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Jacksonville Jaguars News & Rumors

Jaguars Place Franchise Tag On Evan Engram

March 6th, 2023 at 3:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 6: The Jaguars announced on Monday, to little surprise at this point, that they have indeed tagged Engram. He will not reach the open market for the second straight offseason, and will remain in place for at least 2023 on a Jacksonville offense which will also welcome Calvin Ridley into the fold in the fall.

MARCH 2, 12:14pm: A tag will happen if the sides cannot agree on a long-term deal, but NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes the sides still plan to negotiate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline (Twitter link). Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to apply tags to players.

MARCH 2, 11:40am: The second of this year’s franchise tags is coming out. After the Commanders cuffed Daron Payne, the Jaguars intend to tag Evan Engram, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

This is a logical choice, with the tight end tag being the third-lowest figure this year. It will cost the Jags $11.35MM to give Engram the one-year tender/placeholder. Engram has said he wants to stay in Jacksonville, and the Jaguars are optimistic they will be able to hammer out a deal. This move buys them time. They will have until July 15 to work out an extension with Engram, who is going into his age-29 season.

Jacksonville had until March 7 to fire off this transaction. Although GM Trent Baalke said right tackle Jawaan Taylor was also a tag candidate, that move never added up compared to the Engram call. It would have cost the Jags $18.2MM to tag Taylor. Considering Cam Robinson is signed to a top-eight left tackle contract, putting that number on the payroll would have been challenging for the team.

For Engram, this cements a midcareer breakthrough effort. Having languished on mostly poor Giants offenses during his first five seasons, Engram signed a one-year, $9MM pact with the Jags in March 2022. The “prove it” deal paid off for both parties. Engram ended the season with a Jags tight end-record 766 receiving yards, and he continued his production in the playoffs to help the team to the divisional round.

While a host of players have been tagged in the season following their fifth-year option campaign, Engram is the rare player to be tagged two years after his option year. The 2017 first-rounder played out his option year in New York. This tag, which could well lead to a long-term deal, will mean the Ole Miss product will have collected more than $26MM over the past three seasons. Not bad for a tight end who has battled injuries and inconsistency. Ahead of his one-year Jags pact, Engram totaled just 408 yards in 15 Giants games.

It would behoove the Jags to work out a long-term accord with Engram. Their pass catcher payroll is filling up. They now have an Engram tag and Calvin Ridley‘s fifth-year option ($10.9MM) on the books. Both Christian Kirk and Zay Jones are on veteran contracts — $18MM and $8MM per year, respectively — though the Jags restructuring both helped create enough cap space to unholster this Engram tag. This locks in an intriguing quartet ahead of Trevor Lawrence‘s third season. The Jags are still waiting on Ridley’s reinstatement from his gambling suspension, but that is expected to take place.

Thursday’s Jags decision also stands to benefit two tight ends tagged last year. Unless the Cowboys tag Dalton Schultz, his free agency prospects look a bit better. Ditto Mike Gesicki, whom the Dolphins tagged ahead of an ill-fitting season in Mike McDaniel‘s offense. Both are eligible for unrestricted free agency March 15. Gesicki and Schultz are expected to relocate soon after. Neither was able to work out a deal before last summer’s extension deadline, though David Njoku did so with the Browns. Cleveland gave Njoku, chosen six spots behind Engram in the 2017 draft, a four-year, $54.75MM deal. Engram should be able to target a contract in the Njoku-Dawson Knox range; the Bills tight end signed for just less ($13MM per year) last summer.

NFL Reinstates WR Calvin Ridley

March 6th, 2023 at 2:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

On the first day he was eligible to do so, Calvin Ridley applied for reinstatement to the NFL. On Monday, the league announced that the Jaguars receiver has been reinstated, meaning he is clear to participate in all offseason team activities.

The 28-year-old was suspended for the full 2022 campaign after he was found to have bet on NFL games the previous year. That marked a controversial end to his Falcons tenure, which spanned the first four seasons of his career. The former first-rounder was set to play on his fifth-year option ($11.12MM) in 2022, but will earn that amount this coming season in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars acquired Ridley at the trade deadline despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. The Falcons will receive Jacksonville’s fifth-round pick this year since Ridley has been reinstated. Atlanta is also in line for at least the Jaguars’ fourth-rounder in 2024, though that pick could become a third- or even second-rounder, depending on if the Alabama product signs a new deal to remain in Duval County.

That remains a distinct possibility, given the potential Ridley showed in the 2020 season in particular. He posted 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns that season, though things took a significant turn one year later. Ridley took a leave of absence from the Falcons midway through the 2021 campaign, citing mental heath reasons. That limited him to just five games played, and thus a lengthy layoff until his Jaguars debut, even if that comes in Week 1 of the 2023 season.

Presuming that takes place, though, the AFC South champions will have another notable pass-catching option available for third-year QB Trevor Lawrence. The team signed Christian Kirk to a deal which raised plenty of eyebrows at the time, though the ex-Cardinal posted 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Jacksonville will also have tight end Evan Engram in the fold for at least the 2023 season via the franchise tag. Ridley will join them as he looks to help the Jaguars build off of last season’s success, and get his career back on track.

In a statement, Ridley said, “Today’s reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgement. I have always owned my mistakes and this is no different. 

“I have great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates, and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person.”

Jaguars To Move On From CB Shaquill Griffin

March 2nd, 2023 at 7:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars are in a much different salary cap situation in 2023 compared to last offseason. That will inevitably lead to fewer notable signings during free agency, but also cost-cutting moves leading up to the new league year.

One instance of that will concern cornerback Shaquill Griffin. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Jacksonville will look to find a trade partner for him in the coming days; barring that, he will be released (Twitter link). Moving on from Griffin will mark an end to his two-year stint in Jacksonville.

Griffin is due a base salary of $11.5MM in 2023, the final season of a three-year, $40MM accord signed in 2021. His scheduled cap hit is $17.1MM, however, and no guaranteed money remains on his pact, making him a logical cut candidate. His release will save the Jaguars just over $13MM while generating a dead cap charge of $4MM.

The 27-year-old carried high expectations upon his arrival in Jacksonville, given his production in three years with the Seahawks. Griffin earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2019, and was a full-time starter in his two seasons in Duval County. His 2022 campaign was limited to just five games due to a back injury. The former third-rounder was held without an interception during his time as a Jaguar, and he totaled only 11 pass deflections in his 19 games there.

Still, his age and past success will likely allow Griffin to generate a notable market as a free agent. He will find himself near the top of the list of available corners, alongside the likes of James Bradberry and Marcus Peters. In an update which will help his value significantly, Jordan Schultz of the Score reports that Griffin has full received medical clearance (Twitter link).

Once Griffin is off the books, Jacksonville will have roughly $29MM in cap space, a figure which will help them retain a shortlist of coveted in-house free agents. That includes tight end Evan Engram, who was reported earlier today to be in line for the franchise tag to guarantee his presence on the team for at least 2023, or longer if talks on a multi-year deal proceed according to plan. Jacksonville will, though, need to identify one or more Griffin replacements in free agency and the draft to bolster a secondary which ranked 28th in the league in passing yards allowed in 2022.

Jaguars Optimistic On Evan Engram Deal, Want To Retain Jawaan Taylor

March 1st, 2023 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Jaguars transition from spending wildly in 2022 to a 2023 free agency period featuring little action in terms of outside hires, they are going down to the wire with two priority players.

The Jags’ interest in re-signing Evan Engram has been on the radar for a while, but Jawaan Taylor is also a keeper candidate for the resurgent team. GM Trent Baalke confirmed Engram and Taylor talks are ongoing, as the Combine annually ignites discussions between teams and key free agents.

Engram has joined Taylor in indicating he would like to stay in Jacksonville, and NFL.com’s James Palmer points to optimism a deal will be reached (Twitter link). Particularly with Engram, this will be a time-sensitive matter. The Jags have not ruled out tagging either Engram or Taylor, but with the tight end tag checking in at barely $11MM, Engram profiles as the likelier candidate to be cuffed. It would cost the Jags $18.2MM to tag Taylor.

“I think with Jawaan and Evan, I don’t want to speak for them, they know how we feel about them, and I think we know how they feel about us, and there’s a win-win in there somewhere. We’ve just got to get to that,” Baalke said, via the Florida Times-Union’s Demetrius Harvey. “We’ve got a nice window here before free agency starts, and our goal is to try to close those deals within that window.”

Given Engram’s interest in coming back, it should not be considered a lock the Jaguars will lose the seventh-year veteran if they pass on tagging him by the March 7 deadline. But that is the failsafe point for the Jags, who gave the ex-Giants first-rounder a one-year deal worth $9MM in 2022 and saw him produce a single-season franchise record for tight end receiving yards (766). Engram, 28, staying would further strengthen Jacksonville’s receiving corps, which has Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Calvin Ridley under contract.

Taylor’s path is a bit more complicated. The Jags already tagged left tackle Cam Robinson twice, eventually extending him last year. The tackle landscape reveals the either/or decisions teams have made recently regarding payments; clubs with big-ticket left tackle deals on their respective payrolls have not doled out much money to right tackles. Robinson’s $17.9MM-per-year pact ranks seventh at left tackle. The Jags have Walker Little as a possible option to succeed Taylor, who would be poised to do well on the market, with dependable O-linemen being coveted commodities annually.

Robinson’s meniscus tear, however, clouds the Jags’ plans here. Robinson would tentatively be on track to return by Week 1, but Doug Pederson confirmed his potential unavailability factors into the Taylor talks. Taylor, 25, has never missed a game as a pro.

The Jags do have more money to work with as they navigate these negotiations now. They recently restructured the contracts of Kirk, Jones, Brandon Scherff and Foye Oluokun, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links). Altogether, this created $36MM-plus in cap space. Jacksonville has boosted its total to $16.1MM, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The team has re-signed Roy Robertson-Harris to a three-year, $30MM deal, keeping the D-line starter off the market. That contract is already factored into the team’s updated payroll. Engram and/or Taylor may follow suit; each would be free to negotiate with other teams beginning March 13.

RB Rumors: Mixon, Cook, Dolphins, Jaguars

March 1st, 2023 at 12:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Emphatically announcing that Tee Higgins was not available for a trade, Bengals VP of player personnel Duke Tobin was less declarative regarding Joe Mixon‘s future. The seventh-year running back, one of a few 2017 backfield draftees who entered the offseason with an uncertain place on his team’s roster, has a fairly manageable 2023 cap hit ($12.8MM). Mixon, 26, is still unlikely to be with the team too much longer, considering the payments that will need to be made to the offense’s other high-profile players. His deal runs through 2024.

“I’m not gonna predict the offseason because I don’t have the answers. In the words of the great Kevin Malone, ‘I don’t know,’” Tobin said, borrowing a line from one of The Office‘s accounting staffers, when asked about Mixon. “We’ll all see as the offseason goes what we’re able to get done and how the resources are spread around, but Joe’s been a vital part of our team, a successful part, a contributing part. My job is to try to keep as many of those pieces around as I can.”

The Bengals could save more than $7MM by releasing Mixon and just more than $10MM if he is designated as a post-June 1 cut. The team also has the likes of Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Germaine Pratt set to hit the market. The Bengals are near the top of the league in cap space, at over $35MM, and after being aggressive in adding outside talent from 2020-22, they plan to restore their offseason focus on attempting to retain their own players. Releasing Mixon would be a way to create more space, but the Bengals would then need help at running back. Backup Samaje Perine is set for free agency, though he could be retained cheaply if the Bengals decided to cut the cord on their longtime starter.

Here is the latest from the running back scene:

  • Both Mixon and Dalvin Cook signed extensions just before the 2020 season; Cook’s Vikings pact was for five years, however. Entering Year 3 of that contract, the Vikings are not certain to move forward with their Pro Bowl ball-carrier. While calling Cook a “great player, great leader,” Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert) joined Tobin in stopping short of guaranteeing the former second-round pick would be back. “In the NFL you have a lot of constraints, salary cap, different things, and we’re trying to figure out how we can operate in those things,” Adofo-Mensah said. The Vikings could save $9MM by designating Cook a post-June 1 cut; the team is currently $24MM over the cap. Cutting the four-time 1,100-yard rusher would obviously come with risk. Going into his age-28 season, Cook has been one of the NFL’s best backs in recent years. Though, he has battled injuries and recently underwent shoulder surgery. Longtime backup Alexander Mattison is also on the cusp of free agency.
  • The Dolphins want to keep at least one of their free agent backs — Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson — and NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes the team has discussed the prospect of re-signing both (Twitter links). The ex-49ers cogs fared well in Miami last season, and each should be affordable thanks to a flood of starter-level backs being set for free agency. Mostert, who will turn 31 next month, signed a one-year, $2.1MM Dolphins deal in 2022. Wilson, 27, re-signed with the 49ers on a one-year, $1.1MM accord — one the 49ers traded at the deadline.
  • Fellow former 49ers back JaMycal Hasty is staying in Florida, having re-signed with the Jaguars. The Jags gave their backup running back a two-year deal that can max out at $3.2MM, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. Hasty will return to spell starter Travis Etienne, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract.

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Jaguars Extend RB JaMycal Hasty

February 26th, 2023 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

One day after it was reported the Jaguars had agreed to terms on a new deal with defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris, the team confirmed that the veteran will be staying in place for the foreseeable future. Sunday brought on another transaction in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have extended running back JaMycal Hasty, per a team announcement. He was due to become a restricted free agent next month, but will now continue his stay in Duval County. The 26-year-old began his career in San Francisco, shouldering a small workload on offense while carving out a role for himself on special teams. His 4.8 yards per touch with the 49ers showed potential, but was not enough to guarantee himself a spot on their 53-man roster.

Hasty was waived during cutdown day this year, and claimed by the Jaguars. He was active for them in all 19 contents played during the regular season and playoffs, nearly seeing as many offensive snaps (222) this campaign as he had over two years with the 49ers. He logged a career-high 46 carries, which yielded 194 yards (4.2 per carry) and a pair of touchdowns. He added another 126 yards and one score in the passing game, and an additional 97 yards on four kick returns.

2021 first-rounder Travis Etienne established himself as the lead back he was expected to become this campaign, allowing the Jaguars to trade James Robinson to the Jets midseason. That cleared the way for Hasty as a complimentary member of the team’s backfield, one which achieved middling success in 2022. Jacksonville ranked 14th in the league this season with an average of 125 yards per game on the ground.

Hasty will now head into 2023 looking to confirm his place in the backfield pecking order. Etienne is firmly entrenched as the No. 1, but competition could emerge from 2022 fifth-rounder Snoop Conner after the latter was used sparingly in eight games. Either way, he will avoid free agency with this deal and potentially set himself up for another career year next season.

Jaguars Extend DL Roy Robertson-Harris

February 25th, 2023 at 5:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars have been busy in recent days, but they have followed up their earlier work with a significant investment on their defense. Jacksonville has agreed to terms on a three-year, $30MM extension with defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). A team announcement has confirmed the move.

The veteran has been with the Jaguars since 2021, and enjoyed a productive stint in Duval County. He has been a full-time starter in his two seasons in Jacksonville, setting new career highs in a number of categories in each of those campaigns. He was already under contract through the 2023 season, but he will now be on the books for what will likely be a competitive stretch for the team.

The 29-year-old served in a mostly rotational role with the Bears to begin his career. The potential he showed there led to a three-year, $24.4MM deal in the 2021 offseason as a free agent. Expectations were raised for the former UDFA after that, and he has delivered to date. Robertson-Harris registered 37 tackles and three sacks in 2021, matching the latter total this past season. He made 45 total stops in 2022, adding 12 QB hits and four pass deflections. His strong play continued into the postseason, where he totaled 14 stops, one sack and five TFLs across two playoff games.

His production was indicative of the overall success enjoyed by Jacksonville’s defensive front during their run to an AFC South title and wild card victory. The team spent last offseason complimenting Robertson-Harris with the signing of Folorunso Fatukasi and selection of Travon Walker with the first overall pick in the draft. As a team, the Jaguars ranked 12th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards allowed per game – a stark improvement compared to years past.

Roberstson-Harris set new personal marks over the past two campaigns in terms of playing time. He logged snap shares of 60% and 61%, respectively, and this deal sets him up to remain a starter for the foreseeable future. This extension carries an average value essentially identical to what his 2023 cap hit was going to be ($10.1MM). It also represents the latest piece of accounting the Jaguars have taken care of in advance of free agency, something which will not see as many notable moves as 2022. Retaining in-house players will be their priority, so this move comes as an example of achieving that goal.

Roberstson-Harris is now in line for a slight uptick in compensation over the next few years relative to his first Jaguars contract. That investment proved to be a fruitful one, and his play suggests this latest one could be as well.

Jaguars Re-Sign QB C.J. Beathard

February 25th, 2023 at 9:45am CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 25: A few more details have surfaced on Beathard’s new two-year deal. The two-year contract carries a total base salary of $4.5MM, Pelissero tweets. The deal also includes annual incentives of up to $1MM, giving the contract a max value of $6.5MM if Beathard can hit his incentive benchmarks.

