Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson won't play Sunday against the Chicago Bears due to an ankle injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Robinson, an undrafted rookie out of Illinois State, has rushed for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 49 passes for 344 yards and three scores. The 22-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for the 1-13 Jags, who have lost 13 straight after a Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Robinson starred for the Redbirds in college, amassing 4,444 career rushing yards, including 1,899 in his senior year in 2019. He was named a Walter Payton Award finalist after amassing 18 touchdowns as well. He missed three games during his freshman year with a calf injury but was otherwise a workhorse in the team's backfield for much of his collegiate career.

The seven-round NFL draft came and went without commissioner Roger Goodell calling the 5'10", 220-pound back's name, but Robinson quickly signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jags.

He was named the team's starter after Leonard Fournette was released and immediately made an impact with 446 scrimmage yards in his first four games.

Unfortunately, the Jags have struggled on both sides of the ball in 2020, leading to their last-place record. However, Robinson appears to have at least settled the running back spot for the near future, as the Jags continue their rebuilding process.

His absence will leave a massive void considering he has logged 240 of the team's 304 total carries.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mike Glennon will reportedly get a chance to show one of his former teams how he's been faring lately when the Jags host the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Glennon will get the start this week instead of Gardner Minshew, who has been Jacksonville's primary starter this season.

Glennon was cut by the Bears at the end of the 2017 season when he was benched for Mitch Trubisky. 

Glennon started the first four games of the season for the Bears in 2017, ending with a four-turnover game against the Green Bay Packers. The result brought Chicago to 1-3 and saw the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter, a third-round pick by the team in 2013, head to the bench. 

He appeared in two games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and spent 2019 with the then-Oakland Raiders, also making two appearances, before he signed with Jacksonville in May. 

The North Carolina State product did not start again until Nov. 29 of this year, when the Jaguars decided to put Jake Luton, their sixth-round draft pick, back on the bench after giving him the ball for three weeks following Minshew's thumb injury. 

In Glennon's return to the starting role, the Jaguars fell to the Cleveland Browns, 27-25. He threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-35 passing in his debut as the Jaguars starter, and he got the nod for the next two weeks—losses to the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans. 

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone made the call to start Minshew last week, and he threw for 53 yards in the first half of an eventual 40-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The pair split time in practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears. 

"I want to see which one can execute the game plan better during the week to feel he gives us the best opportunity," Marrone said at the time.

Marrone's team is desperately in need of a long-term solution at quarterback, and they're in a pretty favorable position to solve that problem, since they hold the first pick in the 2021 NFL draft with a 1-13 record and the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over the New York Jets—though the coach has said he wants a win now, not necessarily at the draft. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars received an unexpected present when the New York Jets miraculously captured a victory Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. In doing so, the Jets helped set the table for the Jaguars to dominate the 2021 NFL offseason.

Jacksonville (1-13) is already in the midst of a massive overhaul. Ownership fired general manager David Caldwell, who served in the position for nearly eight seasons, on Nov. 29. A potential 15-game losing streak to end the year will almost certainly doom head coach Doug Marrone as well.

What's the old saying? It's always darkest before the dawn. Well, in Jacksonville, Sol should beat down on the northeast corner of the Sunshine State next year with the brightness of multiple stars.

Everyone is already looking at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft class as a possible franchise-changer, but the potential found within this sleeping giant runs far deeper.

Obviously, the possibility of landing Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the start of April's draft makes Jacksonville one of the more intriguing offseason storylines, though we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

Two weeks of play remain. Yes, the 1-13 Jets surprised by not going winless this season. Still, Jacksonville must face the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively. Is there another victory in there somewhere? Probably not. But everything must play out, and the Jets provided an excellent example of a squad not willing to give up even when everyone outside the organization already had.

"The Jets better hope they don't win," a former general manager told ESPN's Rich Cimini. "I'm telling you, you can't afford to lose this kid [Lawrence]. They're so painfully bad in every area, on and off the field, they can't afford to lose this kid. They can't. This kid comes around [once] in a blue moon."

Another surprising outcome aside, Jaguars fans can get excited about the possibility that Lawrence lands in town. Everyone around the league knows what's coming for whichever organization owns the top selection, as Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted. While he's not a "generational talent" as is often stated, Lawrence has established himself as the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck entered the league in 2012.

Last season, Lawrence opened the door for another quarterback to usurp his destiny as a future No. 1 overall draft pick. His decision-making, particularly through the first half of the '19 campaign, could be called into question, and rightly so. But the 21-year-old signal-caller, who's expected to declare for the draft, showed no such deficiencies this season.

"It looks like he's having more fun this year, which has resulted in better play," an NFL personnel man told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Last year he might have been feeling the expectations, the weight, but now he looks looser."

The 6'6", 220-pound quarterback completed 69.2 percent of his passes this season and posted a 22-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He's the full package capable of delivering from the pocket, driving the ball to all three levels and working outside structure, and is athletic enough to be a factor in the running game. According to Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner, Lawrence managed more big-time throws (perfectly placed downfield passes) than any other collegiate quarterback over the last three seasons.

A straight line can be drawn from John Elway to Peyton Manning to Luck and now Lawrence when it comes to top-tier prospects. No one expects anyone other than Lawrence to be the first name announced April 29. However, his potential presence or lack thereof isn't a make-or-break-situation for the Jaguars.

With or without Lawrence, Jacksonville will still have arguably the league's most intriguing job openings.

The first overall pick (or second) is the starting point. The Jaguars have plenty of ammunition near the top of the upcoming draft to fill multiple needs with quality prospects, as they did last year with CJ Henderson and K'Lavon Chaisson.

Jacksonville is in line to land the first overall pick and the 25th, the latter courtesy of the Jalen Ramsey trade. The Jaguars also have a pair of second-round picks. In total, the team holds 11 selections for the '21 draft after adding 12 prospects in this year's class.

While the franchise's initial choice will be vital to its long-term success, Jacksonville's next general manager will have plenty of work to do to fill out the rest of the roster with those picks. Quarterback, offensive line, tight end, safety and the defensive front can all be addressed.

Or, the next regime can target certain positions in free agency since the Jaguars have plenty of financial flexibility in the coming years.

In fact, Jacksonville owns the fifth-most salary-cap space at $24.9 million, according to Spotrac. The previous number can be carried over to next year when the Jaguars already have a league-leading $84.7 million in projected cap space. Considering 10 franchises are already in the red before the start of the upcoming league year in March, the Jaguars could control the market.

Jacksonville's roster doesn't feature many significant financial decisions next offseason, either.

Left tackle Cam Robinson is the only player set to hit the market who could demand a significant extension or free-agent deal, and questions still exist about his viability as a starting left tackle. Otherwise, the team could make a few smaller investments in incumbents, like re-signing cornerback Sidney Jones or defensive tackle Abry Jones. 

Eventual additions will build upon what's already in place. Henderson, Chaisson, running back James Robinson—who broke an NFL record by an undrafted rookie with 1,414 yards from scrimmage and counting—wide receivers DJ Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr., defensive end Josh Allen and linebacker Myles Jack form a solid talent core. 

The idea of having a young, extremely talented quarterback prospect in the fold, double-digit draft picks and the most salary-cap space of any organization make Jacksonville the ideal landing spot for top general manager and head coach candidates.

The primary goal during the next few weeks is finding a pair with like philosophies to create a top-down culture throughout the organization. The Cleveland Browns were a great example of what not to do regarding regime changes until this year when the Haslam family finally realized how important an aligned vision is to success in professional football. The same task stands in front of the Khan family.

The idea of not moving on from Marrone is unthinkable. A fresh start is necessary.

So, numerous candidates such as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, etc., will all come up during the head coaching search, the right hire is more important than name recognition.

Fortunately, candidates should be leaping at the opportunity to take on the Jaguars' rebuilding process. Jacksonville is already through the toughest portion of a teardown.

Most importantly, in a league where patience isn't a virtue, the Khans have shown restraint throughout their tenure. Caldwell lasted as long as he did despite major whiffs on Luke Joeckel, Blake Bortles, Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Fournette. Those high-profile misfires don't include Ramsey's forcing his way out of town. Marrone, meanwhile, remains the head coach—for now, at least—despite one winning season in four years.

Whoever enters a leadership role within the organization should understand they will have time to build this roster with everything at their disposal to turn a perennial loser into a long-term success. Everything is in place, as long as smart decisions accompany these expansive opportunities.

Next offseason, the Jaguars will be positioned for improvement better than any other franchise. They can make major moves with their hires, as well as during free agency and the draft. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come portends merry tidings.

                 

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick will reportedly interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars for their opening at general manager, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen. 

Riddick has already interviewed for openings with the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans.

The Jaguars fired general manager Dave Caldwell in November after a 1-10 start to the season. Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone had been responsible for football operations since Tom Coughlin was fired from his role as Executive Vice President of Football Operations in 2019.

Riddick has spent the past seven years as an ESPN analyst, providing color commentary in the Monday Night Football booth this season.

He also has significant experience at the team level with the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles, working as a scout and eventually becoming Director of Player Personnel in both locations.

The 51-year-old also played six seasons in the NFL as a defensive back with the Browns, Falcons and Raiders.

Turning around the Jaguars could be a difficult task for whoever becomes the general manager as the team is set to finish in last place in the AFC South for the third year in a row. The franchise has had only two winning seasons in the last 15 years.

Questions at head coach and quarterback also don't make things easier for the next GM.

The good news is Jacksonville holds two first-round and two second-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft and the team is currently in position to land the No. 1 overall pick. The organization also has the second-most cap space in the NFL this offseason, per Spotrac.

It could provide the ammunition needed for the new GM to improve the roster heading into 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II believes that Yannick Ngakoue will look to send a message to his former team on Sunday.

"Now Yannick's going to be out for blood," Minshew told reporters on Wednesday ahead of this week's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Ngakoue spent last offseason mired in a stalemate with the Jaguars. He made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he didn't want to remain with the organization. 

"I want to be part of something special," he said in April on NFL Live. "I want to go to a place where I can make a great impact in the community."

https://twitter.com/YannickNgakoue/status/1234456012591161345

After placing the franchise tender on Ngakoue in March, the Jaguars finally granted his wish to play elsewhere by trading him to the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 31 for two 2021 draft picks. The 25-year-old wound up taking a $5.8 million pay cut on his one-year contract to make the money work for the Vikings. 

The Vikings dealt Ngakoue to Baltimore on Oct. 22 in exchange for two draft picks, including a third-rounder in 2021. He has recorded six sacks in 13 games between the two teams this season. 

Ngakoue was originally drafted by the Jaguars in 2016. He was named to the Pro Bowl in his second season after recording a career-high 12 sacks to help Jacksonville win the AFC South.

The Jacksonville Jaguars benched Mike Glennon during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, putting Gardner Minshew back under center.

Minshew hadn't played since Week 7 after suffering multiple fractures and a strained ligament in his right thumb.

Glennon started the team's Week 14 game with Minshew active, but the coaching staff made a switch with the Jaguars trailing 31-3 in the third quarter.

Things turned around immediately with Minshew under center, throwing a touchdown on his first drive:

.@GardnerMinshew5 finds @Air4Cole for the @Jaguars TD!

📺: #TENvsJAX on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/hQgBgSB4Qy pic.twitter.com/bTUmtmQpFf

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2020

Minshew started the team's first seven games of the season after winning the job from Nick Foles. He produced a 94.4 quarterback rating in this stretch with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, although the team struggled around him while going 1-6.

Jacksonville turned to rookie sixth-round pick Jake Luton, who lost all three of his starts while throwing six interceptions with just two touchdowns.

Glennon then got his chance and helped the team stay competitive against the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings, but he couldn't get Jacksonville into the win column.

A slow start from Glennon Sunday (13-of-23 for 85 passing yards with an interception) led to another switch back to the original starter.

The coaching staff could now have a tough decision going into the Week 15 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are making a change.

After Sunday's 27-25 loss to the Cleveland Browns, dropping the Jags to 1-10 on the year, the team has fired general manager Dave Caldwell.

Statement from Owner Shad Khan regarding GM Dave Caldwell. pic.twitter.com/ZAHYyjTpaq

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) November 29, 2020

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Trent Baalke will take over GM duties on an interim basis.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

Though Caldwell is out, head coach Doug Marrone is safe, with the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reporting that "owner Shad Khan informed Doug Marrone and his staff they are secure for the rest of the season."

With a new general manager likely to want to hire his own head coach, however, Marrone may not have a future in Jacksonville beyond 2020.

Caldwell is now the fourth general manager to be canned this season alone, joining the Houston Texans' GM-coach Bill O'Brien, Detroit Lions' Bob Quinn and Atlanta Falcons' Thomas Dimitroff. The Jags are the only team of those four to retain their head coach, however.

The 46-year-old Caldwell was Jacksonville's general manager since 2013, with the team having just one winning season in that time. In total, Caldwell's Jaguars went 37-86 during his tenure.

The next GM will have quite a bit of work to do. The Jags have parted ways with many of their talented veterans in recent years and have an enormous need at quarterback, though they may be able to address that with the top-three pick in the NFL draft they are on pace to hold in 2021.

That will be the first step to ending a long run of mediocrity that has seen the team reach the postseason just once since 2008. Many of the players who helped lead their playoff push in 2017, including Jalen Ramsey, Allen Robinson, Leonard Fournette, Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler Jr. and Calais Campbell, have since departed.

The cupboard isn't completely bare, with players like James Robinson, Josh Allen, CJ Henderson, DJ Chark Jr. and Myles Jack, among others, worth building around. But Jacksonville has another major rebuild coming.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are making a change at quarterback, with Mike Glennon set to start Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns at TIAA Bank Field. 

Head coach Doug Marrone told reporters Wednesday that Glennon will replace Jake Luton in the starting lineup. 

Luton has started the past three games for the Jaguars as Gardner Minshew II dealt with a thumb injury that he originally suffered in a Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted that Minshew is getting closer to full health, but Marrone has made the decision to go with the eight-year veteran as his starting quarterback. 

A sixth-round draft pick out of Oregon State in 2020, Luton completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 624 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. He was picked off four times in Sunday's 27-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Glennon was signed by the Jaguars in May and was promoted to their 53-man roster on Sept. 8, five days before their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, after spending time on the practice squad. 

Sunday will mark Glennon's first start since Week 4 of the 2017 season when he was with the Chicago Bears. The 30-year-old is 6-16 in his career as a starting quarterback. He has thrown for 5,163 yards, 36 touchdowns and 20 interceptions with four different teams. 

Jacksonville has lost nine straight games since a 27-20 victory over the Colts in Week 1.  

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen has been placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, the team announced Tuesday, meaning he'll miss at least three games. 

"It's not any ligament damage, but it's still enough to be out for some time," head coach Marrone told reporters Monday. "That's about all I'll give out. I might give you more later when I get more specific [details]."

The 23-year-old already dealt with a knee injury this season that cost him two games, though he has otherwise been fairly durable in his career.

After Jacksonville selected Allen with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2019 draft, he appeared in all 16 games as a rookie and earned a Pro Bowl nod as an important building block for the team's future.

The Kentucky product tallied 44 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his first year in the league but has followed with just 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits in eight games this year for a Jaguars team that has disappointed and appears to still be in the early stages of a rebuild.

If Allen is sidelined with this latest setback, look for the combination of K'Lavon Chaisson, Adam Gotsis and Dawuane Smoot to see more playing time along the defensive front.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen will reportedly miss games but avoided a long-term knee injury in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported an initial diagnosis did not show a "serious" injury. 

Allen was the seventh overall pick by the Jags in the 2019 NFL draft after being named the 2018 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Kentucky. He recorded 44 total tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during a strong rookie season.

The 23-year-old edge-rusher suffered a wrist injury during high school, which he told Chase Goodbread of NFL.com in February 2019 "still bothers him some to this day." He remained mostly durable at UK, however, appearing in 39 games across his last three years of college ball.

Allen dealt with a minor knee bruise during organized team activities (OTAs) last May but went on to play all 16 games as a rookie.

Ultimately, Jacksonville has pegged Allen as a key defensive building block, and that isn't going to change, regardless of the extent of the setback. Any type of long-term absence could slow his development at the NFL level, though the Jags can afford to be patient at 1-9.