Other » Steelers take over at their 20 after Cooke

JACKSONVILLE https://www.jaguarsfanstore.com/Taven-Bryan-Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith, the team’s leading tackler the past two seasons and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, is stepping away from football to “give this time back to myself, my family & my health.”Smith made the announcement Thursday on Instagram, saying “at this time I must take time away from this game & get my world in order.”“I appreciate all the support I will & will not get,” he added. “I just ask that y’all respect my decision to not play football this season.”A fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2014, Smith has 586 total tackles with 445 solo tackles, nine interceptions, 7½ sacks and five forced fumbles in five seasons. He’s one of only 13 players in NFL history to make 100 or more tackles in each of their first five years in the league.He signed a four-year, $45 million extension with Jacksonville in October 2017 that included $20 million guaranteed.Smith had been skipping voluntary workouts and hadn’t returned calls from team officials, raising speculation that he could be on the trading block or on his way out in Jacksonville.Personnel chief Tom Coughlin also took a not-so-subtle shot at Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey during the team’s state of the franchise presentation last month. Coughlin, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, said “championship teams are dominated by selfless individuals who recognize that the welfare of the team must always be paramount to any other consideration.”Ramsey and Smith were the team’s only players who didn’t show up for the start of the team’s offseason program.The Jaguars surely seemed to sense something was amiss regarding Smith. They signed former Green Bay starter Jake Ryan in free agency, drafted Murray State’s Quincy Williams in the third round — earlier than anticipated — and added five more linebackers in recent weeks.“I know the rumors of trade talk came about, but I started my career in Jacksonville & the day I do decide to call it quits it will be right here in Duval Myles Jack Color Rush Jersey ,” Smith wrote.The Jaguars declined to comment on Smith’s statement, saying “we need to have a conversation with Telvin to understand the situation and the circumstances.”“If there is a way we can support him, we need to understand that,” the team added. The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Pittsburgh Steelers in anticipation of their sixth loss in a row this season.Follow along with us as we bring you coverage throughout the day and in the post-game and try not to cry as grown men.Live Blog4:13 PM: Ben runs in from two yards out. Unfingbelievable. Steelers win, 20-16.4:05 PM: The Steelers, after scoring another touchdown have moved into the Jags one yard line with the Jags offense doing nothing for a quarter and a half. Im afraid the Jags have blew a huge opportunity.3:42 PM: After the Jaguars get moved out of field goal range thanks to a pair of Bortles self-sacks, the defense takes over and after a sack by Yannick Ngakoue forces a 3rd & 18, then a 4th & 8, the Jags defense holds pat and gets the Steelers off the field with 7 minutes left in the game. Jags lead 16-6.3:31 PM: The Jaguars go three and out and give it back to the Steelers, who are unable to doanything with it themselves, concluding with a Calais Campbell sack on Roethlisberger on 3rd down.3:19 PM: Was only a matter of time, but Ben finds Brown downfield on what appeared to be a broken coverage as Brown was wide open by 20 yards. The Steelers go for two and fail to convert. Jags lead 16-6.3:12 PM: TOUCHDOWN! The Jaguars once again use the running game and two big gains on screen passes to Fournette to get them inside the Steelers 5 yard line, and 27 finishes it off with a dive into the end zone from about the 3 yard line, much like last year in Pittsburgh. The play goes under review but it’s clear Fournette broke the plane with the ball in hand. Jaguars now lead 16-0 with 2:09 left in the 3rd.3:03 PM: The Steelers get the help of the referees thanks to two absolute BS calls against the Jaguars costing them 30 yards, allowing Pittsburgh into the Jags red zone. Then Ramsey makes the most impressive interception