Urban Meyer Says Tim Tebow Release Was 'The Right Thing' for Jaguars
Aug 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer reacts to a play on the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer told reporters Tuesday that releasing 34-year-old tight end Tim Tebow, the former pro quarterback who was trying to make a comeback after last appearing in an NFL game in 2012, was the "right thing to do."
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relayed the transcript.
#Jaguars coach Urban Meyer on releasing Tim Tebow: “It was the right thing.”
Tebow played for Meyer when the latter coached at the University of Florida, and the star quarterback won a pair of national championships and the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
He played three NFL seasons, most notably making 14 starts for the Denver Broncos at quarterback from 2010 to '11. Tebow spent his final NFL year with the New York Jets in a reserve role.
Meyer also mentioned that Tebow's inability to contribute on special teams played a part in his release, per John Reid of the Florida Times-Union.
''Tight end position is one of those, and tailback—if he can’t contribute on special teams, that’s a tough go," Meyer said.
NFL teams needed to cut down to 85 members by Tuesday, and Tebow was part of that group.
Tebow posted on social media after news of the release, thanking the Jags for the opportunity.
Thank you to the @Jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey.
And we know that…God works all things together for good. Romans 8:28
Tebow suited up for one preseason game, taking part in the Jags' 23-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 14. He went catchless, saw just one target and had a few rough blocking attempts.
His professional football career appears to be over, but Tebow has found much success off the field as of late, working as a football analyst for ESPN and also continuing to do charity work through the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Tim Tebow Released by Jaguars After Attempting NFL Comeback as TE
Aug 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) sets up for a play during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
One preseason game and two virally bad blocks later, Tim Tebow's career as an NFL tight end is over.
The Jaguars released Tebow as part of their first round of cuts Tuesday, with the quarterback-turned-tight end thanking the organization for the opportunity.
Thank you to the @Jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey.
And we know that…God works all things together for good. Romans 8:28
The experiment always seemed destined to fail. Tebow is a 34-year-old who never played tight end and was nearly a decade removed from his last regular-season NFL game. He'd also spent four years pursuing a failed baseball career in the New York Mets organization.
Once Tebow got onto the field, the result was about as expected. He went viral over the weekend for two bad run-blocking attempts, looking every bit like a 34-year-old who was attempting to play a new position at a professional level. He was targeted once in the passing game but did not make a reception.
This is likely Tebow's last hurrah as a professional athlete. His attempts to transition from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida to NFL signal-caller never found much success, and it seems unlikely he'll make another try with the Mets or a different MLB organization.
Broadcasting may be in Tebow's future, as he's been a semi-regular on the SEC Network since 2014. His contract with ESPN, which owns the SEC Network, allowed him to pursue his professional sports dreams, but it may be time for him to settle into a full-time analyst role.
Geoff Schwartz Reacts to New Video of Tim Tebow: '34 Yr Old Who’s Never Had to Block'
Aug 16, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow (85) sets up for a play during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tim Tebow is a 34-year-old who hasn't played a regular-season professional football game in nine years attempting to make the transition to a position he's never played against NFL competition.
To the surprise of almost no one, said transition has gone terribly bad. Tebow made his Jaguars preseason debut Saturday and has spent the last two days going viral over laughably bad block attempts.
Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz did not seem particularly surprised by Tebow's struggles or the criticism.
Looks like a 34 yr old who’s never had to block. And before y’all come to cape for Tebow. When the Jags signed a minor league baseball player who’s a former QB who hasn’t played in a game since 2012 to the roster to play TE… this is the scrutiny he will get. https://t.co/ZRykuMB5Z7
The Tebow signing always felt like a combination of a publicity stunt and a favor from Urban Meyer, who coached Tebow at Florida. Transitioning from quarterback to tight end is hard enough by itself; doing so well after your athletic peak and after a half-decade of playing baseball in the minors is nearly impossible.
We're looking at what is almost certainly the final days of Tim Tebow's NFL journey. Roster cuts are coming Tuesday, and if the game tape is any indication of what the Jags have seen in practice, there's no justification to keep him on the roster.
In the end, it's no harm, no foul if Tebow's among the first cuts. But if Meyer keeps him on the roster ahead of younger, better players, it's fair to begin questioning his decision-making.
