Jaguars 5 biggest disappointments of the 2021 season

No. 4 Jaguars’ biggest disappointment in 2021 –  Tre Herndon, CB.

Tre Herndon was one of the Jaguars’ few healthy cornerbacks in 2020. While he wasn’t a Pro Bowler, he lined up at different spots across the secondary and didn’t miss a single game that year. The Jags’ regime liked what they saw and re-signed him last offseason.

An undrafted free agent in 2018, the Vanderbilt product had to work his way up to the roster, and after making no starts in his rookie campaign, he had a combined 26 in 2019 and 2020. He was supposed to take another step last year and man the slot but then, he tore his MCL in the preseason.

While Herndon returned for the Jaguars’ Week 4 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, he wasn’t fully healthy and it showed in his performance, giving up seven receptions on eight targets for 98 yards and one touchdown. Things didn’t get much better the following two weeks, as he gave up a 100 percent completion rate on seven targets and one score.

After the Jags’ BYE in Week 7, Herndon lost his job in the slot to Rudy Ford and was inactive for several games for the remainder of the season. Despite the fact that he suited up in Weeks 12, 15, and 17, he didn’t get a single snap on defense and was mostly relegated to special teams play. He’s set to become a free agent and may need to settle on a one-year deal in Jacksonville or somewhere else to rehabilitate his stock.