Jaguars add reinforcements to cornerback room amid Tyson Campbell's injury

Cornerback Tyson Campbell will miss time after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season. The Jacksonville Jaguars are bracing themselves for his absence by signing Zech McPhearson to their practice squad.

The Jags announced they're adding McPhearson to the practice squad. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports first reported the news.

Since Jacksonville lost safety Terrell Edmunds to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they didn't have to make a corresponding move to add McPhearson to the practice squad.

A fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, McPhearson appeared in 16 games with one start as a rookie, playing 17 percent of Philly's snaps on defense. He also contributed on special teams, logging 365 snaps, good for 77 percent.

The former Texas Tech Raider played all 17 games in 2022, recording five total tackles, one tackle for a loss, a batted pass, and one sack. He also saw an uptick in playing time on special teams, logging 80 percent of the total snaps. Unfortunately, he missed all of 2023 after tearing his Achilles in the preseason.

On the other hand, Edmunds was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers who signed with the Jaguars in May. He had a strong preseason and seemed to be a lock to make the 53-man roster but he didn't get the nod at the end.

After getting released, though, Edmunds wasn't claimed off waivers and landed in the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in Week 1, where he played six snaps. The Steelers liked what they saw and arranged a reunion with the former Virginia Tech Hokie.

In Jacksonville, McPhearson provides depth to a cornerback room that will be without Tyson Campbell for the foreseeable future.

What to expect from Zech McPhearson after he signed with the Jaguars?

With Tyson Campbell out, Jarrian Jones is most likely the next man up opposite Ronald Darby. While Montaric Brown stepped onto the field after Campbell's injury, the coaching staff may want to roll with Jones because of his upside.

If that's the path the Jags take, Brown will be the primary backup behind Jones and Darby. Rookie DeAntre Prince could also see an increased role. When it comes to Zech McPhearson, though, don't expect him to get called in Week 2.

His ability to contribute on special teams could come in handy but Jacksonville may choose to lean on sophomore Christian Braswell, who seemed to have a favorable chance of earning a spot for the regular season but ultimately didn't make the cut.

By now, you may be wondering why then, the Jaguars signed McPhearson if they don't plan to thrust him onto the football field. The truth is that he provides insurance in case they suffer further injuries.

Right now, their only cornerback who's unavailable is Tyson Campbell, but if they suffer another injury at the position, they don't want to be left exposed. That's where McPhearson comes in. If the Jags sustain another injury * proceeds to knock on wood* in the upcoming weeks, they can elevate him from the practice squad to the active roster.

At this moment, it's hard to tell just how much time Tyson Campbell will miss. The silver lining is that the Jacksonville Jaguars won't be caught off guard if they suffer another injury at cornerback after signing Zech McPhearson.

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