a returner. I’m not sure he couldn’t be a kicker,” said Veach. “I mean, he had an outstanding leg, and with this new rule, he can do some different things, provide some versatility.”

Rees-Zammit wasn’t a free agent for long as he landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Veach believes it has much to do with the international influence.

“I think the Jacksonville thing, and their relationship overseas and what that brings to the table, going overseas twice a year,” said Veach. “I think that was probably something that interested him, phenomenal kid, phenomenal worker, and again, just thinking back on the tremendous amount of progress he made in a short amount of time, I think he’ll continue to grow and develop, and I think he found a really good spot there in Jacksonville.”

Rees-Zammit’s time with the Chiefs was brief, but it was enough for him to land with another team. The Chiefs are building for an immediate three-peat, and the roster is primed with Super Bowl aspirations.

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk returns to practice

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk returns to practice

After being held out as a precaution since joint practices with Tampa Bay, Jacksonville wide receiver Christian Kirk has returned to the practice field after nursing a mild calf injury.

Kirk was held out for the remaining practices against the Buccaneers and sat out of preparation ahead of the Jaguars’ final preseason win against Atlanta, after experiencing the injury on Aug. 13.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson left a minor update on Kirk on Monday as he took the practice field.

“We can continue to get better,” Pederson said Monday. “We haven’t seen all the pieces… it’ll be good offensively to get Christian back and get him back into the offense.”

Kirk saw his 2023 campaign cut short due to a core muscle injury, yet accumulated 57 receptions for a team-leading 787 yards before getting hurt, adding three touchdowns in 13 games.

On July 29, Kirk spoke to media members about his health and how he feels going into his seventh season in the NFL.

“As long as my approach is consistent and it’s the same every day and I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward, then I have no problem if something happens while I’m out there because I know I did all I could do,” Kirk said.

“But I definitely want to stay healthy this year. I feel great, I feel strong, I feel fast. Not in pain anymore. I’m really just excited because my body hasn’t felt this good in a long time, so I’m just really looking forward to building throughout training camp.”

Falcons vs. Jaguars: Highlights from preseason finale

Falcons vs. Jaguars: Watch highlights from Friday’s preseason finale

The Falcons went 0-3 in their first preseason under head coach Raheem Morris, but they took a more cautious approach than other teams around the NFL. Atlanta sat most of the players expected to make the 53-man roster during Friday night’s 31-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Even with most sitting out, there were still a handful of players fighting for a roster spot, either in Atlanta or with another team when final cuts are announced on Tuesday. Catch the recap of Friday’s preseason finale against the Jaguars, as shared by the NFL’s YouTube channel below:

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Falcons vs. Jaguars: Best photos from preseason finale in Atlanta

Best photos from Falcons’ preseason finale against the Jaguars

The Atlanta Falcons dressed their starters ahead of Friday’s preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it was only for show as most notable players did not actually play in the game. Jacksonville played its starters and left Atlanta with a 31-0 victory over the Falcons.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was dominant, and the Falcons offense couldn’t keep up. Check out the best photos from Friday’s game in Atlanta below:

Watch: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. reels in 38-yard catch vs. Falcons

Watch: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. reels in 38-yard catch vs. Falcons

Jaguars’ 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. looks as advertised in Jacksonville’s third preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence found Thomas open on an intermediate, in-breaking route for a gain of 38 yards. Thomas showed off his wheels during the play, accumulating 21 of those yards after the catch.

The Jaguars eventually scored via an Evan Engram touchdown catch, capping off a nine-play, 92-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead.

Using his 6-foot-3, 209-pound frame, Thomas excelled at LSU in the vertical passing game. However, in his transition from college to the NFL, some experts had concerns about Thomas’s ability to contribute to the short and intermediate passing games, especially against NFL competition.

But if this middle-of-the-field catch and his preseason performance are any indication, Thomas could emerge as a weapon in Trevor Lawrence’s repertoire.

Jaguars’ offensive coordinator Press Taylor acknowledged Thomas’ growth as he maneuvers his first NFL preseason.

“For that to carry over, for him to make a play in that first preseason game, you just saw his confidence rise, for him to perform well in joint practices against Tampa,” Taylor said Wednesday. “You just see this progression and you see a little bit more of him becoming who we knew he would be.”

While Taylor has been quick to praise Thomas this preseason, he believes the best is yet to come from his rookie receiver.

“Again, I think he’s a long way from where he’s going to be in two weeks, let alone 18 weeks from now,” said Taylor. “It’s just been cool to see him build the confidence in himself, build the confidence in the work he’s put in and I think he’s just going to continue to grow from here.”

Veteran Chiefs wide receiver recalls his ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment

Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman recalls his ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment | @EdEastonJr

The start of the regular season is quickly approaching, with the Kansas City Chiefs preparing for their opening night matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Several rookies will get their first regular season game experience and potential ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment.

Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman spoke with reporters on Tuesday after practice about his memories from his rookie season. The humbling first matchup against multiple-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey

“(Jalen Ramsey)probably doesn’t remember this, but I think I had like a go route or something, and he was just on me,” said Hardman. “He was like, ‘Man, you ain’t getting nothing today, bro.”

Hardman was targeted once and left without a catch in his NFL regular season debut. The All-Pro cornerback didn’t take it lightly on the rookie from Georgia attempting to build any momentum in the game.

“That whole game, the whole game, he was just talking,” said Hardman. “I was like, I can’t do nothing, bro. I think he jammed me one time. I’m like, yeah, he’s different.”

Hardman proudly bounced back the following week against the Raiders with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. He would make the Pro Bowl for his work on special teams that season.

Falcons vs. Jaguars: How to watch, listen, stream preseason finale

Falcons vs. Jaguars: How to watch, listen and stream Friday’s preseason finale in Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons have just one game left before final cuts next week and several players are attempting to play their way onto the team’s 53-man roster. 37 players are competing for only a handful of openings, and this Friday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars is essentially the final test.

The Falcons lost their first two preseason games but will look to end things with a victory before heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s everything you need to watch, listen and stream Atlanta’s preseason finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The team is unlikely to play most first- and second-team players in Friday’s game, so don’t expect to see rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., linebacker Matthew Judon, or safety Justin Simmons make their debuts.

Check out the Falcons’ updated 90-man roster and depth chart heading into their preseason finale.

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Countdown To Kickoff: James Robinson is the Saints Player of Day 26

James Robinson could be a potential diamond in the rough for the New Orleans Saints in 2024. He’s the Saints Player of Day 26:

Just 26 days are left until the New Orleans Saints officially kick off their 2024 season. And one player to take note of within the running back corps is James Robinson, who the Saints added to the practice squad for the last three games of the 2023 season.

Here’s everything to know about Robinson, who wears the No. 26 for the Saints:

  • Name (Age): James Robinson (26)
  • Position: Running back
  • Height, weight: 5-foot-9, 219 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.85
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,055,000
  • College: Illinois State
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2020 (Jacksonville Jaguars)
  • NFL experience: 6th season

Robinson certainly isn’t one of the Saints’ premier running backs, but he is a player who could prove a true diamond in the rough for the 2024 season. Robinson originally began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State in 2020.

He far exceeded the expectations, shocking many when he earned a roster spot and was a starter in the Jags backfield on opening day. Robinson only expounded upon the opportunity presented to him, taking full advantage en route to recording 1,070 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground on 240 carries, leading the team in rushing.

He once again led the team in that category the following season, though his numbers weren’t quite as strong with a total of 767 rushing yards.

Robinson’s success dwindled from that point, largely a result of the injury bug, after he was traded by Jacksonville to the New York Jets roughly halfway through the 2022 season.

Between the Jets and the Packers in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Robinson saw action in just five games, amassing 87 rushing yards on 30 carries.

He’ll look to get back to his former level of play and stay healthy in New Orleans, looking to serve as a depth piece who could become more as he primarily battles Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims, and Kendre Miller behind Alvin Kamara.

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