Jaguars already value veteran experience of linebacker Jahlani Tavai

Unsigned during an NFL training camp for the first time since entering the league in 2019, Jahlani Tavai was staying ready at his home in Hawaii.

Beset by injuries at linebacker, the Jacksonville Jaguars called with the right opportunity earlier this month. That phone call started a nomadic travel journey.

“It was actually a hectic one,” he told me after a practice earlier this week.

Hectic is an understatement.

“It took over 24 hours of travel to get here,” he said, citing weather delays.

Honolulu to Los Angeles. … Los Angeles to Minneapolis. … Minneapolis to New York-LaGuardia. … New York-Kennedy to Jacksonville.

Once Tavai landed and signed with the Jaguars on Aug. 6, he hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped.

Tavai has used his 112 games of

regular season/playoff experience to step right into the linebacker rotation during camp. He played 52 snaps (second-most on the defense behind cornerback Jabbar Muhammad’s 61) in the 24-20 win over the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15 and made six tackles (tied for the team-high with Muhammad).

“It was a good opportunity to have fun and play football,” said Tavai, who also played 12 special teams snaps. “I was on the couch for a bit and 52 reps means 52 opportunities to make the team.”

Tavai brings value that should allow him to make the roster. Projected back-up middle linebacker Jack Kiser (right knee) hasn’t practiced since July 29 and rookie back-up Parker Hughes (right lower body) is out for the season.

Tavai immediately saw significant practice snaps.

“He’s a great dude,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said earlier this week. “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, who turns 30 on Sept. 28, was originally a second-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2019. Released after the 2021 preseason, he joined New England and started a combined 44 games from 2022-24. Last year, he started seven games but played only 228 defensive snaps (plus 59 in four playoff games) and was cut on March 11.

“(The Jaguars) showed a lot of love when they called and I was ready to find a new home,” Tavai said. “I’ve got a good (linebacker) room from (linebackers) Coach Tem (Lukabu) to ‘Fo’ (Foye Oluokun) to ‘V’ (Ventrell Miller) and all of them have helped me a lot in understanding the scheme.”

About the Jaguars

1. The Faalele Trade: The Jaguars’ trade on Aug. 19 of a 2027 sixth-round draft pick for guard Daniel Faalele was the 24th training camp trade in franchise history and the fourth by general manager James Gladstone. The New York Giants’ depth chart lists two first-round picks (starter Francis Mauigoa and back-up Evan Neal) at right guard, making Faalele expendable.

In late April, NFL.com projected the Jaguars would receive three compensatory picks in next year’s draft for losing free agent linebacker Devin Lloyd to Carolina (fourth round), running back Travis Etienne to New Orleans (fifth round) and cornerback Greg Newsome to the Giants (sixth round). That would give the Jaguars seven picks in rounds 1-5, which coupled with getting the extra sixth-rounder, made the trade easy to defend. Acquire Faalele now instead of waiting until after cutdown day.

Faalele already has a place in the Jaguars’ record book — heaviest player. At 380 pounds, he easily eclipsed offensive tackle Richard Collier (358 pounds, 2006-07) and guard Derrick Fletcher (350 pounds, 2005).

2. Listening in on defense: A bonus for Coen during the New Orleans game was being able to listen in on the communication of the defensive coaches; during the regular season, as the offensive play-caller, he only periodically checks in.

What did Coen glean?

“(Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile) and I had some good conversations about what to play in some situations and certain down-and-distances,” Coen said. “(The coaches) were calm and cool. There were no real hiccups with the substitutions. … The operations of the game, I thought it went very smooth.”

MORE FROM RYAN O'HALLORAN: Bolles stars Asher Ghioto, Xander Edwards balancing present, future

Extra point

1. Wearing the ring: Marc Edwards caught nine passes for 62 yards in three playoff games for the 2001 New England Patriots, including two catches for seven yards in the Patriots’ upset Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams. I talked to Edwards earlier this week for a story about his son, Xander, a junior running back at Bolles and asked how often he wears the ring?

“I don’t wear it out very often,” Marc said. “A lot of times, what I do is I’ll keep it in my pocket if I’m out at a game or Jaguars event or a Notre Dame event and when people want to see it, I’ll show it to them.”

The rings have gotten significantly bigger over the last 25 years.

“Oh my, gosh, yes,” Marc said. “The ring I have is literally half the size of the last one the Patriots won (in 2018). And my ring is enormous. I walk into a restaurant wearing it and it’s an attention-grabber.”

Contact O’Halloran at [e-mail] or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-7 p.m.).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars already value veteran experience of linebacker Jahlani Tavai