you’ll see this season while covering Brown in the end zone. Jaguars take over at their 20. WOW.2:53 PM: Despite good running by Fournette Abry Jones Jersey , the Jags do nothing with their first possession of the second half, and nearly fumble away on TJ Watt’s strip of Bortles. The Jaguars simply cannot pass today and it’s the only reason they’re not running away with this game.2:48 PM: Pittsburgh opens up half number two, and quickly goes three and out after the defense forces Ben to throw it away on 3rd & 6 thanks to pressure and great coverage. Jags take over inside their 30.2:30 PM: The Jaguars blow an opportunity to get points before the half off the Church interception, because Blake Bortles couldn’t hit the ocean from the pier. The defense turns around and keeps the Steelers last ditch attempt before the half from doing anything. Jags lead 9-0 at half time.2:21 PM: Jags peter out on a real questionable series of play calls and give the Steelers the ball back....only for Barry Church to pick off Roethlisberger inside Steelers territory. My goodness.2:17 PM: The Jaguars get the Steelers off the field after they convert their first 3rd down of the game...yes, you read that right. Jags take over at their 20 with 1:41 left in the half.2:09 PM: A couple of holding calls kill strong runs by Fournette and Hyde, but they make it into field goal range yet again, and Lambo yet again connects. 9-0 Jaguars, with 3:37 left in the first half.1:59 PM: Jalen Ramsey picks off Roethlisberger on one of the best plays of this season for any Jaguar player, because of course! Jaguars take over with full momentum inside the Steelers 40 yard line.1:54 PM: After a couple of great runs by Fournette and Carlos Hyde, the Jags get into Steelers territory but have to yet again settle for a Lambo field goal, this time from 38 yards out. Jaguars extend their lead to 6-0. Big stat thus far, the Jaguars have rushed for 120 yards today and we aren’t halfway through the second quarter.1:47 PM: Jags defense forces their third straight three and out, as Ramsey breaks up a pass intended for Antonio Brown on 3rd & 11, with great coverage. Dede Westbrook returns the punt to about midfield, 3-0 Jags.1:42 PM: A holding call on Tyler Shatley kills the drive https://www.jaguarsfanstore.com/Yannick-Ngakoue-Jersey , and the Jags get enough on a 3rd down draw to Yeldon to give Lambo a shorter field goal, which he hits from 48 yards out. Jags lead 3-0 just starting the 2nd quarter, following an eleven minute drive.1:37 PM: The first quarter comes to an end, with the Jaguars driving after starting from their own 5 yard line. The three-headed monster of Fournette, Yeldon, and Hyde has finally started producing this drive. Unfortunately, AJ Cann has limped off at the end of the quarter, Chris Reed replaces him. 0-0 tie.1:25 PM: Jags force another three and out, and the Steelers drop two passes short of the marker on consecutive downs. A story to watch thus far, Malik Jackson has been in on just one snap and did not start for the first time in 99 games for his career. Jags take over at their own 5 yard line following the punt.1:18 PM: Jags go three and out. Wash, rinse, repeat.1:15 PM: The Jaguars defense stiffens up on a 3rd & 1, stuffing Ben Roethlisberger on a sneak attempt and forcing a three and out.1:06 PM: Jaguars get a first down conversion from Donte Moncrief, before going run, run Carson Tinker Color Rush Jersey , incomplete, punt. Get used to that. Steelers take over at their 20 after Cooke punts it into the end zone.1:02 PM: Steelers win the toss and defer. Jags offense will give it the old college try, first.12:33 PM: Yeah, it’s going to be one of those days, folks..12:31 PM: As expected, the local Steelers booster clubs have made their presence felt at The Bank today.11:41 AM: Here’s the inactive list. AJ Bouye returns, and Marcel Dareus and AJ Cann will play after being Questionable on Friday. Also, a one-eyed meerkat starts at left tackle..I mean Ereck Flowers.11:40 AM: Good morning, I guess. The Jaguars already made news today as Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Jaguars would consider trading Jalen Ramsey this off-season. How’s your day going? Anyway, they will play this game today. Pray to your spiritual higher power of choice that the Steelers don’t hang 50 on us.