New Jaguars DT Arik Armstead getting up to speed with division rivalry

Defensive end Arik Armstead signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He knows that starting over isn't always easy, so he asked for a bit of help on social media to get acclimated to his new team and city.

Armstead took to Twitter to ask what he needed to know about the Jaguars and Jacksonville. He was given recommendations about the place the be and the local cuisine. On the other hand, user Cardiac Cat made the veteran defensive tackle aware that they don't like the Tennessee Titans. He said in response noted and added a checkmark.

It's great to see Armstead trying to fit in. He had a huge impact off and on the field for the Niners, and he's expected to be a massive upgrade on the defensive line. In Jacksonville, the California native will be reunited with general manager Trent Baalke, who made him the 17th overall pick in 2017.

Even though Armstead didn't earn a Pro Bowl nod during his stint in the Bay Area, he became a key cog on their defensive front. He's been slowed down by injuries the past two years, but he's still managed to make plays. This is why the 49ers asked him to take a pay cut in the offseason. When he refused, they released him.

The Jaguars swooped in and gave Armstead a three-year deal worth $51 million. Even though he was dealing with foot injuries last year, he still managed to register 42 total pressures and five more sacks. Moreover, his pass rush grade of 13% ranked 10th among defensive tackles in the NFL. He was scheduled to undergo surgery in the offseason but should return in time for training camp.

Arik Armstead is all in with the Jacksonville Jaguars

There's no team that the Jacksonville Jaguars despise more than the Tennessee Titans. Their rivalry was lopsided in the 2010s, with the Jags managing to win just seven games. However, things have changed since head coach Doug Pederson took over in 2022. Besides managing a sweep that year, beating their division foes propelled Jacksonville into the postseason.

In fact, head coach Doug Pederson played a role in resurrecting the rivalry, showing a reel to players to remind them how much they should despise Tennessee. More recently left tackle Cam Robinson talked about his hatred for the Titans.

Last year, Jacksonville had to beat the Titans again in the finale to make the playoffs. They failed this time but left tackle Cam Robinson said that having to go against their division rival added weight to the matchup. Similarly, Josh Allen noted that facing Tennessee always turns out to be physical.

The bottom line is that there are two must-win games in the Jaguars' schedule every season, and they're both against the Titans. Arik Armstead now knows about the rivalry and his arrival should increase Jacksonville's chances of pulling off a sweep the next three years.

Here are more stories you may also like: