With a threatening quarterback controversy now resolved, David Garrard and the Jaguars resume their preparations for the upcoming regular season with Saturday’s visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a battle with the Bills. Garrard, the Jaguars’ regular signal-caller for the past five seasons, had been believed to be in a heated competition with highly-touted rookie Blaine...

The Jaguars trimmed their 90-man roster, placing five players on waivers. Among the five were wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, a 2009 seventh-round pick out of Rutgers, safety Michael Hamlin, and linebacker Slade Norris. The Jaguars also waived backup kicker Sam Swank and punter Brent Bowden, meaning 43-year-old Matt Turk looks to have nailed down the job. Teams will be required to...

It was a few years ago that Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio dumped and released QB Byron Leftwich at the end of preseason in favor of young up and coming QB David Garrard. Many felt 2011 would be a repeat of that in Jacksonville, as some felt Garrard would be shown the door for rookie Blaine Gabbert. Not going to happen. At least not to start the season. Del Rio said today “David...

The Jaguars expect to have a much improved defense in 2011, though the early returns haven’t been good. The revamped unit hopes to make substantial progress in the team’s second preseason game, which will take place Friday at Everbank Field against the defending NFC South champion Falcons. After finishing near the bottom of nearly every major category on the defensive...

The Jaguars will be without two starters for the rest of the preseason. Right tackle Eben Britton and tight end Zach Miller will miss at least two weeks. Britton, who missed the final nine games last season because of a shoulder injury, hurt his back two weeks ago. Coach Jack Del Rio says Britton had a procedure in North Carolina and will be “out a little while.” Del...

Maurice Jones-Drew is feeling good. After battling consistent knee pain through the majority of the 2010 season, the Jacksonville running back took part in his first practice on Sunday and came away excited with the outcome. “I love it,” MJD told Jaguars.com on Sunday. “I kind of got that feel back getting hit. Today was no soreness, no setbacks. No nothing.” Jones-Drew missed...

QB David Garrard returned to Jaguars practice on Saturday after sitting out Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Patriots with a back injury. He also said he expects to play in Jacksonville’s second preseason game on Friday against the Falcons. First-round pick Blaine Gabbert didn’t appear to get any sort of a leg up on Garrard during his absence, but things...

Former Giants linebacker Gerris Wilkinson has agreed to a one-year deal with the Jaguars, Priority Sports announced on its Twitter feed. Wilkinson had 29 tackles as a rookie in 2006, but injury issues prevented him from ever matching that total again. Wilkinson was not tendered by the Giants following the 2010 campaign.

The Good: Not much can be seen good when you lose by 35, but it’s preseason, and that’s what the preseason is for. Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert showed some flashes of being good, but overall needs a lot of work. “I think he showed a little poise leading the team down and we had a couple of drops,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. “The good thing is I see...

More Pass Rush Help For Jacksonville Hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Matt Roth has finally landed with an NFL team. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jacksonville Jaguars have inked Roth to a one-year deal, worth $3 million. Last season in Cleveland, the former Iowa Hawkeye recorded 86 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Houston Texans Unsigned players: OLB Kevin Bentley (UFA), DE Jarvis Green (UFA), CB Karl Paymah (UFA). Key arrivals: Ex-Browns FB Lawrence Vickers, Aug. 3 (two years, $3 million, $500,000 signing bonus); Ex-Bears UFA P Brad Maynard, Aug. 1; UFA CB Johnathan Joseph, July 29 (five years, $48.75 million, $23.5 million guaranteed, $12.5 million signing bonus); Ex-Bears SS Danieal Manning...

People who expect Jags RB Maurice Jones-Drew to apologize for his tweet criticizing Bears QB Jay Cutler’s toughness will be disappointed. Jones-Drew told NFL Network’s Kara Henderson in an interview that aired Tuesday he doesn’t regret his January post, which caused a backlash and even incited death threats from Chicago Bears fans who backed the team’s quarterback...

