Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone has no problem being cutthroat when he needs to. He and head coach Liam Coen proved it after the first week of training camp by letting go of linebacker Jared Bartlett less than a week after signing him. The second-year backer was waived with an injury designation on Thursday evening.
In a concurrent move, the Jags signed veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai to take Bartlett's spot. In light of Jack Kiser's injury, the former New England Patriots linebacker may have a real chance to make the final 53-man roster.
Gladstone might not be done shifting things during training camp. With plenty of intriguing free agents left on the table, don't rule out another savvy move for a veteran.
Jaguars sign Jahlani Tavai, waive Jared Bartlett after Week 1 of training camp
Bartlett has bounced around the NFL since joining the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2025. He landed with the Arizona Cardinals, appearing in two games and exclusively playing on special teams.
The linebacker had a stint on the Carolina Panthers' roster this offseason before joining the Jaguars. He suffered a lower body injury just days after signing with Jacksonville, cutting his stint with the team short. Waived with an injury designation, he could still join the Jags' practice squad if he's not claimed by another team.
With that said, signing Tavai is a much more intriguing move. The 29-year-old has logged nearly 500 tackles in his career, along with six forced fumbles. He spent the last five seasons with the Patriots and started in 51 games over the last four years.
Tavai joins a linebacker group that isn't completely settled early in camp. Foyesade Oluokun and Ventrell Miller are locks at the top, with Dennis Gardeck and Branson Combs filling in behind. Jack Kiser will be rostered when healthy, but he's currently recovering from a knee injury suffered earlier in camp.
Parker Hughes, Yasir Abdullah, and Jalen McLeod are also jockeying for positions, but Tavai could realistically beat any of them out.
Tavai isn't a lockdown player in coverage, but he can fit the run at a high level. If he ends up making the Jaguars' final 53-man roster, he'll likely play a role on early downs and in goal-line situations. If nothing else, he would provide Jacksonville with reliable depth and special teams play.
The veteran backer will have to adjust to defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's scheme quickly, with just over a week to go before the team's first preseason game.
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