A late addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars training camp roster seems to be making a good push for a roster spot on the final 53-man.
To bolster their linebacker depth in the midst of injuries, the Jaguars signed veteran Jahlani Tavai on Aug. 6. Tavai hasn't been in Jacksonville long, but he's made a quick first impression.
Tavai has seen ample opportunities in the Jaguars' two preseason games, and he's stood out as a blitzer, generating five quarterback pressures during that span, according to PFF. He's also been an active and reliable tackler.
To go along with his contributions on defense, Tavai has quickly emerged as a key special teams contributor in these preseason games as well, playing 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 joined the Jaguars as an experienced player, having been in the NFL since 2019, when he was a second-round pick by Detroit. He has appeared in 107 games, making 67 starts.
Tavai has recorded 432 total tackles, along with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. In 2025, he played 290 defensive snaps with New England.
In a crowded linebacker room, as the Jaguars determine who will earn that final roster spot or two, having Tavai's experience coming off the bench could be quite valuable if he had to be called on. In addition to that, he could be a Day 1 starter on several special teams units, allowing him to contribute right away.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Late addition to Jaguars training camp roster making a roster push
