Jaguars Put Branden Albert On Retired List
The Jaguars are placing offensive tackle Branden Albert on the reserve/retired list. Albert, who flip-flopped on retiring this week, was previously on the “left team” list. 
[RELATED: Branden Albert To Un-Retire, Report To Jaguars]
The change in designation theoretically allows Albert to play for the Jaguars, but that’s not what the team has in mind. The move essentially means that the Jaguars are not interested in his services right now and, barring something unforeseen, we won’t see him suit up for Jacksonville.
After Albert informed the Jaguars of his retirement on July 31st and had a change of heart on August 7th, there was some question as to whether he would be welcomed back. It seems that the Jags are moving on rather than carrying out a deal that had non-guaranteed base salaries of $8.9MM in 2017 and $9.6MM in 2018.
If Albert stayed retired, the Jaguars reserved the right to recoup $3.4MM in signing bonus money from him. It’s not immediately clear what the Jaguars can do in that regard or whether they’ll come after those dollars.
In 2016, Albert registered a career-worst 42.2 overall score on Pro Football Focus. He also missed four games due to injury. In his healthier years, however, he vacillated between above average to very good.
If Albert is out of the picture, we’re likely to see rookie Cam Robinson at left tackle.
Branden Albert To Un-Retire, Report To Jags
Offensive tackle Branden Albert has informed the Jaguars he will reverse his decision to retire and instead report to camp, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). However, there are many “moving parts,” and Albert is not yet officially a member of Jacksonville’s roster, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s unclear if the Jaguars are interested in welcoming Albert back to the club, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Albert, 32, originally announced his retirement a week ago today, a decision that leave Jacksonville with something of a void at left tackle. Second-round rookie Cam Robinson had been set to protect quarterback Blake Bortles‘ blindside, but he now figures to shift back to left guard, with Albert taking over tackle once again. Overall, it’s a marked improvement for a Jaguars offensive line that will be essential to the club’s success in 2016.
Jacksonville acquired Albert from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round pick earlier this year, and the veteran offensive lineman requested a new contract almost immediately upon becoming a Jaguar. General manager Dave Caldwell & Co. refused to rework Albert’s pact, and could have sought to recoup $3.4MM in signing bonus money had Albert stayed retired. While entirely speculative, its possible the idea of losing those funds led Albert to report to camp.
Albert, who met with the Jaguars over the weekend (Twitter link via Garafolo), will enter his 10th NFL campaign if his decision to return sticks. Miami will also see a small benefit from Albert’s resolution, as the club should acquire that aforementioned 2018 draft choice if Albert says on Jacksonville’s roster for at least three games.
At present, Albert is scheduled to earn non-guaranteed base salaries of $8.9MM in 2017 and $9.6MM in 2018.
Jaguars Sign Jeron Johnson, Cut James Sample
The Jaguars have cut safety James Sample and signed safety Jeron Johnson to take his place on the roster, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets. Jacksonville selected Sample in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, but he has struggled with shoulder and forearm injuries over his first two seasons in the league and has appeared in only four games as a result. All four of those games came in his rookie campaign, as he was placed on IR prior to the 2016 season.
Johnson is entering his seventh season in the league and has suited up for the Seahawks and Redskins in his career. He has been deployed primarily as a reserve defensive back and special-teamer and has just two starts to his credit. He performed well enough for Seattle from 2011-14 to land a two-year pact with Washington in 2015, but the Redskins cut him loose after just one year. He returned to Seattle last December and was part of the club’s playoff push, but the Seahawks did not re-sign him this offseason. He worked out with the Giants in June but left without a contract.
Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson make up Jacksonville’s starting safety tandem, but Johnson will have a chance to compete for a reserve role with the likes of Peyton Thompson, Jarrod Wilson, and Jarrod Harper. It is more likely, however, that he was signed for the contributions he could make to the Jags’ special teams unit, which was sub-par in 2016.
Jaguars Add Matt Overton
- The Jaguars signed long snapper Matt Overton to replace Carson Tinker, who suffered a torn right ACL. The team also added guard Malcolm Bunche. The headliner is Overton, who was the Colts’ long snapper from 2012-16. He appeared in 16 games in each of those seasons and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2013.
Jaguars Sign Tyler Gaffney
- The Jaguars added running back Tyler Gaffney, who’s on his third club since Carolina used a sixth-round pick on him in 2014. The ex-Stanford rusher hadn’t caught on anywhere since New England cut him in March, which wasn’t the first time the Patriots parted with him. Gaffney was with the Pats in each of the previous three summers, though he failed to crack their season-opening roster in any of those years. He vacillated between the Pats’ active roster and practice squad last season.
- The Colts signed offensive tackle and Arturo Uzdavinis and waived fellow OT Jerry Ugokwe. Uzdavinis is up to his sixth club since he went undrafted from Tulane a year ago, having previously been with the Texans, Bears, Jaguars, Lions and Vikings. Ugokwe’s time with the Colts is up after nearly three months. The undrafted rookie from William & Mary inked a deal with them May 4.
Jaguars Sign Charles Gaines
- The Jaguars announced that they’ve signed cornerback Charles Gaines and waived/injured fellow cornerback Taurean Nixon. A sixth-round draft choice in 2015, Gaines appeared in six games for the Browns during his rookie campaign, starting four contests while playing on a quarter of Cleveland’s defensive snaps. Despite seeing that level of playing time in his first NFL season, Gaines was subsequently waived, and spent time with the Bills’ practice squad in 2016. Nixon, meanwhile, came to Jacksonville via waivers last month.