Shannon Sharpe Reacts to Tim Tebow's Block: 'Gotta Get His Mind Right'
Aug 15, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow gets ready for a play against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tim Tebow's transition to tight end remains a work in progress.
Tebow's less-than-stellar block of a Cleveland Browns defensive lineman made the rounds on social media Saturday, leading Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe to weigh in:
No position is easy in the NFL especially IF* you’ve never played it b4. Blocking is all about angles and leverage, IF* I can do it weighing btw 215- 228. He definitely should be able to at 250, gotta get his mind right tho. Watch the tape and get better https://t.co/KDS9bV62cG
Tebow was targeted only once in his Jaguars debut, so there wasn't much else to focus on. While many jumped at the chance to mock Tebow for flailing to the ground, he did hit his assignment on the play—albeit not with much grace.
Odds are, Tebow is not going to make the roster and this could be the final stop in his professional sports career. At least he's giving us some entertainment on the way out as he learns a new position at age 34.
Trevor Lawrence Has a 'Long Way to Go' After Preseason Debut, Says Jags' Urban Meyer
Aug 15, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks up at the scoreboard during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Urban Meyer's assessment of Trevor Lawrence's first preseason game is in, and it isn't exactly glowing.
The Jacksonville Jaguars coach said he was "disappointed" with the team's offensive performance in Saturday's 23-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns, saying Lawrence needs to do better at anticipating his passes.
"Just disappointed offensively…I don't wanna be one of those slow, wallowing offenses," Meyer told reporters. "(Lawrence) held the ball a little bit. He certainly wasn't awe-struck. I saw good plays.
"I saw a guy who made a couple nice plays on third down. I think he held the ball a little bit a couple times, which you would expect out of him maybe. Instead of anticipating the throws, (he was) holding on to it a little bit, but we have a long way to go."
Lawrence went 6-of-9 passing for 71 yards in his preseason debut, solid-but-unspectacular numbers as the Jags failed to score a touchdown on both of his drives. The No. 1 overall pick took two sacks, including one on the opening play of the game that nearly resulted in a fumble.
While he admitted to feeling some nerves and needing to do better getting the ball out, Lawrence gave a more positive outlook of his debut.
"I feel like the first time out there, I felt comfortable, felt poised," Lawrence said. "Obviously, the first play's not kind of what you want for the first play, but after that, I thought we did a good job. We communicated well up front. They did a really good job of protection. At least one of those sacks was on me, for sure, just holding the ball too long. That's something I'll work on. Just maneuvering in the pocket is something I've always got to work on."
Few (if anyone) will ever remember this game when writing Lawrence's career story. The only interesting takeaway here is Meyer's continued lack of full-throated endorsement of his young quarterback.
Meyer would not publicly commit to Lawrence as his starter this week, an odd move given that no one—likely not even Gardner Minshew himself—believes Minshew will be under center Week 1. The longtime college coach's assessment of Lawrence also seems a little too harsh given the quarterback was forced to throw into tight windows all evening because of a lack of separation from his receivers.
It's unclear if Meyer is doing some type of motivational technique or is simply too used to dominance on the college level. Either way, the rhetoric is a little surprising given Lawrence was pretty solid all things considered.
Trevor Lawrence Throws for 71 Yards in Preseason Debut as Jaguars Lose to Browns
Aug 15, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
For the first time in his career, No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence ran out of the Jacksonville Jaguars' tunnel, received a massive ovation from the fans at TIAA Bank Field and joined the first-string offense in the huddle.
It remains to be seen if he'll get to do that again when the regular season opens up next month.
Saturday's preseason opener saw the Cleveland Browns take a 23-13 victory over the Jags, but what mattered most in Jacksonville was the performance of Lawrence—the team's franchise quarterback who got his first taste of the league.
Despite only playing the first two series Saturday, Lawrence showed off his arm strength, quick decision-making and—most importantly—resilience as he got knocked around a few times in the pocket.
Here's a rundown of the rookie's day, along with some other notable moments from Jacksonville.
If Lawrence's first play Saturday turns out to be the worst of his career, the No. 1 overall pick should fare just fine in Jacksonville.
As the Clemson alum took his first snap on a designed run, the rookie ran right into trouble, getting tackled for loss just behind the pocket and temporarily losing the ball thanks to a hit from defensive tackle Sheldon Day.
Lawrence followed it up with an eight-yard dart to wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. on 2nd-and-12, followed by another 10-yard toss to Marvin Jones Jr. to pick up the first down. Jacksonville's opening drive stalled out after eight plays, 30 yards and two first downs as Lawrence went 3-of-5 passing with 24 yards.
Lawrence would go on to take two official sacks, balancing out the breakdowns with the type of throws Jags fans watched all last year when the QB was tearing up college football.
The offensive line in front of him wasn't perfect, but there were a few plays where it was able to give Lawrence plenty of time to read the defense and make a throw. That might not remain the case by the time Week 1 rolls around, but it was exactly what he needed to get used to life on an NFL field in the preseason opener.
Gardner Minshew in at QB now. Trevor Lawrence's day: 6 for 9, 71 yards. Sacked twice. Some nice throws, some off-target, held ball a little long at times. OK debut. First-team OL didn't play particularly well, either.
Lawrence's second-and-final drive of the day went seven plays and 44 yards before a turnover on downs ended the rookie's night. While Lawrence did get the start Saturday, head coach Urban Meyer has yet to determine a Week 1 starter between Lawrence and veteran Gardner Minshew II. Both C.J. Beathard (13-of-16, 102 yards, one touchdown) and Jake Luton (8-of-13, 53 yards, one touchdown) saw action as well in the opener, though they are expected to provide depth at the position more than anything else.
Cleveland Rookies Show Off
Anyone from Cleveland tuning into Saturday's game looking to see a plethora of first-stringers take the field for the Browns instead found a number of rookies making an immediate impact.
While Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Grant Delpit, Anthony Schwartz and Myles Garrett all sat out, Cleveland 2021 draft picks cornerback Greg Newsome II, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, safety Richard LeCounte and wideout Demetric Felton each made standout plays that are sure to improve their standing on the roster this week.
Owusu-Koramoah, the team's second-round pick, was particularly impressive, posting eight tackles—seven of them solo—with one sack and three tackles for loss.
LeCounte also finished with a sack and two tackles, while Felton caught four of six targets for 44 yards. Newsome, the team's No. 26 overall selection, recorded two tackles, making the most out of a quieter debut than his classmates.
As the Browns prepare to challenge for the AFC North, the early progress of the team's newest players makes Saturday's win even sweeter—especially as many of the starters were able to take the night off.
What's Next
Cleveland will be back in preseason action on Aug. 22 when they host the New York Giants at 1 p.m. ET. One night later, on Aug. 23, the Jags play their second preseason game at the New Orleans Saints at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Trevor Lawrence, Gardner Minshew II an 'Open Competition' to Start Week 1 for Jaguars
Aug 12, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 08: Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the Jacksonville Jaguars Scrimmage on August 8, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence was unanimously regarded as the best quarterback prospect in years, but the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't guaranteeing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft the starting quarterback job right now.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, head coach Urban Meyer said there is an "open competition" between Lawrence and Gardner Minshew II to start in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.
This would seem to be a case of Meyer playing coy, though there are some reasons to take his comment at face value.
The Jaguars have not yet announced which quarterback will start their first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.
Both players have received first-team reps throughout training camp.
Lawrence's status as a top draft prospect dates back three years to his true freshman season at Clemson. He led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and threw for 674 yards with six touchdowns in two College Football Playoff wins over Notre Dame and Alabama.
While there were questions about which order the other top quarterbacks in the 2021 draft would go, Lawrence was always the No. 1 choice in mocks to Jacksonville.
"Overall, Lawrence is living up to the hype he received as the top high school quarterback in the country and looks like a Week 1 franchise quarterback with the upside to win multiple MVPs, and only injuries or an incompetent franchise will put him on a path toward failure," according to B/R's NFL Scouting Department.
Even though all of the focus from the outside has been on Lawrence, Minshew has shown a lot of promise over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old has thrown for 5,530 yards with 37 touchdowns and a 62.9 completion percentage in 23 games.
It would seem unlikely that anyone other than Lawrence opens the season as Jacksonville's starting quarterback, but Minshew's track record does at least suggest he can play at a solid level in the NFL.
Tim Tebow Will Make His Critics Eat Their Words After Final Roster Cuts
Aug 11, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow, left, performs a drill during an NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
When the Jaguars signed Tim Tebow to a one-year contract, an overwhelming majority gave him no shot to make the 53-man roster because of the obvious reasons. He hasn't played a regular-season game since 2012. On top of that, the former quarterback will convert to a new position at tight end in his age-34 season.
In Tebow's last performance on an NFL field, he completed 11-of-17 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Week 4 of the 2015 preseason. Two days later, the Philadelphia Eagles cut him.
In August of 2016, Tebow went public with his intentions to play baseball. He spent most of his time in the New York Mets' minor league system. By February of 2021, Tebow formally announced his retirement.
Tebow's football journey came full circle when he inked a deal with the Jaguars and reunited with head coach Urban Meyer. Together at Florida, they won two BCS Championships (2006 and 2008). In 2007, Tebow became the first sophomore Heisman Trophy winner in NCAA history.
Critics who connected the dots between the player and coach argued Tebow's return robbed someone more deserving of a spot on the 90-man offseason roster. Jacksonville's transaction drew widespread criticism, but Meyer may have an intriguing plan for his polarizing acquisition.
Back in May, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported some people around the league believe the Jaguars will use Tebow in a "Taysom Hill-like role," which means we could see him throw, run the ball in short-yardage situations and catch some passes. Hill has logged 1,047 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in addition to 1,145 yards and 18 touchdowns from scrimmage through four seasons.
Easier said than done.
Tebow is three years older than Hill, and he has to knock off years of rust while learning a new position. In addition to his potential role as a playmaker with the ball in his hands, he must work on his blocking technique.
In the first week of training camp, Tebow had a highlight touchdown reception and even looked the part of a tight end with a bulked-up frame:
However, as expected, Tebow had a lot to learn and put into practice. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco noted the 33-year-old's unwillingness to take on blocks and ranked him as the sixth-best tight end on the Jaguars roster.
"I don't think Tim Tebow is gonna make the roster. If you had to rank the tight ends 1 through 6 he's 6th."@PriscoCBS says it probably won't be Tebow Time anytime soon in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/Ws9receadx
Meyer had an honest assessment of Tebow's pass-catching skills, specifically when going against a live defender, per John Reid of the Florida Times-Union.
"In his drill work, he’s great, but when you get in a competitive moment, just [because of his] lack of experience he wants to body the ball,'' Meyer said. ''When you get to a point where two people are going after it, you have to go get the ball. He is fighting through that a little bit, but he has the skill set to catch the ball."
Although it doesn't always look fluid or natural, Tebow has flashed at camp. As a bold prediction, ESPN's Michael DiRocco made a case that the converted tight end could secure a roster spot.
"Tebow had the second-most catches of any tight end in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 during the first four days of camp. His seven receptions trail only Ben Ellefson (nine). A couple caveats: James O'Shaughnessy missed time with an ankle injury, and the defense was not allowed to play press coverage or go after throws. Still, the 33-year-old Tebow—who last played in a regular-season NFL game in 2012—hasn't had a drop, and it shows that he has a good grasp of the offense. He just needs to hold his own as a blocker once the pads go on and he'll make the 53-man roster."
While premier tight ends can catch and block, teams will carve out roles for specialists who excel in only one of those areas.
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tim Tebow
If Tebow uses his hands more than his body to catch the football, he could become a threat on obvious passing downs or in the red zone. Jaguars offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer believes Tebow's experience at quarterback allows him to see plays develop in the passing game (h/t Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio):
"You see the football mind, you see how he sees the game from the quarterback’s point of view. There was a play a couple days ago in the red zone where I think it was C.J. [Beathard] broke out and scrambled left and the first guy that saw it was Tim and we threw him a touchdown pass. Why is that? Well, he has played the position—he has stood back there and seen, 'Oh well he is moving this direction, I have to go with him.' It is going to be fun to watch him compete In the preseason as well.”
The Jaguars don't have a reliable pass-catching tight end, which is a void that allows Tebow a legitimate chance at an NFL comeback in 2021.
While Chris Manhertz and O'Shaughnessy are the most experienced within the group, neither has caught 30 passes in a single season. Last year, as rookies, Tyler Davis and Ellefson appeared in eight and seven games, respectively, but combined for one reception for 10 yards. In the fifth round of this year's draft, Jacksonville selected Luke Farrell, who didn't have more than 20 receptions in any of his four seasons at Ohio State.
Tebow isn't going to outperform his competition in blocking drills and scenarios. However, he can certainly showcase himself as a bigger threat to score touchdowns.
If Meyer and Schottenheimer want to turn Tebow into Taysom Hill 2.0, the Jaguars can hand him the ball inside the 10-yard line. In two seasons with the Denver Broncos, he rushed for 887 yards and 12 touchdowns. At 6'3", 255 pounds, Tebow would look like a fullback, mowing over defenders near the goal line or on 3rd-and-short.
When the Jaguars want to pull out gadget plays, Tebow's quarterback experience can pay dividends. He's not an accurate passer (47.9 percent career completion rate), but a well-designed play call can draw defenders in the box to stop the run and leave wide-open passing lanes for easy completions.
Tebow must show off his versatility through the preseason to make the team, and that's not an implausible feat with the type of tight ends on the Jaguars roster. Perhaps the doubters will have to change their tune on August 31 after final cuts.
NFL Trade Rumors: Execs Believe Jaguars' 2020 1st-Rounder C.J. Henderson Is Available
Aug 8, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JUNE 08: CJ Henderson #23 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during Jacksonville Jaguars Training Camp at TIAA Bank Field on June 08, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
One year after selecting him in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars might be ready to reverse course on C.J. Henderson in a big way.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported some NFL team executives have gotten the impression Henderson is available through trade. Fowler added there's no animosity between him and the Jaguars, but the front office could nonetheless look to move him.
Head coach Urban Meyer didn't have a hand in using the No. 9 overall pick on Henderson, but general manager Trent Baalke was the team's director of player personnel during the 2020 draft.
Still, the current regime may not feel as invested in the 22-year-old's success as the previous administration.
Feels crazy, but also felt like a possibility when the Jags took Tyson Campbell as high as they did, especially after signing Shaq Griffin and Sidney Jones in FA. Will be an interesting market https://t.co/iN5Vl4mDtw
In the absence of a precipitating event, Fowler's report is surprising, to say the least.
Henderson was limited to eight games as a rookie, finishing with 36 tackles, six pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. While it wasn't an otherworldly rookie campaign from the former Florida standout, he showed enough promise to earn some benefit of the doubt.
On Friday, the Jaguars activated Henderson from the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list. That set him up to compete in a scrimmage Sunday. However, he was conspicuous in his absence for the workout.
Urban didnt have much to say about CJ Henderson other than missing for “personal reasons.”
Did say it’s going to put him behind the eight ball again. #Jaguars | @FCN2go
No one knows what's occurring behind the scenes when a player misses something critical like a scrimmage for personal reasons, but CJ Henderson is a talent but he has to love the game of football on this level.
Perhaps the timing of Fowler's report is just a coincidence, coming in such close proximity to the scrimmage.
But it's the kind of thing that will almost certainly lead to questions for Meyer and Baalke ahead of the regular season.
DJ Chark Had Surgery for Finger Injury, Expected to Be Ready for Jaguars Opener
Aug 8, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer, left, talks with wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) during NFL football practice, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver DJ Chark Jr. had surgery this week to repair a hairline fracture in his finger, head coach Urban Meyer said Sunday.
The wideout is still expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Houston Texans on Sept. 12.
Chark has led the Jaguars in receiving in each of the past two years, finishing 2020 with 706 yards on 53 catches with five touchdowns.
The 24-year-old was even better in 2019, earning a Pro Bowl selection after totaling 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight scores.
Injuries were an issue for Chark last season, however, as he missed time with chest, rib and ankle issues. Even when on the field, he only had one 100-yard game in 13 appearances.
The 2018 second-round pick will hope the latest finger injury won't hold him back more in 2021, especially in the final year of his contract.
Jacksonville added veterans Marvin Jones Jr. and Phillip Dorsett II in free agency and are expecting big things from Laviska Shenault Jr. in his second season, which will help replace Chark until the starter is back to full strength. Rookie running back Travis Etienne Jr. could also have a significant role in the passing attack.
It gives No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence plenty of weapons heading into his first season in the NFL, even if Chark remains unavailable.
