Coughlin "Very Upset" By Giants' Move
- Tom Coughlin came out in support of his former quarterback and said he was “very upset” to hear the news Manning had been benched. “My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning,” the Jaguars‘ executive VP said (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, on Twitter). “I love the kid. He is a class act. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is the finest, most humblest young man in that locker room. I haven’t followed the Giants. I know it’s a disappointing year by my thoughts are strictly with Eli. I’m very upset about when I heard that.” This stands to naturally fuel buzz about Manning being a 2018 Jaguars target. Coughlin running the Jags, who can cut bait on Blake Bortles‘ non-guaranteed 2018 option before free agency, and their rebuilt defense thriving makes north Florida a logical fit.
- Manning has a no-trade clause in his contract, but after Tuesday’s events, the two-time Super Bowl MVP may be more inclined to waive it for a chance at another starting job. Conor Orr of SI.com lists the Jaguars as a fit, while placing the Broncos and Cardinals as the other top two destinations. The Broncos are in a similar place to the Jags, only with their quarterback woes having removed them from a Super Bowl perch, and the Cardinals will likely again be waiting on a Carson Palmer retirement decision. The Palmer-to-Manning switch would be interesting given that Palmer is only a month older than Manning.
- As for a Manning/Coughlin reunion, Joel Corry of CBS Sports tweets the Jags could create $19MM in cap space by cutting Bortles after this season. That option doesn’t become fully guaranteed until Day 5 of the 2018 league year (March 14). Prior to a Bortles cut, the Jags have just more than $30MM in projected 2018 cap space. The Broncos have $32MM-plus, and the Cardinals — with Palmer’s 2018 salary on their books as of now — stand to hold more than $35MM.
Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/17
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Kevin Snyder
- Cut: LB Connor Harris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Lorenzo Doss
- Waived: OL Will Pericak
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Alex Carter
- Waived: WR Mario Alford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DL Josh Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Jace Billingsley, DB Stefan McClure
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Jeremy Liggins
- Waived: G Ian Silberman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE Francis Kallon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Brooks Ellis, WR Jaelen Strong
- Waived: DL Marcus Hardison
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, DB Marcus Sayles
- Waived: OL Jeremiah Poutasi
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Waived: DT Mike Purcell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Kyle Coleman, LB Kache Palacio
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jake Lampman, T Givens Price, CB David Rivers
Telvin Smith Out With A Concussion
- The Jaguars were hit with a concussion of their own as starting linebacker Telvin Smith did not return after suffering the injury, reports Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. Smith has been one of many key contributors in what has turned into perhaps the best defense in football. This situation will certainly be worth monitoring throughout the upcoming practice week.
A Look At The Jags Use of Analytics
The Jaguars have shocked the NFL after starting the year 7-3, thanks in large part to their outstanding defense. But while that side of the ball has deservingly gotten a lot of the credit for their success, there’s another interesting aspect of their front office that had contributed to the team’s sudden rise to the top of the AFC South, opines Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
However, Breer pointed out the Jaguars have used data in their decision to keep their offense on the field a full 10 percent more times on fourth down than last season, as well in their acquisitions of running back Corey Grant and saftey Jarrod Wilson, who have each made big plays over the course of the season. Breer’s article provides an interesting look at another aspect of perhaps the league’s most surprising team through some pretty cool examples of more analytical evaluation when making football decisions.
- In some good injury news, Browns defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah tweeted out a photo this afternoon showing that he had a successful surgery on the foot he broke during the team’s game last Sunday vs. the Jaguars. The 24-year-old was having a solid sophomore campaign up until the injury, but it’s certainly great news that his recovery has gotten off to a good start.
Jalen Ramsey Injures Hand In Practice
The Jaguars are contending for the AFC South title and, if things go awry at the top of the AFC, a first-round bye. And the defensive-powered team looks to have lost one of its top players because of an injury sustained at practice.
Jalen Ramsey suffered a hand injury Friday during Jacksonville’s workout, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com tweets, adding that Ramsey is questionable for Sunday against the Cardinals.
However, the talented cornerback may be closer to doubtful. When asked if he would play in Week 12, Ramsey said, “No,” per DiRocco (on Twitter). Ramsey has not missed a game in his two-year career, starting all 26 for which he’s suited up as a Jaguar.
Should the cornerback be unable to go, Aaron Colvin would likely move into the starting lineup. Journeyman Tyler Patmon and seventh-round rookie Jalen Myrick are the other corners on the Jacksonville roster.
While the assignment isn’t as strenuous as it would have been under ordinary circumstances, with Blaine Gabbert returning to Jacksonville as Arizona’s starter rather than Carson Palmer or Drew Stanton, the Jaguars have received quality work from Ramsey and would obviously be weakened without him.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/17
The AFC South leaders made a Thanksgiving Day adjustment to their taxi squad.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K Mike Meyer
- Cut: G Brandon Thomas
NFL Workout Updates: 11/21/17
Here’s the workout news from Tuesday.
Buffalo Bills
- DT Stefan Charles (per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LB Ben Boulware, LB Carl Bradford, LB Brooks Ellis, LS Derek Hart, WR Lucky Whitehead (per NFL reporter Howard Balzer, on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- LB Darnell Sankey, WR R.J. Shelton (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- CB Will Likely, TE Gabe Holmes, S Kelcie McCray, WR Eric Rogers (Twitter links via Wilson and ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan)
Texans, Lions, Cardinals Liked Sheldon Day
On Monday, the 49ers used their high waiver priority to snag defensive tackle Sheldon Day. They weren’t the only team with interest in him, however. The Texans, Lions, and Cardinals also tried to claim him, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
It seems that several teams in the league have been keeping an eye on the former fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame. Day hasn’t done a whole lot in his one-and-a-half NFL seasons, notching just eleven tackles and two sacks. However, he led the Fighting Irish in quarterback pressures (13), tackles for a loss (15.5), and touchdown-saving tackles (9) in his final year on campus.
The Texans would have loved to get a good look at Day, particularly after losing defensive lineman J.J. Watt and backup Christian Covington for the season. Ditto for the Lions who are without defensive tackles Haloti Ngata and Jordan Hill plus defensive end Kerry Hyder. However, the 1-9 49ers beat them all to the punch in order to reunite Day with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
By assuming his rookie contract, the 49ers have gained contractual control of Day through the 2019 season. However, if he gets cut at some point between now and then, the Texans, Lions, and Cardinals will be among the teams to keep an eye on.
49ers Claim Sheldon Day From Jaguars
The 49ers claimed defensive lineman Sheldon Day off waivers from the Jaguars, the team announced on Monday.
Day was waived on Saturday when the Jaguars activated rookie Dede Westbrook. A fourth-round selection in 2016 coming out of Notre Dame, Day has appeared in 22 games, logging 11 tackles, two sacks and one pass defensed. With the move, the second-year defender will be reunited with San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who spent three seasons in Jacksonville as a linebackers coach before heading west.
A Second Team All-American at Notre Dame, Day posted 15.5 tackles for loss as a senior in 2015, the most by a Fighting Irish player since Derek Landri in 2006.
Could Jaguars Be Landing Spot For Tyrod Taylor?
Indeed, aside from the $6MM roster bonus, Taylor is owed a fairly modest $10MM base salary, and it’s not as if the free agent QB market is likely to set the world on fire. Plus, there will be plenty of teams who are unable to address their QB needs in the draft. La Canfora names the Jaguars, Broncos, Cardinals, and Saints as potential landing spots for Taylor, and he says the Bills will be doing their own homework on the 2018 quarterback draft class. He also says the Bills could continue to look to trade Cordy Glenn this offseason.