The Jaguars are playing it safe when it comes to a couple of their key players for the first preseason game. Star running back Maurice Jones-Drew and defensive end Aaron Kampman won’t travel to New England according to Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. Neither were expected to see much time in the preseason opener anyway, so it’s not much of a shock to see the...

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has banned rookie hazing. Del Rio said players need to have more respect for each other. Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert was prepared to get a haircut but doesn’t have to worry now. Receiver Mike Thomas says Gabbert “got lucky.” Thomas endured a horrendous haircut in 2009 and had planned to shave a No. 80 in the back of Gabbert’...

It looks more likely that Jaguars rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert will start Thursday night against the Patriots. Starting quarterback Davd Garrard says he will not risk aggravating his back by playing. “I want to be ready tomorrow,” Garrard told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. “I can’t try to force myself out there and set myself back again....

Jaguars offensive lineman Kevin Haslam will likely spend the 2011 season on injured reserve after injuring his knee during Saturday night’s scrimmage, Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union reports. “He has an MCL and some other things,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said Monday. “It’s likely going to be more of a longer term out, (we’re) talking months...

Pro Football Weekly reports that takeaways are a big part of what DC Mel Tucker is telling the defense to do this summer during Jags camp. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, who has taken over play-calling responsibilities from head coach Jack Del Rio, has been preaching takeaways thus far in training camp. The Jaguars’ defense, which tied for the fewest takeaways in...

Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koettler tells Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union that rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert was “half a step slower’ in Saturday’s scrimmage than he has been in practices. It’s no surprise that Gabbert looks much better without defensive pressure. He completed just 12-of-27 passes for 76 yards and a TD in the scrimmage...

Quarterback David Garrard has dealt with lower back pain before. It caused him to miss some practice time last season and even posed problems during workouts this summer. His latest bout has him sidelined indefinitely. Garrard’s sore back kept him out of Jacksonville’s scrimmage Saturday, allowing more repetitions for first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert(notes) and third-stringer...

During Thursday night’s camp practice, Jaguars quarterback David Garrard suffered a back injury and was taken off the field. Afterword, coach Jack Del Rio told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union, “David’s back got a little tight, so we’re just icing him down. He’ll get treatment and all that. But he should be fine, so nothing major there. He came...

Tight end Marcedes Lewis has signed a five-year contract extension. A first-round pick out of UCLA in 2006, Lewis has caught 181 passes for 2,224 yards and 17 touchdowns in his 78-game career. Lewis established career-highs in 2010 with 58 receptions, 700 yards receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career. Lewis received the franchise...

Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis ended his holdout and joined the Jaguars on Monday as both sides agreed he won’t practice until a long-term deal is ironed out according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Lewis signed a franchise tag before the lockout worth just less than $7.3 million, so he is now subject to daily fines for being away from the team for as much as $30,000. “...

Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis will end his short holdout on Monday, reporting to camp, Lewis told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. “Basically they still are negotiating but I’m tired of not being with my team! And I need to be there…” Lewis said via text message. Lewis plans on being in Jacksonville by Monday for meetings and walk-throughs until...

The Jaguars cut former first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey and starting guard Vince Manuwai on Friday according to Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. Harvey was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft and has been a disappointment from the start and lost his starting job last year. He had eight sacks in 47 career games. Manuwai showed up at camp overweight and did not practice...

Unsigned players: QB Todd Bouman (UFA), S Sean Considine (UFA), OLB Justin Durant (UFA), QB Trent Edwards (UFA), TE Marcedes Lewis (FFA), MLB Kirk Morrison (UFA), DE Bryan Smith (UFA). Key arrivals: Ex-Jets UFA CB Drew Coleman, July 29 (three years, $7.4 million); Ex-Ravens UFA S Dawan Landry, July 29; Ex-Colts OLB Clint Session, July 29 (five years, $30 million, $11.5 million guaranteed...