The Jaguars brought Jahlani Tavai in late, but he may be arriving just in time to force his way onto the 53-man roster.
Jacksonville signed the veteran linebacker on Aug. 6 to help patch up a thin position group hit by injuries, and he has wasted little time making himself noticeable. Through two preseason games, Tavai has flashed as a blitzer, piling up five quarterback pressures, according to PFF. He has also been steady when it comes to finishing plays, showing the kind of tackling reliability teams want from a depth linebacker.
His impact hasn’t been limited to defense. Tavai has also carved out a role on special teams in the preseason, logging 28 total snaps across five of the six different phases.
"He's a great dude," Liam Coen said recently, via the Florida Times Union. "He's a communicator.
He's a team guy. He's a four-core special teams guy.
He's had to come in and take a lot of reps in a hurry and there's no flinch to him. A pro's pro who's been in some these situations before and we're hopeful he's going to be able to continue to help us."
Tavai brings plenty of NFL mileage with him. He entered the league in 2019 as a second-round pick by Detroit and has played in 107 games with 67 starts.
Across that stretch, he has collected 432 total tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. In 2025, he logged 290 defensive snaps for New England.
With the Jaguars sorting through a crowded linebacker room and deciding who claims that final roster spot or two, Tavai’s experience gives him a real chance to stick. Even if his defensive role stays limited, his ability to step in on special teams could make him valuable from Day 1.
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Liam Coen has taken notice of the way Dickerson has carved out that spot, pointing to his consistency, his style of play and the strength of his hands. For a defense that will need dependable rotation help inside, Dickersons path from practice squad depth to a more trusted presence gives the Jaguars a useful layer behind Armstead, even if the full scope of his role is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Thomas Jr. Sends A Clear Message About Jaguars Weapons
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Under Liam Coen, that approach has been tied to a broader players over plays philosophy, and it has given the Jaguars a more unselfish feel on offense. For a team trying to maximize one of the strongest receiver rooms in the league, the challenge is not finding enough weapons. It is keeping everyone involved in a way that preserves balance, and Thomas comments made it clear that is very much the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Unveiled A New Look Fans Will Definitely Debate
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What will get the most attention, though, is the first teal helmet in franchise history, a detail that instantly makes this more than just another uniform rollout. Jacksonville plans to wear the set in Week 8 at EverBank Stadium against the Colts, and as with any bold rebrand, the real conversation will start once fans see it under the lights. [Read more 🡒]