Big Cat Country
Jimmy Cooks.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ new regime is continuing to bolster the defensive line unit — a proposterus notion if you ask the former general manager. According to Jordan Schultz, outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck is heading to Duval County.
Gardeck, who will be 31 before Week 1, was undrafted out of Sioux Falls in 2018. He made the Arizona Cardinals’ roster by contributing on special teams, and he eventually contributed on defense after switching from inside to outside linebacker.
The Illinois native collected 17 sacks, 156 tackles (23 for a loss), and 7 pass deflections across seven seasons in the desert. Gardeck led the team in sacks last season before tearing his ACL (for a second time) in Week 7.
There may not be pluses for age, injury history, and draft pedigree in his profile, but Gardeck compensates for it by providing positional versatility and being an “intangibly rich” character — two trademark traits for Jacksonville’s new regime.
“Gardeck left his imprint with the Cardinals,” Darren Urban wrote for azcardinals.com.
Gardeck, like one-time teammate Haason Reddick, was a college pass rusher the Cardinals initially tried to make an inside linebacker. Like Reddick, they figured out Gardeck was better as a natural edge. He showed that again post-ACL by winning starting edge snaps for a third coach, after Jonathan Gannon was hired.
Even though he was limited in his defensive time, and ended up suffering a second ACL tear last season seven games into the season, Gardeck had 17 sacks in his seven-year Arizona stint, with 23 tackles for loss. He was a captain. He bonded with many in the building. He was ubiquitous in the community. He’d hit the strobe after taking down a quarterback, and won over the fanbase in the process.
In an assumingly corresponding move, the Jaguars released running back Keilan Robinson.
The former Longhorn was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to be Jacksonville’s secondary return man behind Devin Duvernay. Unfortunately, Robinson played in just six games as a rookie due to a toe injury. He recorded 2 kick returns for 34 yards.
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