Poll: Will Tim Tebow Make Jaguars’ Roster?
Considering the jersey sales and Jacksonville’s proximity to where Tim Tebow starred in high school and college, he might already be the most popular tight end in Jaguars history. Marcedes Lewis was obviously far more accomplished and made 12 Jaguars rosters. Will Tebow end up making one?
The Jags have a noticeable hole at tight end; this issue has persisted for several years. Lewis’ run of 400-plus-yard seasons stopped after the 2012 campaign, and the Jags gave Julius Thomas a big-ticket deal in 2015 to provide a better receiving option. That did not end up working out, and the franchise has not featured much of note at the position since it traded Thomas in 2017. Its current tight end group consists of veterans James O’Shaughnessy and Chris Manhertz and recent Day 3 picks Tyler Davis (2020, Round 6) and Luke Farrell (2021, Round 5). Among those who were pros in 2020, O’Shaughnessy’s 262 receiving yards — a career-high mark — led the way.
Of course, Tebow’s profile does not point to him providing a remedy for the Jags’ tight end issues. But the former Heisman winner, playoff starting quarterback and minor league outfielder generates considerable discussion and has throughout his time in the spotlight. Urban Meyer has both expressed concern for his tight end group and lauded Tebow’s leadership qualities.
Although he spent time with the Eagles and Patriots through the summer of 2015, Tebow has not played in a regular-season game since 2012 with the Jets. Should Tebow return to a game that counts in 2021, he would be only the fourth NFLer since the merger to return to the league after at least eight seasons away. Doug Flutie was the only player to do so without the 1987 players’ strike factoring into the equation; both the others — ex-Broncos offensive lineman David Diaz-Infante and former Chiefs QB Tony Adams — were replacement players in 1987.
Given Meyer and Tebow’s history, the recent Mets farmhand lasting beyond the summer probably should not be considered a shocking proposition. The Jags did not guarantee any of Tebow’s one-year, $920K contract, however, and the former Broncos first-round pick has never caught a pass in an NFL game. Tebow reportedly impressed Jags coaches at his new position during his workout and displayed ball-carrying chops at Florida and as a Bronco (660 rushing yards, six TDs in 2011). And the Jags do not have a host of roster locks at this position.
Should Tebow be released ahead of roster cutdown day, he would be eligible for Jacksonville’s practice squad. As strange as it would seem, given Tebow’s age (34 in August), a developmental/roster insurance role would make sense — if the Jags view him as a viable tight end, of course. This path may be amenable to Tebow, who spent multiple seasons with much younger teammates as part of the Mets’ minor league system. Practice squads increased from 10 to 16 players last year, but barring another change, the CBA calls for 12-man taxi squads in 2021.
On a slow weekend, weigh in with your view of Tebow’s comeback. Will he end up sticking with the Jags in 2021, or will his No. 85 jersey end up a collector’s item like Jerry Rice‘s No. 19 with the Broncos?
Will Tim Tebow make the Jaguars' roster?
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Yes, he will make their 53-man roster 46% (1,577)
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No 29% (976)
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He will land on the Jags' practice squad 25% (840)
Total votes: 3,393
Jaguars ST Coordinator Brian Schneider Stepping Away
Months after joining the Jaguars, special teams coordinator Brian Schneider is stepping away indefinitely. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the 50-year-old coach is taking time away from football for personal reasons.
Schneider announced back in September that he was leaving his position as Seahawks special teams coordinator for personal reasons. Following Urban Meyer’s hire in Jacksonville, Schneider agreed to resume coaching and join the Jaguars staff as ST coordinator back in January.
Schneider had been with the Seahawks since 2010. He was apart of nine playoff runs in Seattle, including a 2013 Super Bowl win that saw Percy Harvin return an 87-yard kickoff for a score. During his stint with the Seahawks, the special teams unit consistently ranked toward the top of the league in takeaways, blocked kicks, and touchdowns/safeties scored. He began his coaching career at Colorado State, where he worked with Meyer, and he later spent time with UCLA, Iowa State, USC, and the Raiders.
Former Chargers special teams ace Carlos Polk is currently the Jaguars assistant ST coach, and it’s easy to assume that he’ll step up in Schneider’s absence. Polk previous served as an assistant ST coach with the Chargers, Buccaneers, and Cowboys.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/21/21
Today’s lower round signings:
Buffalo Bills
- DB Damar Hamlin (sixth round; Pitt)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Jay Tufele (fourth round; USC)
No Guarantees For Jaguars’ Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow has a new job and the hottest selling jersey in the NFL. What he doesn’t have, however, is guaranteed money in his new deal with the Jaguars (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates).
Tebow’s one-year deal with Jacksonville is for $920K, the league’s minimum salary for a player with his experience level. And, if he doesn’t make the final cut in the fall, he’ll see $0 of that sum, because it’s completely non-guaranteed. That’s not necessarily a surprise – Tebow has bounced around from the broadcast booth to minor league baseball in recent years. Outside of pal Urban Meyer, it doesn’t sound like there were many coaches interested in signing him this year.
The one-time U of F star hasn’t played in a real NFL game since the 2012 season. His last stint was with the Eagles during the 2015 preseason. Despite his first-round pedigree, Tebow wasn’t up to snuff as an NFL quarterback. This time around, he’ll be trying his hand at tight end, practicing alongside Chris Manhertz, fifth-round rookie Luke Farrell, Tyler Davis, James O’Shaughnessy, and Ben Ellefson,
For what it’s worth, Meyer is pretty excited about what Tebow could bring to the table.
“[My assistants] said, ‘Wow, this guy’s ball skills, he’s a great athlete, he looks like he’s 18 years old, not 20-whatever-he-is, 33,’” Meyer told Cris Collinsworth (via The Ringer). “Guys, you don’t understand. Now this guy is, he’s the most competitive maniac you’re ever gonna talk to, and let’s give it a shot.”
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/20/21
Here are the 2021 draftees to sign their rookie contracts Thursday:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Marco Wilson (fourth round; Florida)
- S James Wiggins (seventh round; Cincinnati)
- C Michal Menet (seventh round; Penn State)
Dallas Cowboys
- LB Jabril Cox (fourth round; LSU)
- OT Josh Ball (fourth round; Marshall)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Luke Farrell (fifth round; Ohio State)
Jaguars Sign Tim Tebow
It’s officially official. On Thursday, the Jaguars confirmed that they’ve signed former University of Florida superstar Tim Tebow. Tebow, who made his name at quarterback, will attempt to return to football as a tight end.
“‘I want to thank the Jaguars for the opportunity to compete and earn the chance to be part of this team,’ Tebow said. “I know it will be a challenge, but it is a challenge I embrace. I am dedicated to taking the direction of our coaching staff and learning from my teammates. I appreciate everyone’s support as I embark on this new journey.”
Tebow hasn’t played in a real NFL game since the 2012 season. His last pro football stint was with the Eagles during the 2015 preseason. He’s since attempted a pro baseball career, spending time in the minor leagues with the Mets, which he just recently retired from.
All in all, Tebow’s NFL career spans three seasons, two with the Broncos and one with the Jets. As a first-round rookie in Denver, Tebow threw for 654 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 227 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. In 2011, Tebow played in 14 games and passed for 1,729 yards and 12 scores, plus 660 yards and six TDs rushing. Tebow logged a playoff win that year, but he wasn’t necessarily the driver behind their success.
Now, the two-time national champion at Florida will reunite with Urban Meyer and try to make the Jaguars as a tight end. For what it’s worth, the Mets’ minor league affiliates listed the 6-foot-3 Tebow at a TE-ready 245 pounds. The Jaguars now roster six TEs in total: Chris Manhertz, fifth-round pick Luke Farrell, Tyler Davis, James O’Shaughnessy, Ben Ellefson, and Tebow.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/18/21
A roundup of today’s mid-round draft pick signings:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DE/LB Jordan Smith (fourth round; UAB)
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Chris Rumph II (fourth round; Duke)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- LB Buddy Johnson (fourth round; Texas A&M); OL Dan Moore Jr. (fourth round; Texas A&M)
Jaguars Trade CB Josiah Scott To Eagles
The Jaguars have agreed to trade cornerback Josiah Scott to the Eagles (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). In exchange, the Eagles will send fellow cornerback Jameson Houston to Jacksonville, along with a 2023 sixth-round pick. 
[RELATED: Jaguars To Sign Tebow?]
Scott will help to solidify the Eagles’ CB group, although it’s a less splashy than their reported interest in veteran Steven Nelson. The ex-Chief/Steeler has been a solid starter in the league, ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 11 cornerback over the last two years. Scott, meanwhile, is heading into his second year after appearing in six games as a rookie reserve. The 2020 fourth-round pick finished last year with a grand total of eleven tackles, including one tackle for a loss.
Houston, meanwhile, went undrafted last year. Then, he got a mini-tour around the country by signing deals with the Browns, Panthers and Eagles. The 5’11” corner saw his first live action with Birds, suiting up for three games down the stretch. The bulk of his time came in Week 16, when he was on the field for 35% of the snaps against Washington.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/17/21
The Bengals were busy on Monday, inking all seven of their Day 3 picks to their rookie deals. We’ll keep track of all of today’s draft pick signings below:
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Cameron Sample (fourth-round; Tulane), OT D’Ante Smith (fourth-round; East Carolina), DT Tyler Shelvin (fourth-round; LSU), K Evan McPherson (fifth-round; Florida), C Trey Hill (sixth-round; Georgia), RB Chris Evans (sixth-round; Michigan), DE Wyatt Hubert (seventh-round; Kansas State)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Jalen Camp (sixth-round; Georgia Tech)
Las Vegas Raiders
- S Tyree Gillespie (fourth-round; Missouri), CB Nate Hobbs (fifth-round; Illinois), C Jimmy Morrissey (seventh-round; Pittsburgh)
Jaguars Cut Ryquell Armstead
Ryquell Armstead will have to bounce back from his tough 2020 with a different team. The Jaguars announced they waived the running back on Monday.
A fifth-round pick out of Temple in 2019, Armstead garnered headlines last season as one of the pro athletes to be most effected by COVID-19. The young rusher spent the entire 2020 campaign on the COVID list. It was a scary situation, as Armstead reportedly dealt with serious respiratory issues and had to be hospitalized twice.
Fortunately most NFL players who tested positive were able to return to play relatively quickly, but Armstead wasn’t as lucky. Now with the Jags drafting Travis Etitenne in the first-round and the presence of breakout 2020 rookie James Robinson, the running backs room had gotten a bit crowded.
Armstead was able to make a real impact as a rookie in 2019, and got a start in Week 17. Overall he finished his only pro season to date carrying the ball 35 times for 108 yards and adding another 14 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Here’s to hoping he’s made a full recovery and is able to sign with somebody for 2021.