FEBRUARY 24: C.J. Beathard joined the Jaguars before Doug Pederson, but the Urban Meyer-era investment remains in the franchise’s plans. The Jags announced Friday they reached another agreement with their backup quarterback.

This is a two-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Beathard, who signed with the team in 2021, was set to be a free agent. The former 49ers third-round pick will be expected to remain Trevor Lawrence‘s backup going forward. Beathard, 29, played out a two-year, $5MM contract in 2022.

Lawrence has not missed a start since being the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, keeping Beathard on the bench except for games requiring mop-up work. Beathard saw more action with the 49ers, who drafted him shortly after Trent Baalke‘s ouster as GM. Baalke was in place with the Jags when they drafted Beathard; Baalke and Pederson have liked what they’ve seen from the Iowa alum in his QB2 role.

Chosen 104th overall in 2017, Beathard is 2-10 as a starter. Upon taking over a rebuild in San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch did not acquire a long-term QB ahead of their first season. This left Beathard and Brian Hoyer as the notable arms. But the 49ers benched the veteran and started Beathard in October 2017. Shortly after, they traded for Jimmy Garoppolo. The ex-Patriots backup, however, did not debut immediately for his new team. That left Beathard at the controls during Garoppolo’s first weeks in the Bay Area. Beathard, the grandson of Hall of Fame GM Bobby Beathard, quarterbacked Shanahan’s first win — a November 2017 victory against the Giants.

In 25 appearances over the past six seasons, Beathard has completed 58.8% of his passes at 6.9 yards per attempt. His select starts with San Francisco notwithstanding, the former Big Ten QB1 has not factored into any starter conversations. But the Jags will continue to keep him onboard during Lawrence’s rookie contract.

AFC Coaching Notes: Fangio, Colts, Jaguars

February 24th, 2023 at 9:18am CST by Adam La Rose

At 64, Vic Fangio is closer to the end of his coaching career than the beginning. However, his decision to take the Dolphins‘ defensive coordinator position should not be considered a short-term commitment.

“I still have a lot of coaching left in me,” Fangio said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “It’s not like I’m thinking about retirement or anything. Somebody asked, ‘How much longer are you gonna do this?’ I don’t know. It might be 10 years, if they’ll have me here for 10 years.”

After a delay between when his Miami deal was first reported and when he officially accepted it, Fangio reportedly became the league’s highest-paid coordinator. Expectations will be raised in Miami, with the former Broncos head coach and celebrated defensive mind taking charge of a unit which struggled in 2022. Fangio’s new defense has number of intriguing players on it with plenty of upside. Regardless of their performance, Fangio, who signed a three-year contract, is eyeing a lengthy stay in the Sunshine State.

Here are some other coaching updates from the AFC:

  • The Colts have seen plenty of turnover on their staff, one now led by Shane Steichen. The latest addition is DeAndre Smith, whom Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News tweets is leaving the Giants’ staff to head to Indianapolis. Smith spent last season as the Giants’ running backs coach and will work in the same capacity with the Colts. The 54-year-old assistant’s tenure in New York last year marked his first NFL coaching gig, following more than two decades spent in the college ranks; Smith will now reunite with Steichen, after the pair worked together at UNLV in 2009.
  • Steichen is not planning to make wholesale changes on offense. One assistant who is expected to stay put: franchise icon Reggie Wayne (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Zak Keefer). Wayne, who played for the Colts for 14 seasons en route to becoming a Hall of Fame finalist, began his coaching career this past season as Indianapolis’ wide receivers coach and will likely remain in that role in 2023.
  • The Jaguars lost Jim Bob Cooter earlier this week when he made the intra-divisional move to the Colts to become Indy’s offensive coordinator. Jacksonville found a replacement in Nick Holz (Twitter link via Mia O’Brien of 1010 XL). The veteran staffer spent 10 seasons as an NFL coach, all with the Raiders; his tenure with the team ended in 2021 after he worked as its assistant wide receivers coach. Holz spent the past season as the OC at UNLV and will now be paired alongside Jaguars OC (and close friend) Press Taylor.
  • After yet another injury-filled season, the Chargers are making a change on the training side. They are moving on from longtime athletic trainer Damon Mitchell, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Mitchell had spent past six years as the team’s trainer and had been with the organization long before the injury-prone stigma entered the equation, spending the past 24 years in San Diego and Los Angeles.
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