HEADLINES

Paul Posluszny

AFC South Notes: Posluszny, Jags, Titans

December 29th, 2014 at 8:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Paul Posluszny is currently on the Jaguars‘ books for a team-high $9.5MM cap hit for 2015, but would “absolutely” be open to reducing that number in exchange for an extra year added to his contract, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). Posluszny, whose 2014 season ended prematurely due to a torn pectoral muscle, is currently under team control for two more years. More from the AFC South..

  • Michael Griffin told reporters, including Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), that if the Titans came to him and said they wanted him back for less money, it would come down to a family decision and what is best for them.
  • Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos says the odds are over 50% that he will retire this offseason, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean (via Twitter).
  • Wyatt (Twitter link) says the Titans will do their due diligence on guys like Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, but can’t see them taking either with the No.2 pick. Ultimately, he envisions Zach Mettenberger as the leading candidate to start in 2015 with added quarterback competition (link).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Jaguars To Place Paul Posluszny On IR

October 20th, 2014 at 12:10pm CST by Luke Adams

12:10pm: The Jaguars recorded their first win of the 2014 season this weekend, but that victory came at a price. According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (Twitter link), Pro Bowl linebacker Paul Posluszny tore his pectoral muscle and will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Defensive lineman Andre Branch will also miss the next six weeks with a groin injury, tweets Oehser.

Posluszny, 30, was Jacksonville’s leading tackler last season, compiling 162 stops to go along with three sacks, two interceptions, and nine passes defended. His absence will be a significant blow for a Jags defense that has been surprisingly effective in recent weeks. According to head coach Gus Bradley, J.T. Thomas is expected to move over to Posluszny’s middle linebacker spot, with Dekoda Watson and LaRoy Reynolds manning the Otto linebacker position (Twitter link via Oehser).

The Jaguars used their injured reserve spot with the designation to return on tight end Marcedes Lewis earlier this season, so that won’t be an option for Branch, whose recovery timeline would make sense for such a designation. Instead, the club will have to either keep Branch on its 53-man roster or place him on season-ending IR while he recovers from his groin injury.

AFC Notes: Jaguars, Ravens, Browns

July 13th, 2014 at 9:46pm CST by Peter Sowards

Paul Posluszny is one of the few constants in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, losing is another. But, that’s not his fault, as he’s played in all but one game in three seasons with the team and is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance.

But, as The Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran writes, there is uncertainty aside from Posluszny in the Jaguars linebacker room. Projected starters Dekoda Watson and Geno Hayes have been battling injuries, and backups LaRoy Reynolds and Telvin Smith are mostly untested.

O’Halloran remarks that linebackers coach Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator Bob Babish and coach Gus Bradley will focus on the group intently, and he assumes that the aforementioned five linebackers are safe, which leaves a single roster spot for J.T. Thomas, John Lotulelei, Nate Stupar, Allen Bradford and Marcus Whitfield.

More notes from the AFC:

  • The future of Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith is not likely to be affected after his arrest for disorderly conduct, CSNBaltimore.com’s Clifton Brown reports. The team has already exercised Smith’s fifth-year option and plans to sign him to a long-term deal.
  • Joining the Seahawks, Broncos and Ravens, the Browns will use a live animal as its mascot, according to Cleveland.com’s Tom Reed. Swagger, a bullmastiff, will lead the team onto the field before games.