Jags acquire homegrown Jernigan

JACKSONVILLE – The excitement was real and unmistakable."It's a blessing," Timmy Jernigan said.Jernigan, a second-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2014 NFL Draft who played with the Philadelphia Eagles the past three seasons, signed with the Jaguars as a veteran free agent Monday morning.It was for the Jaguars a move to solidify a defensive tackle position hit hard during 2020 Training Camp by illness, injury and COVID-19 optouts – but the signing was personal for Jernigan, who attended Justina Elementary School in Jacksonville before graduating from Lake City (Fla.) High School."It damn sure feels good to be home," he said via videoconference shortly after the Jaguars' 90-minute practice Monday morning at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex.Jernigan's signing addresses a position that had taken severe losses in recent weeks, most recently Sunday night when veteran defensive tackle Rodney Gunter announced he was stepping away from football because of an enlarged aorta.Gunter, signed as an unrestricted free agent from Arizona this past offseason, was the third defensive tackle the Jaguars lost since the '20 camp began. Defensive tackle Al Woods, signed with Gunter as an unrestricted free agent to bolster a run defense that struggled last season, opted out of the '20 season for COVID-19 reasons. The Jaguars also placed second-year defensive tackle Dontavius Russell (hip) on injured reserve."I don't know if it's scrambling or high-anxiety," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said Monday. "It's a matter of, 'Listen, some of the young guys that we have are going to have to step up and we've got to get them ready to go.'''The Jaguars, who ranked 28th in the NFL against the run last season, selected Ohio State nose tackle Davon Hamilton in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. They also return 2018 first-round selection Taven Bryan and eight-year veteran Abry Jones – the team's most-tenured player – at defensive tackle."If they need me to come in and be a heavy run guy, I can make that happen, I can do that," Jernigan said. "If they need me to get to the quarterback, I feel like I have the ability to do both. All I need to really do is just prove to everyone that I'm ready for that."Marrone also on Monday mentioned acquiring other players at the position via free agency or trade.

Timmy Jernigan is happy to be home and ready to rumble. Photo by Don Juan Moore