The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed additional veteran safety, as Tashaun Gipson will be serving a six-game suspension to start the regular season
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year contract on Sunday, bringing him back to the team even though he will serve a six-game suspension to start the regular season.
Gipson played for Jacksonville from 2016 to 2018 and was a starter on the 2017 team that reached the AFC Championship Game. The Jaguars lost to Tom Brady and New England after leading by 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Gipson will join the team for practice starting Monday and may act as an experienced backup—essentially providing midseason support—once his suspension ends in late October.
Gipson will be able to play for Jacksonville beginning in Week 7 against New England in London. He was suspended in early July for breaking the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Gipson, who turned 34 last week, started all 16 games for San Francisco last season. He has started 165 of 173 career regular-season games with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago, and the 49ers. He has 33 career interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl with the Browns in 2014.
The Jaguars are currently missing veteran safety Andrew Wingard due to a knee injury that might keep him out for several months.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster looks much better heading into the 2024 NFL season versus last season.
The Jaguars looked like they could get over the hump with Trevor Lawrence and company during the 2023 NFL campaign, but they failed to live up to expectations.
Now, though, Jacksonville’s got more playmakers and talent on both sides of the field and will be looking to take back the AFC South crown.
While the competition is much stiffer than last season, the Jaguars should feel good about their chances.
Defensively, Jacksonville should be a better overall unit though they could still use some help in their secondary.
With that in mind, the team is reportedly taking a shot on veteran safety Tashaun Gipson who will serve a six-game suspension to begin the 2024 season via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
“Veteran free-agent safety Tashaun Gipson, who played in Jacksonville from 2016-‘18, is returning to the Jaguars on a one-year deal, per source. Gipson was suspended for first six games, but will complete the preseason, then re-join the team following his suspension,” Schefter reported.
Gipson was suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy and he accepted his punishment earlier this offseason.
Gipson spent the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, but returns to a young Jacksonville team looking to make a name for itself.
Although he’ll be forced to miss close to half the season, Gipson can still get reps in during preseason to keep his body and mind sharp.
It’s a good low-risk move for the Jaguars who could use a steady presence like Gipson on the field.
