The Jacksonville Jaguars released Darnell Savage after Week 2 of the regular season. The decision paid off immediate dividends, as Antonio Johnson made a game-sealing interception against the Houston Texans.
On the other hand, getting released allows Savage to latch onto a team that will give him the opportunity to play. He could get said opportunity soon, based on recent news.
The Commanders lost Will Harris to a broken fibula
The Washington Commanders are off to a solid start to the NFL season. They just beat the Las Vegas Raiders but suffered a massive blow in their secondary. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Will Harris suffered a fractured fibula, and he'll probably be out for an extended period of time.
This is a reason for concern when you take into account that Harris was having a banner season, making three starts and registering one pass defended and a forced fumble.
A third-round pick in the 2019 draft, Will Harris spent his first five NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and joined the Washington Commanders earlier this year.
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The Commanders are meeting with former Jaguars DB Darnell Savage
One day after the Will Harris news, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN broke the news that the Washington Comanders are hosting Darnell Savage for a visit. Given that he has ample starting experience, he could be an immediate replacement for Will Harris.
A first-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2019, Savage signed a three-year deal with the Jags in 2024. Although he generally played safety, he moved to the slot in Jacksonville. That said, he moved back to his natural position once Antonio Johnson struggled.
Then, a new regime took over after the 2024 season, and Savage partook in a three-way competition with Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson for the starting job next to Eric Murray. Dewey came out on top, and Savage became the primary backup.
Savage logged 48 defensive snaps with the Jguars before he was given his walking papers. His release accelerated a cap hit of $5.5 million and left $10.25 million in dead cap. Then again, it didn't make sense to keep him around regardless of the cap repercussions when you take into account that he wasn't going to get much playing time in Jacksonville moving forward.
If Jaguars hadn't moved on from the former Maryland Terrapin now, they would've done it next year, so might as well bite the bullet now. Whether it's with the Commanders or somebody else, he'll now have the chance to show what he's got.