Jaguars Can Recoup Branden Albert Bonus
If Branden Albert stays retired, the Jaguars have the right to recoup $3.4MM in signing bonus from the left tackle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Jacksonville absorbed Albert’s base salaries when it acquired him from the Miami earlier this year, but — as with any trade — Albert’s prorated bonus money stayed with his original club, with the Dolphins taking on $3.4MM in accelerated dead money. Despite that, Albert’s rights, and the rights to any forfeited money, transferred to the Jaguars as part of the swap with the Dolphins, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explains (Twitter link).
In sum, the Jaguars will never actually pay Albert a dime of his 2017-18 base salaries, which would have totaled $18.45MM. Instead, provided Albert stays retired, they’ll pick up $3.4MM in cash (not cap space). Plus, Jacksonville won’t even lose the 2018 seventh-round pick it sent to the Dolphins — because Albert wasn’t on the Jacksonville roster for at least three games, Miami was forced to return the draft choice, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Contract squabbles between the Jaguars and Albert are nothing new, as the veteran blindside protector held out for a new deal soon after being traded to Jacksonville. General manager Dave Caldwell & Co. refused to rework Albert’s pact (with, hypothetically, could have played a role in his retirement), and Albert eventually reported to camp.
Jaguars OL Branden Albert Retires
Branden Albert is retiring from the NFL. The Jaguars announced that the veteran tackle is walking away from the game. 
Albert, 32, was acquired by the Jaguars in a trade with the Dolphins back in March. Things did not get off on the right foot for Albert and Jacksonville as the veteran immediately pushed for a new contract. When the Jaguars refused to guarantee a portion of the two years left on his deal, Albert skipped voluntary OTAs and had minimal contact with the team.
Although he showed for the mandatory minicamp in June, he has changed course here in late July. It’s not immediately clear whether his contract played a role in his decision.
“After nine seasons playing in the National Football League, I have decided to retire from the game that has given me so much,” said Albert. “I would like to thank Mr. Khan and the Jaguars organization, Mr. Ross, Joe Philbin, Dennis Hickey and the Dolphins organization and Mr. Hunt, Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards and the Chiefs organization for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime….I wish Coach Marrone and my Jacksonville teammates the best of luck on their journey this season. During my short stint in Jacksonville, I quickly realized that they are working incredibly hard to turn the corner and I truly believe that they will find success in the coming years.”
Without Albert, the Jaguars will likely start second round pick Cam Robinson at left tackle. Tyler Shatley, Patrick Omameh, and free agent addition Earl Watford could be among those competing for the left guard spot that was originally supposed to be covered by Robinson.
The loss of Albert could be devastating for a Jaguars offense that is looking to right the ship and get a quality year out of quarterback Blake Bortles. On the plus side, Jacksonville now has some extra cap room to work with in the event that a quality left tackle pops up on the free agent market in August.
Jaguars Worked Out Jonathan Meeks
The Jaguars worked out former Bills safety Jonathan Meeks on Tuesday, according to Mike Kaye of First Coast News (Twitter link).
Meeks, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2013, appeared in 38 games for Buffalo over the past four years but never started a contest. Defensive contributions have never been the 27-year-old Meeks’ calling card, as he played on just 87 defensive snaps a year ago. Instead, Meeks has produced on special teams: he posted five tackles in 2017 while seeing action on roughly a third of the Bills’ special teams plays.
That’s the role Meeks would play if signed by Jacksonville, as well, as the Jaguars already boast two excellent starting safeties in Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church. Jacksonville’s special teams unit was below-average last season, ranking 25th in DVOA while losing 8.8 points of field position on punt coverage and 10.8 points of field position on punt returns. The Jaguars have since hired a new special teams coordinator — former Cowboys coach Joe DeCamillis — but Meeks would add another solid special teams presence.
Jacksonville agreed to terms with fellow defensive back Stanley Jean-Baptiste on Tuesday, so it’s unclear if Meeks is still in the running for a roster spot.
Jaguars, Allen Robinson Talking Extension
After making Brandon Linder the highest-paid center in the league earlier today, the Jaguars could turn their attention to another offensive player entering his contract year, as wide receiver Allen Robinson says he’s discussed a new deal with the club, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Because he wasn’t a first-round draft choice, Robinson can’t be controlled via the fifth-year option, so he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next spring. The Jaguars, who are likely going to carry over more than $40MM in cap space to 2018, will have the ability to use the franchise tag on Robinson, but that will come at a cost north of $16MM. A long-term contract which flattens Robinson’s cap charges and gives him financial security, then, is in the best interests of both parties.
Robinson, who will turn 24 years old next month, broke out in 2015 by hauling in 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. Last season wasn’t as kind, as Robinson — not helped by quarterback Blake Bortles‘ poor play — regressed to fewer than 900 yards receiving and eight scores. Still, Robinson said earlier this year that he’s “earned” an extension from the Jaguars.
Jacksonville already locked up its No. 2 receiver last summer, inking Allen Hurns to a four years, $40.05MM deal that included $16MM in guarantees. Robinson should be able to easily top both those figures, and could conceivably hit $14-15MM — the range earned by the likes of A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Dez Bryant — if he rebounds next season.