The Jacksonville Jaguars will keep one of their key defensive pieces as they signed linebacker Telvin Smith to a contract extension. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider, the Jaguars signed Smith to a four-year contract extension worth $44 million. In 2017, Smith has 58 tackles, one sack, three passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown for the Jaguars, who are 2nd in the AFC South with a 4-3 record. Smith is part of the Jaguars defensive line that also includes Paul Posluszny and Myles Jack.
Smith was scheduled to become a free agent after this season, but the Jaguars beat their potential rivals for his services to the punch by signing him to a long-term contract.
In a statement, Jaguars executive VP of football operations Tom Coughlin said Smith is an important part of the team’s offense, and he has earned the contract extension with his performance in his four years in Jacksonville. The Jaguars selected Smith in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft and signed him to a four-year deal worth $2.431 million. This season, he is scheduled to earn $1.79 million before the value of the long-term deal kicks in 2018.
Panthers sign kicker to practice squad
Second-year kicker Roberto Aguayo has a new team after the Carolina Panthers signed him to the practice squad. The Panthers inked Aguayo as insurance as kicker Graham Gano is dealing with some knee soreness. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Aguayo in the second round of last year’s NFL Draft.
After Aguayo struggled in his rookie year, the Buccaneers brought in veteran Nick Folk to compete with the young kicker. After two preseason games, Folk won the starting job while Aguayo was released. He was signed by the Chicago Bears but was released at the end of training camp. During his stint with the Buccaneers, Aguayo made just 22 of 31 field-goal attempts.
Bears acquire wide receiver
The Bears have boosted their wide-receiving corps by acquiring Dontrelle Inman from the Los Angeles Chargers for a seventh-round pick, according to Rapoport. Last season, Inman caught 58 passes for 810 yards and four touchdowns. However, he was buried down the depth chart this season behind Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams.
From playing 90 percent of the snaps last season, he played just 36 offensive snaps or 15 percent of the Chargers’ total in 2017. In his stint with the Chargers, Inman caught 107 passes for 1,463 yards and seven touchdowns.
