For a brief moment, it looked like defensive tackle was going to become a concern for the Jacksonville Jaguars due to the absence of Arik Armstead and Maason Smith. However, the situation is starting to take a positive spin.
Just one day after the Jags activated Smith from the Physically Unable to Perform list, Armstead is back in practice ahead of the preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
This is noteworthy because the players behind Smith and Armstead were unremarkable in the preseason opener. Heck, the team's brass even signed journeyman Austin Johnson as insurance. But with their return, the defensive tackle position looks in much better shape.
Arik Armstead returns to the Jaguars ahead of Saints game
Michael DiRocco of ESPN reported that Arik Armstead was in helmet for Day 16 of training camp and participated in the stretch.
On a related note, right tackle Anton Harrison, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga were working on the sidelines.
Now, it's unclear if Armstead will play against the Saints. There's a chance he won't. Having said that, it's encouraging to find out that he's trending in the right direction, especially after head coach Liam Coen stated that he wasn't sure whether the former Oregon Duck was going to be ready for the season opener. But even if he doesn't suit up, he'll still have a bit of time to work his way back.
A first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, Armstead signed with the Jags last year. He went on to play all 17 games with one start. However, he has been dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss a good chunk of training camp. Based on the latest update, though, this may turn out to be a non-issue.
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Why Arik Armstead return to practice is huge for the Jaguars
Signing Arik Armstead to a three-year deal worth $43.5 million seemed like a good move in 2024 despite the fact that he was recovering from meniscus surgery. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows when they had him line up at defensive end behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
This was a baffling move because the Sacramento, California native is better suited to play on the interior. To nobody's surprise, he was unremarkable. The good news was that he switched back to defensive tackle. On the other hand, his absence from practice raised concerns about his availability for the start of the regular season.
Based on the latest update, though, it seems like the Jaguars are going to have both Arik Armstead and Maason Smith for the start of the regular season. If they do, the defensive front will be in a position to wreak havoc.
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