Joeckel's Injuries Could Boost Jags Reunion?
- Luke Joeckel‘s surgery could make a return to the Jaguars more likely in 2017, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union writes. Although the former No. 2 overall pick has not panned out, a strong season at guard would have created a robust market for Joeckel instead of one that could well be tepid due to a small work sample at his second position. Joeckel proved ill-equipped at left tackle, prompting the Jags to bring in Kelvin Beachum, and played just 155 snaps at left guard before undergoing surgery to repair his ACL, MCL and mensicus. O’Halloran notes the team liked what they saw from Joeckel inside. He stands to be a UFA if not re-signed after the Jags declined his fifth-year option.
Ravens Sign DB Marqueston Huff
The Ravens have plucked defensive back Marqueston Huff off of the Jaguars’ practice squad, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets. Huff will take the place of cornerback Maurice Canady, who has been placed on IR with a knee injury. 
Huff, 24, entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2014. In two years with Tennessee, the defensive back appeared in 30 games and tallied 23 tackles, one interception, one sack, and four passes defensed. Prior to the 53-man deadline, the Titans bounced Huff along with other notables from the old regime like Justin Hunter, Bishop Sankey, and Dexter McCluster.
Canady was selected by Baltimore in the sixth round of this year’s draft. A four-year player at Virginia, Canady closed out his collegiate career with 37 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and six passes defensed. He did not record an official statistic in his one month with the Ravens.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Luke Joeckel Set For Knee Surgery
The prospects of Luke Joeckel returning to the Jaguars later this season after a stay on IR dimmed considerably Wednesday. Joeckel will undergo a knee surgery to repair a “major” MCL injury, a torn meniscus and possible ACL tear, Chris Mortetnsen of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter).
Placed on IR on Tuesday, the fourth-year player was believed to be a candidate to return this season. This surgery could well put a halt to that and send him into free agency on a low note.
The Jaguars passed on the former No. 2 overall pick’s fifth-year option in May, making this season a pivotal one for the formerly maligned tackle-turned-guard. Pro Football Focus rated Joeckel as its No. 44 guard through four games. That’s better than the site’s impression of him as a tackle, but the small sample size at guard could still could Joeckel’s position future if he hits the market in March.
He’d still worked at tackle extensively this year due to Kelvin Beachum‘s injury problems. Joeckel started 39 games for the Jags since entering the league in 2013.
Third-year player Patrick Omameh could step into Joeckel’s spot between Joeckel and center Brandon Linder. He’s started a game for the Jags this season and is the only player standing between the former Texas A&M standout and two UDFAs on the depth chart.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jaguars Were Scheduled To Audition Mike Liedtke
- Before he signed with the Browns’ practice squad, offensive lineman Mike Liedtke worked out for the Ravens and was scheduled to audition for the Jaguars, according to his agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). Baltimore also tried out veteran safety Shamiel Gary today, per Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Gary has also been linked to the Giants in recent days.
Jaguars Place Luke Joeckel On IR
The Jaguars announced that guard Luke Joeckel will be placed on injured reserve. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), he is a candidate to return later this season, so his year might not be over.
Joeckel, 25 in November, was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, he hasn’t lived up to his pre-draft hype. In the spring, the Jags declined his fifth-year option for 2017. Although he has started 39 games for the Jags since joining the team in 2013, including 34 over the last two years and change, Joeckel has been inconsistent and hasn’t lived up to his draft slot.
The Jaguars, now down one offensive lineman, have a bye week coming up before they travel to Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Jaguars HC Gus Bradley
The Jaguars are not expected to fire head coach Gus Bradley even if the Jaguars lose to the Colts in London today, multiple team sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. However, if Jacksonville continues to struggle throughout the season, the club’s ownership could revisit the situation.
[RELATED: Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart]
Jaguars owner Shad Kahn has been “unfailing loyal” to both Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell, according to La Canfora, and though several head coaches have been relieved of their duties following a sojourn to London in recent years, that doesn’t figure to be the case with Bradley. But if Jacksonville doesn’t show improvement as the campaign progresses, “drastic” moves could be on the horizon.
If Bradley were to be let go at some point, assistant head coach Doug Marrone would likely take over the top job, reports La Canfora. Marrone is the only member of the Jaguars’ coaching staff with head coaching experience, having led the Bills from 2013-2014. Jacksonville’s coordinators — Greg Olson (offense) and Todd Wash (defense) — have been limited to play-calling at the NFL level.
Bradley, 50, was hired as the Jaguars’ head coach prior to the 2013 season, and hasn’t delivered results in his three-plus years with the club. The former Seahawks defensive coordinator has posted a 12-39 record during his tenure, and is danger of starting 0-4 on the season if his club loses to the Colts today. In January, Bradley signed an extension through 2017, but the contract presumably wouldn’t dissuade Jacksonville ownership from making a change.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jaguars Work Out Five
- The Jaguars worked out offensive tackle Jeff Adams, wide receivers Kenny Bell and Mario Alford, guard Chase Farris, and linebacker Micah Awe, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Cam Johnson
- Cut: LB Shaq Riddick
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Ed Eagan, C Terran Vaughn
- Cut: LB Carlos Fields, S Damian Parms
Green Bay Packers
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Adam Redmond
- Cut: S Lee Hightower
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OT Rashod Hill (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Lynden Trail (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Doran Grant
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Julian Stanford
- Cut: WR Wendall Williams
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DL Demetrius Cherry (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
- Cut: LB Korey Toomer (Twitter link via Tafur)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia)
- Cut: WR Antwan Goodley (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: NT Antwaun Woods
Washington Redskins
- Signed: CB Lloyd Carrington (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post), CB Tye Smith (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
- Cut: LB Amarlo Herrera
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2016 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Titans enjoyed top priority thanks to their 3-13 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week:
1. Jaguars
2. Saints
3. Bears
4. Browns
5. Chargers
6. Lions
7. Jets
8. Cardinals
9. Bills
10. Colts
11. Dolphins
12. 49ers
13. Buccaneers
14. Bengals
15. Titans
16. Redskins
17. Panthers
18. Falcons
19. Cowboys
20. Giants
21. Raiders
22. Packers
23. Chiefs
24. Rams
25. Seahawks
26. Texans
27. Steelers
28. Ravens
29. Eagles
30. Broncos
31. Vikings
32. Patriots
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/16
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
- The Lions announced that they have waived linebacker Zaviar Gooden. Gooden was bumped from the practice squad to the main roster on Sunday and played in 27 of the team’s 54 snaps.
- The Jaguars have released offensive tackle Rashod Hill, according to agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter). If he clears waivers, Tessler says that Jacksonville will re-sign him to the practice squad. Taking his place will be wide receiver Bryan Walters (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com).
- The Jets waived linebacker Julian Stanford, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
- Former Kansas City seventh-round wide receiver Da’Ron Brown visited the Jaguars, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.