The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly releasing one of their veteran defensive tackles.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Jaguars are releasing Khalen Saunders.
The Jaguars acquired Saunders during the preseason in a trade with New Orleans that sent center Luke Fortner to the Saints.
Saunders has appeared in only two games this season in Weeks 1 and 10. In Jacksonville’s other seven games, he was a healthy scratch.
Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, Maason Smith, and Austin Johnson have typically been the preferred four at defensive tackle. In the two games Saunders appeared in, Johnson was inactive.
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From the entire defensive front, the Jaguars need more steady pass rush production for the remainder of this season.
“That’s something we definitely need to talk about as a staff and as a group,” Liam Coen said after the loss, via ESPN. “That hasn’t been good enough all season and wasn’t good enough [Sunday].
“It’s never one group’s fault when you lose a game. That’s not what we’re going to do here, but it definitely is a challenge for us.”
With Saunders’ release, the Jaguars now have a roster opening on the 53-man.
In Saunders’ seven NFL seasons, he’s appeared in 70 games, which includes making 32 starts. He also won two Super Bowls during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
(Please note that this article will be updated.)