The Jacksonville Jaguars waived 2025 fourth-round linebacker Jack Kiser right before their Week 5 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Talk about a brutal early exit for a guy picked that high.
A Rookie Season That Never Got Off The Ground
Kiser was brought in as a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and his role as a rookie was heavily focused on special teams. But here’s the kicker: he got injured on the very first day of training camp this summer and stayed sidelined. That’s just rough luck, right? He was released during roster cutdowns, signed to the practice squad, and then made it back to the 53-man roster on September 16. But even with that, Kiser never actually appeared in a game for the Jags. It’s tough to see a promising pick go out like that without getting a real shot on the field.
Making Room for Urgent Needs
So, why the sudden move? The Jaguars released Kiser to make room for Jalen McLeod, who got signed to the active roster. McLeod was out of practice squad elevations and has been a core special teams contributor in the last three games. It is clear they needed someone who could hit the ground running. They also elevated safety Kaevon Merriweather to boost their safety depth because Eric Murray is doubtful. On top of that, cornerback Jabbar Muhammad was elevated for the second time, with Jaylon Jones ruled out.
The Jags are clearly shaking things up for their Week 5 game against the Eagles. They needed active bodies who can contribute now, especially on special teams and in the secondary with those injury concerns. It is going to be interesting to see if these roster moves pay off when they hit the field Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply