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Jamal Agnew

Jaguars Place WR Jamal Agnew On IR, Activate WR Parker Washington

November 18th, 2023 at 12:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars will be without their return man for an extended stretch. A returner and backup wide receiver, Jamal Agnew is moving to IR. This will sideline the veteran weapon for at least four games.

To replace Agnew on their active roster, the Jaguars activated wide receiver Parker Washington on Saturday. A sixth-round rookie out of Penn State, the 21-year-old backup has played in one game this season. Washington worked as a punt returner in that lone outing; the Jags drafted the 5-foot-10 wideout 185th overall this year.

Rib and shoulder injuries will send Agnew to IR; he will not be eligible to return until Week 15. Having made the rare conversion from defensive back to wide receiver after entering the NFL, Agnew has been with the Jaguars since 2021. The former Lions cornerback has operated as the Jags’ return man since signing with the team in 2021. While Agnew landed on IR to cut short his 2021 season, he has been a key part of Jacksonville’s special teams since arriving. An All-Pro in Detroit back in his 2017 rookie year, the former fifth-round pick earned a Pro Bowl nod last season.

Agnew, 28, has worked as both the Jags’ kick returner and their punt-return specialist. While all four of Agnew’s punt-return scores came during his four-year run in Detroit, he added a kick-return TD with Jacksonville in 2021. After scoring three receiving TDs last year, Agnew has nine receptions for 90 yards this year. Although an Agnew fumble wounded the Jaguars’ comeback effort in last year’s divisional round, he has been a key performer for the AFC South team.

This is the final season of Agnew’s three-year, $14.25MM deal. Barring this being a season-ending injury, the seventh-year veteran should be expected to re-emerge as a factor for the division-leading team down the stretch. Washington’s activation leaves the Jags with five such transactions remaining.

Jaguars’ Jamal Agnew In Danger Of Missing Week 1

June 3rd, 2022 at 10:05am CST by Adam La Rose

OTAs are generally a good barometer for the recovery schedules regarding injured players. Especially at this point in the offseason, reports tend to be optimistic with respect to recovery timetables, but the opposite is true in the case of Jamal Agnew. 

The Jaguars are currently “unsure” if Agnew will be healthy in time for the start of the season, reports John Reid of the Florida Times Union (Twitter link). The 27-year-old’s season ended in November as a result of a hip injury, and the uncertainty surrounding his availability in the fall points to a stalled recovery.

In a year where little went right on offense for the Jaguars, Agnew was a relative bright spot. He made 24 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown, adding 111 yards and another score on the ground. He was of course most involved in the return game, though. The San Diego alum totalled 525 yards on kick returns, including a 102-yarder. He also recorded a record-breaking score running back a missed field goal in Week 3.

Those abilities on special teams earned Agnew a three-year deal with Jacksonville last offseason. The contract followed four seasons with the Lions, including his rookie campaign in which he was named a First-Team All-Pro for his production returning punts in particular. By the end of his tenure in the Motor City, Agnew had converted from cornerback to receiver, but it was in Jacksonville that he played a significant number of offensive snaps for the first time.

Reid notes that in Agnew’s absence, the Jaguars have used several other players as punt returners so far at OTAs. Among those is Christian Kirk, whom the team added on a four-year, $72MM deal in free agency. The former Cardinal will be leaned on heavily as a receiver, but he has 51 punt returns to his name as well. Only one of those came last season, however, so the team’s preference would surely be for Agnew to recover in time for the season. For now, though, it is in doubt whether or not that will happen.

Jaguars Place Jamal Agnew On IR

November 22nd, 2021 at 12:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have placed wide receiver Jamal Agnew on the injured reserve list, per a club announcement. There’s no official word yet, but his hip injury will likely rule him out for the rest of the year. 

Agnew suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of yesterday’s loss to the Niners. It looked to be serious right off the bat — Agnew’s leg twisted as he was tackled following the three-yard catch. It’s a bad blow to the Jaguars, since Agnew has been one of their most impactful playmakers this season.

Agnew has registered seven return touchdowns since 2017, more than any other player in the NFL. Two of those have come this year — he housed a 102-yard kickoff in Week 2 and returned a botched field goal try for a record 109-yard TD in Week 3. He’s also played a significant role on offense. Just last week, he scored a 66-yard rushing touchdown against the Colts. Meanwhile, as a receiver, he has a 24/229/1 line for the year.

The Jaguars will replace Agnew on the 53-man roster this week, but they’ll be hard-pressed to replace his production. Head coach Urban Meyer may need other reinforcements too, since left tackle Cam Robinson and cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell were also banged up on Sunday.

Jaguars To Sign Jamal Agnew

March 15th, 2021 at 2:42pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jaguars just agreed to terms with defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, and now they’re making their second pickup of the day. Jacksonville is signing return specialist/receiver Jamal Agnew, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The initial numbers are eye-popping, as Garafolo reports it’s a three-year deal that “maxes out” at $21MM. He says that includes “reachable incentives.” It’s a heck of a lot more than the two-year, $6MM deal fellow return ace Andre Roberts just got from the Texans. The Lions drafted Agnew in the fifth-round back in 2017, and he immediately made a name for himself on special teams.

He returned two punt returns for touchdowns as a rookie, led the league in punt return average, and was named a first-team All-Pro as a result. This past year he returned 14 punts for 178 yards and a touchdown, adding 28 kick returns for 783 yards (28 Y/R).

No matter how good of a returner he is, this kind of money is still surprising. It could mean that new Jags coach Urban Meyer envisions a role for him on offense. The Lions tried using him a bit as a gadget player this past year, as he finished with 13 catches for 89 yards and six carries for 33 yards.

Obviously he can make things happen with the ball in his hands, so it’ll be interesting to see what Jacksonville’s staff cooks up for him. Darrell Bevell, who coached Agnew in Detroit this past year, is the new OC for the Jaguars.

Lions To Move Jamal Agnew To WR

May 26th, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

When the Lions reconvene, they will add an interesting player to their wide receiver corps. Jamal Agnew will fully transition from cornerback to wideout this year, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes.

Known mostly for his work as a return man, Agnew began sitting in on wide receiver meetings last season and has been involved in virtual wideout and cornerback meetings this offseason. When the Lions gather for training camp, the plan is for Agnew to work exclusively at receiver.

Picked in the fifth round out of San Diego in 2017, Agnew is entering a contract year. He has four return touchdowns and secured first-team All-Pro honors as a punt returner as a rookie. Agnew played cornerback with the Toreros in college.

For his NFL career, Agnew has seen spot duty on offense. He has four career carries and three career catches. The versatile 25-year-old talent played 16 offensive snaps last season. That number could well increase this year, though Birkett adds that the fourth-year performer will enter training camp on the roster bubble.

The Lions return their top four wideouts — Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Marvin Hall — and drafted Quintez Cephus in Round 5. Detroit also drafted running back Jason Huntley, who is expected to compete with Agnew for return work. Agnew has served as the Lions’ primary kick and punt returner since 2017.

Lions Activate CB Jamal Agnew

December 19th, 2018 at 8:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have activated cornerback/return man Jamal Agnew from injured reserve, the club announced today.

Agnew, 23, earned All-Pro honors as a specialist during his rookie season in 2017 after leading the NFL in punt return yardage and average, and also scored two touchdowns on special teams. His prowess in the kicking game had continued into this season, but Agnew had also been asked to play more on defense, where his playtime percentage had jumped from just 7.8% a year ago to 36.3% in 2018. Pro Football Focus gave Agnew poor marks for his coverage abilities, however, grading him as a bottom-10 cornerback.

Detroit has no chance at making the postseason, so it’s fair to wonder why the Lions would risk Agnew’s health in a lost year. But as Kyle Meinke of MLive.com wrote earlier this month, Agnew could use the final two weeks of the 2018 campaign to get more experience playing cornerback. Detroit can certainly use all the help it can get, as the club has been deploying lackluster options Nevin Lawson and Mike Ford (an undrafted rookie free agent) alongside Darius Slay. The Lions currently rank 32nd in pass defense DVOA and 31st in opposing passer rating allowed.

Agnew will take the roster spot of running back Kerryon Johnson, who was placed on injured reserve earlier today.

Lions Designate CB Jamal Agnew For Return

November 28th, 2018 at 6:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have designated cornerback/returner Jamal Agnew to return from injured reserve, the club announced today.

Agnew was originally placed on IR on October 15, and given the NFL’s requirement that IR/return players miss six weeks, the earliest Agnew can return is Week 15. He was allowed to return to practice today, however, opening a three-week window during which the Lions must decide whether to activate Agnew to their 53-man roster, or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Agnew, 23, earned All-Pro honors as a specialist during his rookie season in 2017 after leading the NFL in punt return yardage and average, and also scored two touchdowns on special teams. His prowess in the kicking game had continued into this season, but Agnew had also been asked to play more on defense, where his playtime percentage had jumped from just 7.8% a year ago to 36.3% in 2018. Pro Football Focus gave Agnew poor marks for his coverage abilities, however, grading him as a bottom-10 cornerback.

Detroit has no chance at making the postseason, so it’s fair to wonder why the Lions would risk Agnew’s health in a lost year. But as Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes, Agnew could use the final three weeks of the 2018 campaign to get more experience playing cornerback. Detroit can certainly use all the help it can get, as the club has been deploying lackluster options Nevin Lawson and Mike Ford (an undrafted rookie free agent) alongside Darius Slay. The Lions currently rank 31st in both pass defense DVOA and opposing passer rating allowed.

Lions To Place CB Jamal Agnew On IR

October 15th, 2018 at 9:02am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions will place cornerback/return man Jamal Agnew on injured reserve with a knee injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Agnew, 23, earned All-Pro honors as a specialist during his rookie season in 2017 after leading the NFL in punt return yardage and average, and also scored two touchdowns on special teams. His prowess in the kicking game had continued into this season, but Agnew had also been asked to play more on defense, where his playtime percentage had jumped from just 7.8% a year ago to 36.3% in 2018. Pro Football Focus gave Agnew poor marks for his coverage abilities, however, grading him as a bottom-10 cornerback.

While he’s heading to injured reserve, Agnew could potentially return later this season if the Lions are making a playoff push, per Schefter. NFL rules stipulate a minimum eight-game absence for Agnew, meaning he could return in mid-December if Detroit is in contention. At present, the Lions aren’t a likely playoff team, as FiveThirtyEight.com gives the 2-3 Detroit club just a 25% chance of earning a postseason berth.

With Agnew out, cornerbacks Teez Tabor and DeShawn Shead could see more snaps behind starters Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson. On special teams, running back Ameer Abdullah could potentially be activated for only the second time this season in order to take over on kick and punt returns.