Jaguars' Antonio Johnson just proved cutting Darnell Savage was the right call

Early in the offseason, it looked like the Jacksonville Jaguars had questions at safety even though they signed Eric Murray in free agency. In reality, they needed to sort out what was a crowded position group.

In the end, Andrew Wingard ended up winning the starting job next to Murray just before the start of the season. Then, the Jags released Darnell Savage after Week 2 to pave the way for Antonio Johnson. That last decision paid off immediate dividends in the 17-10 win over the Houston Texans.

Antonio Johnson helped the Jaguars seal the win over the Texans

Even though Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard got the lion's share of the workload at safety in Week 3, Antonio Johnson did play 17 defensive snaps. And more importantly, he made the most out of them.

The Jaguars were up 17-10 in the fourth quarter, but C.J. Stroud tried to lead a comeback attempt. He got to the Jacksonville 28-yard line, and for a moment, it looked like he was going to be able to tie the game.

Stroud then targeted wide receiver Christian Kirk, but Johnson had other plans and picked him off. The fact that Josh Hines-Allen brought the heat most definitely helped.

A fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Johnson mostly lined up in the slot and flashed big play potential as a rookie, logging two interceptions and one forced fumble. The former Texas A&M Aggie switched back to his natural safety last year but struggled so badly that he was eventually benched. Nevertheless, he got a clean slate with the new regime and wasted no time taking advantage of it.

Related: Jags Jourdan Lewis was better in Week 3 than the scoreboard suggests

Antonio Johnson could earn a bigger role with the Jaguars moving forward

In the first two games of the season, Antonio Johnson logged a combined one snap on defense. He saw an immediate uptick in playing time as soon as Darnell Savage was out of the mix. The former Texas A&M Aggie won't start anytime soon unless the injury bug strikes. That said, he could earn an even bigger role if he continues to make plays, which is precisely how he got a featured role as a rookie.

And that's the thing. As good as Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard have been to start the year, Johnson has the highest ceiling of the three, so it will be hard to keep him on the sidelines. Heck, he could make a strong case to start in 2026.

Granted, it's too early to tell how the Jaguars safety room will look late in 2025, let alone next year. Having said that, Dewey is slated to become a free agent, so nobody should bat an eye if Antonio Johnson seizes his job at some point.

Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: