Jaguars Re-Sign Austin Johnson After Second Season-Ending Injury Blow

The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed defensive tackle Austin Johnson after being hit by a second season-ending injury in the space of a week. Johnson, who spent last season with the Jaguars before signing with Buffalo this year, returns to a familiar system at exactly the moment Jacksonville needs him. He appeared in 14 games for the club last season, registering 12 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass defended, and his knowledge of the scheme means he can contribute far quicker than an outsider signed off the street. In a corresponding move, the team released long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer. The urgency comes from the loss of DaVon Hamilton to a season-ending quad injury, followed on Monday by confirmation that safety Eric Murray is also done for the year after suffering an elbow injury on the opening kickoff of Sunday's win over Indianapolis. Murray's absence forces Jacksonville to lean on backups Rayuan Lane and Kaevon Merriweather, while veteran Matt Dickerson is expected to absorb much of the interior work left by Hamilton. With a short-week trip to face Baltimore on Thursday night, and the trade deadline closing on November 10, general manager James Gladstone may yet have to look elsewhere for help. For now, Johnson is the most logical immediate answer.