Waiver claim of Josh Reynolds can give Jaguars massive returns beyond 2024

The Jacksonville Jaguars don't have much to play for in 2024 after being eliminated from playoff contention and shutting down Trevor Lawrence. However, they'll still want to finish strong, and players try to make a positive impression. Heck, the Jags are still looking for ways to improve the roster, claiming wide receiver Josh Reynolds off waivers.

Along with placing Lawrence on Injured Reserve, the team announced ahead of Week 14 that they picked Reynolds off waivers. The move makes sense when you take into account that they needed to replenish their wide receiver corps.

Gabe Davis suffered a knee injury that cut his season short. The same is true for fellow receiver Christian Kirk, who's out for the year with a collarbone injury.

Down two starters, the Jags have leaned on rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. and sophomore Parker Washington. However, they needed more help and Reynolds can potentially provide it.

A fourth-round pick in 2017, Reynolds spent his four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and bolted for the Tennessee Titans in 2021. However, his stint in Nashville only lasted five games, and was released midseason. The Detroit Lions wasted no time claiming the Texas native, and he went to play for them until 2023.

Reynolds signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency but wasn't seemingly a fit, appearing in five games with one start and hauling in 12 catches for 183 yards. He suffered a finger fracture in Week 5 and was activated in Week 11 but it doesn't look like the Broncos think he could contribute, so they release him.

For his career, Reynolds has appeared in 112 games with 54 starts, catching 232 passes for 3,116 yards with 20 touchdowns. With five games left in the season, Reynolds will get a chance to show the Jaguars what he brings to the table.

What can the Jaguars expect from Josh Reynolds?

The Jacksonville Jaguars might've brought in Josh Reynolds because they weren't pleased with sophomore Elijah Cooks, Velus Jones, and Joshua Cephus. So what exactly is the team getting in the former Texas A&M Aggie?

Reynolds was unremarkable with the Los Angeles Rams, posting a catch rate of 48.7 percent during his four-year stint. It wasn't until he joined the Detroit Lions that improved in that area. One of the reasons he got a two-year deal worth $9 million from the Denver Broncos was that he had a strong season in 2023, hauling in 40 receptions for 815 yards with five touchdowns.

Given that the Jags claimed him off waivers, Reynolds landed on the active roster, not the practice squad. This means that the team valued him enough to give him a spot with their to-53 and take on his salary rather than running the risk of seeing another team picking him up.

Now, it's not a given that it will work out, but Reynolds will at least get a chance, and if he does finish strong, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have found an intriguing piece to their offensive puzzle.

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