Skip to main content

Jaguars keep bolstering the pass rush with BJ Ojulari signing

• They just added further reinforcements to the pass rush.
ByCarlos Sanchez
Nov 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker BJ Ojulari (18) before the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Nov 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker BJ Ojulari (18) before the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Jacksonville Jaguars needed to bolster their pass rush in the offseason but opted not to make a splash to do it. That was mostly because they were confident that sophomores B.J. Green II and Danny Striggow would make strides after both of them flashed last year.

On top of that, the team's brass found an undrafted gem in Bryan Thomas Jr., who managed to make his way onto the 53-man roster after a strong preseason. Looking back, the Jags' restraint in making a big move paid off.

The Jacksonville pass rush registered five sacks against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. But despite their impressive showing, the team's brass didn't pass up the chance to bring in reinforcements.

The Jaguars signed BJ Ojulari ahead of their Week 2 matchup vs. the Broncos

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Jags signed BJ Ojulari after their Week 1 win over the Cleveland browns. A third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, Ojulari was waived on roster cutdown day. He'll get a fresh start in Jacksonville.

Ojulari flashed pass-rush potential as a rookie, recording four sacks. However, he sustained an injury in 2024 that sidelined him the whole season. The former LSU Tiger was back in 2025 but only suited up for five games and wasn't able to recreate the success he had in his first NFL Campaign.

The expectation was that Ojulari was going to get back on track in 2026 but failed to do much of note in training camp and was ultimately given the boot. The fact that another regime took over earlier this year might have also played a role in his departure. This is Mike LaFleur's first year with the Cards, and it's possible that Ojulari didn't fit the team's current vision.

You may also like: Predicting the Jags' next five game after the 34-10 win vs. the Browns

What should the Jaguars expect from BJ Ojulari?

As of this writing, the Jaguars haven't announced the BJ Ojulari signing, but it will be a matter of time before they do. It's worth pointing out that they'll need to free up a roster spot to make room for him, so somebody will inevitably get released.

For the time being, it's fair to assume that the Jags liked Ojulari's upside and wanted to kick the tires on him to see whether he's truly back at 100 percent and whether he can rebuild his stock. In Jacksonville, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has managed to get the most out of his players, and Ojulari shouldn't be any different. He'll probably be behind veteran linebacker Dennis Gardeck on the depth chart and see a few snaps on passing downs.

Like Gardeck, Ojulari can rush the quarterback from a standup position. That's most likely how the Jaguars will use him. Of course, there's a chance the signing won't pan out, but the only way to find out is by bringing him in and seeing what he brings to the table.

All things considered, signing BJ Ojulari is a low-risk, high-reward move, one that the Jaguars can afford to make. At worst, they'll learn what the Cardinals already knew about him. But the best-case scenario is that he could enjoy a bit of a career revival and turn into a solid contributor in the pass-rush rotation.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations