JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 18 (UPI) — It’s the time of year when football hungry fans and reporters read into anything and everything, but minicamp snaps still say something about an upcoming NFL season.
Take Jacksonville Jaguars minicamp for instance. The team emerged in 2015 as a young squad to be reckoned with out of the AFC South. It’s youth on offense possibly made the biggest impact behind quarterback Blake Bortles. Jacksonville had speedy threats out wide and a stud tight end. All of that is back this season, in addition to some competition to improve its running back slot.
Last season, rookie T.J. Yeldon compiled 1,019 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, but only played in 12 games due to a knee injury. Now it looks like a hard running veteran could unseat the 22-year-old with fresh legs.
Chris Ivory rushed for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns on 247 carries for the New York Jets last season. He escaped to Jacksonville this offseason, signing a five-year, $32 million deal. Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com believes the 28-year-old has shown enough to become the “initial starter” in front of Yeldon.
“Asked about Yeldon’s offseason, [coach Gus] Bradley first mentioned his improvement in pass protection,” O’Halloran wrote. “Reading between the lines would suggest they have Yeldon ear-marked for a regular third down/fill-in early-down role and Ivory as the initial starter.”
First Coast News reporter Mike Kaye reported Friday that Ivory has been “faster” than he thought he would be.
Salary could also be playing a role in this equation, as Yeldon is due $525,000 this season and Ivory is due $2 million this season and $4.5 million in 2017.
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