Pads were not the only new addition in Jacksonville this week. The Jaguars added a fresh face on Thursday, signing former Lions second-round pick Jahlani Tavai.
Tavai comes as a direct replacement for LB Jared Bartlett, who the team waived with an injury designation.
Bartlett was signed just four days prior on August 2 as camp depth. But after a leg injury earlier this week, his stint ended as soon as it started. The swap gives Ryan Nielsen immediate depth in the 107-game veteran, who played snaps in Super Bowl LX.
Jahlani Tavai Gives Jacksonville Jaguars Much-Needed Depth
GettyJacksonville Jaguars sign LB Jahlani Tavai.
Foyesade Oluokun and Ventrell Miller are the clear starters, but behind them, the Jaguars ‘ linebacker depth was a big question mark. Tavai gives them a legitimate thumper who knows how to call out plays, make sure everyone is lined up right, and execute his assignment without making mental mistakes.
Tavai gives Nielsen the perfect spell option for Oluokun, taking the pounding off the primary starters during heavy-run sequences so they have full gas in the tank for the fourth quarter.
Rookie linebacker Jack Kiser has also been sidelined with a knee issue in camp. Tavai stops the bleeding immediately so Nielsen doesn’t have to overwork his main starters in August.
This also moves guys like Yasir Abdullah, Jalen McLeod, and rookie seventh-rounder Parker Hughes down the ladder. They are no longer fighting for defensive rotation snaps. They are purely battling for special teams roster spots.
Tavai played over 200 special teams snaps for a Super Bowl team last year, giving Jacksonville a serious leg up against physical AFC South rivals. Going against the Lions—the team that originally drafted him—marks a true full-circle moment for the veteran.
Tavai Fits Ryan Nielsen’s Defense Perfectly
GettyJacksonville Jaguars sign LB Jahlani Tavai.
Matt Patricia originally took Tavai as the 43rd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he couldn’t bring out the best in him in Detroit. Patricia continued to believe in him, though, as Tavai followed him to New England.
After becoming a starter in Year 2 there, the linebacker played in the team’s four postseason contests (two starts), including Super Bowl LX.
Jacksonville gets all that experience, plus a 6’2″ and 250 lbs veteran who has experience playing off the ball, setting the edge, and contributing on special teams. Neilsen’s defense is explicitly built on “forward-leaning, forward-running” aggressive defense, and Tavai’s frame fits the mold perfectly.
Following Bartlett’s waiver and Kiser’s injury, the Jags’ current linebacker room depth looks like this:
- Foye Oluokun
- Ventrell Miller
- Dennis Gardeck
- Jahlani Tavai
- Branson Combs
- Jalen McLeod
- Parker Hughes
- Yasir Abdullah
Combs and Miller are competing for the starting role alongside Oluokun. Tavai is also in the picture now.
If the Jaguars roster six linebackers as they did last summer, Tavai’s proven experience over Abdullah, McLeod, and Hughes gives him a direct guaranteed spot over them, and the three may end up fighting for just one spot.
Kiser may return later in camp, but relying on a timeline without a deadline is a dangerous game with Week 1 nearing. Bringing in Tavai instantly takes the anxiety out of the equation and gives Jacksonville zero-downside insurance.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Jaguars Sign Former Second-Round Pick in Major Roster Move appeared first on HEAVY.