| Florida Times-Union
The Jaguars are not in padded practices yet in training camp, and Tuesday is the first day players can wear helmets during on-field work.
However, their defensive line has already been impacted by injuries and veteran Al Woods’ decision to opt out.
Defensive tackle Rodney Gunter is on the team’s active/non-football illness list. Third-year defensive tackle Brian Price [knee] and second-year defensive tackle Dontavius Russell [hip] were placed on the team’s injured reserve list Sunday.
Woods was expected to play a critical role to help the Jaguars improve their run defense, but cited family concerns for the coronavirus to opt out.
Meanwhile, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue remains a no-show for camp, unwilling to sign the Jaguars’ $17.8 million franchise tag tender or back off from his trade demand.
Coach Doug Marrone did not hide his predicament on Monday when asked how concerning it is to have five defensive linemen out after only the first week in camp?
”I’m not going to say it’s not a concern,” Marrone said. ”That would ridiculous and a lack of awareness. Yes, it was a concern. I think that we’re fortunate that even some of the players we picked up late, have really looked good. Again, we’re not doing anything football-wise, we don’t have pads on. I think when you get disappointed is if you bring in players just to be able to survive practice and not bringing in people that have an opportunity to make the team. I think we have guys with good numbers and good intangibles.”
The Jaguars have not specified the extent of Gunter’s non-football injury, but Marrone said during Monday’s virtual call that it’s a fluid situation in which he probably will be out for a couple of more days.
”He’s heavily involved, and we’re talking to him daily,” Marrone said. ”We just trying to do the right thing, working with the doctors to get him back on the field.”
As the season progresses, the Jaguars will be counting more on their veteran help on the defensive front, especially from defensive tackle Taven Bryan.
Marrone is confident Bryan is going to take a big step this season even though he has only three career sacks after two seasons.
”With Taven, it’s a little easier for the expectation,” Marrone said. ”I really felt that we probably didn’t help him early on in his career because we were moving him a little bit. I think technically wise that stopped a little bit of the growth. Then when we kept him at one spot, just working on the technique at the one position, we really saw some growth. We saw him make some plays. I really think he will take another big step this year.
While most teams are evaluating the existing talent on their 80-man rosters, Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell was in a scramble this past weekend to add players to the roster.
The Jaguars signed defensive tackles Carl Davis and Caraun Reid and 11th-year veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock Sunday.
It is Davis’ second stint with the Jaguars since last season. The Jaguars signed him following Week 12 last season and played in two games, making one tackle. Prior to the Jaguars, Davis played for the Baltimore Ravens (2015-17) and the Cleveland Browns (2018). He has 32 career tackles, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss.
Reid is a former fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2014 draft. He played for three other franchises, including the Chargers, Cowboys, and the Cardinals. Reid has 50 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries (both for TDs), including a career-high 29 tackles and two sacks in 2015.
