The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed another key depth piece on Wednesday, bringing back linebacker Caleb Johnson.
Johnson has appeared in all 34 games for the Jaguars over the last two seasons, recording 29 tackles and playing 558 special teams snaps. Along with fellow re-signed players D'Ernest Johnson and Daniel Thomas, Johnson is a key special teamer for Jacksonville who has displayed reliability in the past.
Johnson was originally signed as a rookie free agent by Chicago on May 14, 2021. He was later acquired by Jacksonville in Sept. 2022 and has participated in 34 games for the Jaguars over the last two seasons (2022-23). The Point Loma, Calif. native was a three-year starter at Houston Baptist and is the first player in their football program's 11-year history to sign with an NFL team.
Johnson returning to Jacksonville means the linebacker room currently consists of Johnson, Chad Muma, and 2023 fourth-round pick Ventrell Miller behind Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd. Fellow special teamer and backup linebacker Shaquille Quarterman is set to be a free agent at 4 p.m. after four seasons with the team.
“I think you want to make each room as competitive as you make it. Whether it’s the d-line room, the o-line room, the receiver room. Competition is good; it’s a good thing to have on your team," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"You want to strengthen it all the time. Each time, you want to continue to look at ways to strengthen. That’s what we do as team builders.”
More must-reads: