Jaguars bring back key member from dominant 2017 team to bolster depth at safety

The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing in reinforcements to their safety room. Following their 26-13 win over the Kansas Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Preseason, they've signed Tashaun Gipson, who played for the Jags from 2016-2018 and spent the last two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported that Jacksonville was giving Gipson a one-year deal. The team later announced the signing and released linebacker Ty Summers in a corresponding move.

This is a bit noteworthy because Gipson will be serving a six-game suspension to start the season, so he won't be able to make an immediate impact if he sticks around. Earlier this year, or last season (however you want to go about it), Gipson created a crucial momentum swing that eventually helped the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions to advance to the Super Bowl.

An undrafted free agent in 2012, Gipson played four seasons with the Cleveland Browns to start his NFL career. He then signed with the Jags in 2016 and went on to spend three seasons with them, appearing in 48 games with six interceptions and 16 passes defensed. Following an underwhelming 2018, the team's brass released the former Wyoming Cowboys in a cap-saving move. He latched onto the Houston Texans in 2019 and the Chicago Bears the following year.

After two seasons in Chi-Town, Gipson joined the 49ers in 2022. In Jacksonville, he'll join a safety group that includes Andre Cisco, Antonio Johnson, Andrew Wingard, Daniel Thomas, Erick Hallett, Terrell Edmunds, and Adrian Amos.

Tashaun Gipson will provide depth for the Jaguars in light of the injury to Andrew Wingard

As dominant as the 2017 defense was, it took former general manager David Caldwell only three years to fully dismantle it. Instead of keeping the core together, he traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, and defensive end Calais Campbell for future round picks. Right now, the only players remaining from that team that reached the AFC Championship are left tackle Cam Robinson and offensive guard Tyler Shatley.

While re-signing Tashaun Gipson will bring back some memories from the 2017 team, he's probably not as dominant as he was in his heyday. In fact, the Jaguars didn't bring him back to start. Instead, he'll be competing with fellow safety Terrell Edmunds, Adrian sophomore Erick Hallet II, and even undrafted free agent Josh Proctor for a roster spot. Another possibility is that he lands in the practice squad and contributes down the road.

Right now, the Jags are missing Andrew Wingard, who suffered a knee injury in training camp and will miss extended time. The fact that they locked up Gipson and Amos is a sign that maybe Dewey won't be back at full strength for the opener.

If healthy, Wingard would be the top reserve at safety. He's a dependable backup, so it's not particularly surprising that the front office wants a high-quality players to replace him if either Cisco or Antonio Johnson miss time.

As of this moment, it's hard to tell whether Gipson will be around for the 2024 season but the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars are kicking the tires indicates that he has a chance. It will be up to him to make the most out of him.

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