Jags trim roster down to 80 players

The Jags waived three players Saturday and released veteran safety Doug Middleton. Their roster is now at 80 players.

The Jacksonville Jaguars started this weekend off by making some roster moves, now putting their team at 80 players. Three were waived in running back Tavien Feaster and offensive linemen Tyler Gauthier and Steven Nielson. They also made the decision to release third-year safety, Doug Middleton.

In terms of the names who were let go, none of the aforementioned players should surprise fans.

Feaster and Nielson joined the Jags after this year’s draft as undrafted free-agents and were projected to be practice squad players at best. Wright was also apart of the team’s 2020 undrafted rookie class, but with Josh Lambo being amongst the best kickers in football, the Jags may have simply wanted to get a look at him as a fallback option if an injury occurs in the regular season.

As for Middleton, he initially came into the league as an undrafted player in 2016 with the New York Jets (2016-18). After three seasons with them, he joined the Miami Dolphins last September before joining the Jags in November. Late in the season, he was moved to the active roster before the Jags’ game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Jags had until August 16 to trim their roster down to 80 players, and once that deadline arrives, they can keep 80 players until Sept. 5.

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Jags sign LB Dakota Allen from Rams practice squad, place Jake Ryan on injured reserve with hamstring injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars informed Tyler Gauthier that they would be signing him off the New England Patriots’ practice squad Monday, but it appears they had another move in mind, too. They made the announcement that they also signed Dakota Allen …

The Jacksonville Jaguars informed Tyler Gauthier that they would be signing him off the New England Patriots’ practice squad Monday, but it appears they had another move in mind, too. They made the announcement that they also signed Dakota Allen from the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad to help out their linebacking corps, which has struggled and been a victim to injuries.

To make room for the additions of both players, the Jags placed veteran linebacker Jake Ryan (hamstring) and offensive lineman Brandon Thomas (knee) on injured reserve.

Allen, 24, is a name many will recognize from the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U.” He made history for the show by being the first player from the documentary to be drafted into the NFL.

Allen was drafted in April by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round (No. 251 overall). He was waived during final roster cuts, but was brought back through the team’s practice squad afterward.

In September, the Oakland Raiders snagged him off the Rams practice squad and he participated in their games against the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. However, in late October he was waived and the Rams added him to their practice squad again.

As a collegiate player, Allen played at Texas Tech where he accumulated 262 total tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. While there he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2017 and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2018.

Jags snag OL Tyler Gauthier off Patriots’ practice squad

The Jags have decided to poach a player off the Patriots’ practice squad to help the offensive line in Tyler Gauthier.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hopes for the playoffs are no more, which means it’s poaching season. In the past, the Jags have been victims of other teams who’ve poached players from their practice squad (like Allen Lazard), but it appears they are beating teams to the punch this year.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Enter Sports Management has informed him that the Jags snagged one of their clients, Tyler Gauthier, from the New England Patriots’ practice squad to help out their offensive line.

Gauthier, 22, is a player the Jags are likely well aware of due to his time with the Miami Hurricanes. He signed with the Pats in May as an undrafted free agent but was eventually waived in the process of the team making final cuts.

Gauthier returned to the team’s practice squad on Oct. 15. An hour after walking back into the Patriots’ facility, he was informed that he was also drafted by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL. The terms of his deal with the Jags are unknown, but if the deal ends once the season is over, it appears he’ll be eligible to play with the Battlehawks. However, in all probability, he can sign a new deal with the Jags after the 2019 season (if one is offered to him), but more should surface on his XFL status later.

At 6-foot-5, 300-pounds Gauthier didn’t see the field for the regular season while with the Pats. However, he saw ample snaps in the preseason at guard and center and started in the Pats’ last preseason game against the New York Giants.