Revenge Tour: Jags face several former players down stretch
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The Jacksonville Jaguars are seeing former teammates nearly every week, so many down the stretch that it could be considered a Revenge Tour.
It started last Sunday, when veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, receiver Allen Lazard, running back Tyler Ervin and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett faced their former team for the first time since leaving Jacksonville. The Packers won 24-20.
Next up: Pittsburgh defensive end Tyson Alualu, a first-round draft pick in 2010 who returns to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Alualu spent seven years with the Jaguars (1-8) after then-general manager Gene Smith surprisingly chose him with the 10th overall pick. Alualu's productivity never matched his draft position, although his durability was another story.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Hawaiian didn't miss a game because of injury during his time in Jacksonville; he was a healthy scratch for the first two weeks in 2016.
He's been equally stout for the unbeaten Steelers (9-0).
'œMan, I can't say enough about Tyson. His play is really consistent and very productive,'ť Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. 'œJust his leadership, his quiet leadership, how he goes about his business, how he lives his life, is a shining example for young players.
'œHe's been an awesome addition to us and really has been a significant component to why we've been able to play good defense. It was evident in recent weeks, particularly in run defense, when we did not have him.'ť
But don't expect Alualu to make much of facing the team that let him go in 2017, after paying him more than $28 million.
'œThat's not his agenda. He's not petty in any way,'ť Tomlin said.
Others might be. Jacksonville will face seven more former Jaguars over its next five games:
RONNIE HARRISON
Harrison returns to Jacksonville on Nov. 29. The Jaguars traded the 2018 third-round pick to Cleveland a little more than a week before the opener, parting ways because veteran Josh Jones beat Harrison out in training camp. The Browns gave up a fifth-rounder in 2021 to land Harrison, who has started four straight games and totaled 27 tackles and five pass breakups.
YANNICK NGAKOUE
Ngakoue was initially scheduled to face Jacksonville in Minnesota on Dec. 6, but he will have to wait two weeks after getting traded to Baltimore. The Jaguars got a second-rounder and a conditional fifth for Ngakoue, who is second in franchise history with 37ˆ½ sacks. He has ripped Jacksonville repeatedly, including getting in a Twitter spat with minority owner Tony Khan in April.
CALAIS CAMPBELL
The 'œMayor of Sacksonville'ť was dumped as part of a salary cap purge in March. Baltimore gave up a fifth-round selection to get a veteran leader - the NFL's reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year - and a defensive stalwart who started every game in three seasons with the Jags. Campbell has 24 tackles, including four sacks, and six pass breakups for one of the league's best defenses.
NICK FOLES
Foles also was part of the salary dump and will return to Jacksonville in Week 16. Chicago gave up a compensatory fourth to get Foles, who started the past seven games for the Bears. The trade allowed Jacksonville to recoup some of the $50.125 million it guaranteed the 2018 Super Bowl MVP as part of a four-year contract in 2019.
JOHN DEFILIPPO
DeFilippo and Foles were a package deal. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone brought 'œFlip'ť on as offensive coordinator two months before free agency, likely to help lure Foles in free agency. When Foles failed, Marrone fired DeFilippo after just one season. He landed in Chicago as quarterbacks coach, reuniting with Foles.
TASHAUN GIPSON
Gipson was an integral part of Jacksonville's defense that led it to the AFC championship game in 2018. He was sent packing a year later, a cost-cutting move that helped create enough salary cap space to sign Foles. He has started every game for the Bears this season.
ALLEN ROBINSON
Robinson is, without question, the best receiver Jacksonville has drafted. The Jaguars let the 2014 second-round pick leave in free agency after he missed most of 2017 with a knee injury. They've spent nearly $32 million trying to replace him with Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief and Chris Conley.
'œIt's funny because those are people I talk to almost every day, every other day, weekly,'ť Jaguars receiver Keelan Cole said. 'œWe talk about it, but I didn't really think of it. I guess I am playing my old teammates coming back. I'm definitely excited for that, but we can't jersey swap, so that (stinks).'ť
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