Gus Bradley’s Job Secure Through 2016?
Jaguars owner Shad Khan addressed the team earlier this week in an attempt to address Jacksonville’s futility in what was described, via Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com, as a non-confrontational address.
However, another takeaway that appears to have emerged from the meeting: Gus Bradley‘s job could well be safe throughout the season. Due to an organizational philosophy under Khan that steers clear of in-season coach changes, the embattled fourth-year leader looks to have the rest of this season to stake his claim to the Jags’ job, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Facebook link).
Rapoport adds a change could be made after the season if this spiral continues, and the Jags are coming off another embarrassing defeat, a 33-16 loss to the Raiders that saw multiple defensive starters get ejected and another penalized for a racial slur. The Jags are 14-40 under Bradley and 16-54 in Khan’s four-plus seasons as the owner, the first of which a 2-14 campaign in 2012 under Mike Mularkey‘s sideline leadership. Khan fired Mularkey and then-GM Gene Smith following the ’12 slate.
Khan asked several unspecified players their opinion of why the team is struggling, per DiRocco, and inquired what he could do to help the effort. Jacksonville is now 2-4 after receiving a decent amount of preseason hype.
“He said, ‘Hey, what can I do to help? Why have we gotten off to a slow start? What we can do to turn it around?’” a Jags source said, via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. “A lot of guys got up and talked, players and coaches and he sat back and listened. It was good. He didn’t make a bad thing worse.”
The former Seahawks DC would certainly be a Black Monday candidate at this rate regardless of the support Khan is showing presently.
Jaguars Audition Three
- The Jaguars worked out offensive tackles Aaron Epps and Keavon Milton and running back Jhurell Pressley on Monday, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
Jaguars Place Roy Miller On IR
- The Jaguars announced that they’ve officially placed defensive tackle Roy Miller on injured reserve and promoted fellow DT Richard Ash from the practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
- Cut: OT Martin Wallace
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Dobson Collins
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Gerald Christian, WR Mose Frazier, CB Joe Powell
- Cut: WR Corey Washington
Cleveland Browns
- Cut: OL Mike Liedtke
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Matt Rotheram
- Cut: RB Mike James
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Keith Baxter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doran Grant (Twitter link via Howard Balzer), DT Louis Nix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson
- Cut: LB Deion Barnes
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Sterling Bailey, OT Austin Shepherd, DB Cedric Thompson
- Cut: TE Kyle Carter, TE Brian Leonhardt, QB Joel Stave
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Shamiel Gary, DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Keavon Milton
- Cut: TE Rashaun Allen
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Donteea Dye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Matt Hazel
Jaguars DT Roy Miller Done For Year
Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller will be placed on IR after having Achilles surgery this week, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Needless to say, Miller is done for the rest of the 2016 campaign with no hope of a late-season return. 
A starter for most of his career, Miller has missed only two regular season games since joining the Jags in 2013. In his six starts this year, Miller had ten tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked him only 67th out of 120 qualified interior defenders, but he was viewed as a key veteran for Jacksonville.
“Roy Miller is one of the most important parts to our defense, hands down,” said linebacker Paul Posluszny (via the Florida Times-Union). “If he’s out for significant time, that’s a very significant loss for us. He’s our best interior guy and he’s a team leader.”
When Miller exited the game on Sunday, the team turned to Abry Jones to fill his shoes. They may also look to add a defensive lineman, though they could also get by with Malik Jackson, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jones, and Sheldon Day. Tyson Alualu, who is listed as a defensive end, also could play on the interior.
Gus Bradley Losing Jaguars' Players?
- Jaguars players are questioning head coach Gus Bradley‘s effectiveness, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Bradley remains popular in the locker room, but players are wondering whether he is tough enough to get the team out of its inconsistent ways. The Jaguars were a popular darkhorse pick before the season started, but they are now 2-4 after Sunday’s home loss to the Raiders. The Jags are also just 14-40 since hiring Bradley in 2011.
Jaguars Work Out RB David Cobb
Running back David Cobb worked out for the Jaguars today, according to a league source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Cobb’s short stay with the Steelers’ practice squad ended last week when he was cut. 
[RELATED: Jets Sign CB Nick Marshall Off Jags’ Practice Squad]
Cobb, 23, was a fifth-round pick of the Titans the 2015 draft. The ex-Minnesota Golden Gopher picked up 146 yards on 52 carries, good for a paltry 2.7 YPC, in seven games as a rookie. That output was disappointing to the Titans who saw him as a late-round steal. This offseason, he was cut by Titans GM Jon Robinson as the new regime cleaned house.
Now the Jaguars are kicking the tires on the young running back. Jacksonville expected to have a much-improved running situation this year after signing the high-priced Chris Ivory but he has not impressed since coming back from his mysterious illness earlier this year. T.J. Yeldon impressed at times as a rookie last year, but he is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry through five games this season. The Jags also have Auburn product Corey Grant and converted quarterback Denard Robinson on the RB depth chart.
Jets Sign CB Nick Marshall
The Jets have signed cornerback Nick Marshall off of the Jaguars practice squad. This morning, Marshall took to Twitter to share the news. 
“Proud to announce that I am a New member of the New York Jets!!! #JetUp,” Marshall tweeted.
Marshall, an Auburn product, joined the Jaguars after he went undrafted in 2015. Even though he was a quarterback in college, the Jags pursued him immediately as a cornerback. Jacksonville was the first team to contact Marshall after the draft and he was sold immediately. He did not wait to field calls from other clubs before signing on with Jacksonville.
Last year, Marshall wound up appearing in 13 games for the Jaguars and even made one start. His played primarily on special teams, however. Last year, he totaled ten tackles while also returning five punts and 13 kicks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rams Claim CB Dwayne Gratz
The Rams have claimed cornerback Dwayne Gratz off waivers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gratz was waived by the Jaguars earlier this week. 
Jacksonville cut Gratz on Monday in order to make room for fellow cornerback Aaron Colvin who had been serving a four-game suspension for a PED violation. Gratz, a UConn product, was in his fourth year with the Jags. From 2013-2015, he appeared in 37 games with 25 starts. This year, he saw time in three contests before getting dropped.
After starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson was forced to leave Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, Gratz may be counted on to provide the team with depth.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jaguars Activate Aaron Colvin
- The Jaguars activated cornerback Aaron Colvin to the 53-man roster and released fourth-year veteran cornerback Dwayne Gratz, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets. Colvin had been serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy.