Bengals Game Day Newsletter 5 Nov 5th Cincinnati_Digital | Page 61

– HELLO NOVEMBER
TIED FOR FIRST PLACE, THE JAGUARS BEGIN
NOVEMBER IN CONTENTION FOR THE AFC SOUTH TITLE
JACKSONVILLE–So much for a quiet bye week.
Poised for the stretch run with an opportunity
to vie for the AFC South title, the Jacksonville
Jaguars (4-3) needed the past week to rest
key players battling injuries and illnesses and
regroup for the second half of the NFL season.
While they and others battling seven weeks
of bumps and bruises rested, the organization
made moves to solidify a defense already
leading the league in sacks (33) and second
in take-aways (16) as the calendar turned to
November.
The fi rst move was locking down a core piece
of the defense for the foreseeable future.
Linebacker Telvin Smith signed a four-year
contract extension with the team, keeping
the vocal and speedy defensive leader in
Jacksonville.
Smith was playing the fi nal year of his rookie
contract in 2017.
“It’s been a privilege these last four years, and
there is so much that I want to accomplish
as a teammate and as an individual in this
league,” Smith said in a statement after the
team announced the deal. “W e have created
a bond in that locker room and everyone is
committed to our goal of winning football
games. I am honored to be a part of that
culture and help continue to lead this team
in the right direction.”
Smith leads the Jaguars in tackles (58) and
tackles for loss (8), but he also has a knack for
being around the ball with two interceptions,
one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
His 58 tackles is sixth-best in the NFL, and
the 8 tackles for loss are tied for sixth-best
in the league.
The Valdosta, Georgia, native was a fi fth-
round draft pick for the Jaguars out of Florida
State in 2014, and is the second member
of the Jaguars’ 2014 draft class to sign a
second contract with the team, joining center
Brandon Linder.
The second move last week was made in hopes
of solidifying a part of the defense that has
been an issue at times early in 2017: the 31st-
ranked run defense.
The Jaguars traded a 2018 sixth-round draft
pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for former
fi rst-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl nose
tackle Marcell Dareus.
The seventh-year pro from Alabama has 35.0
sacks in 85 career games, but his impact
should be felt immediately in run defense. At
six-feet-three and 331 pounds, his stoutness
in the interior should help plug the middle.
“We expect him to be stout against the run
and to be able to put pressure on opposing
quarterbacks,” Executive Vice President of
Football Operations Tom Coughlin said in
a statement after Dareus passed a physical
exam last Saturday morning to make the deal
offi cial. “This was a great opportunity to