The Jacksonville Jaguars front office has prepared themselves for a 2019 season without weak-side linebacker Telvin Smith, but his teammates would still love for him to take the field. The team’s defensive leader, Calais Campbell, is amongst that group who would love to take the battlefield with Smith again as he told the media that he’s holding on to hope that the veteran will have a change of heart.
For those who can recall, Campbell is one of the players who openly spoke on Smith’s situation last month alongside defensive tackle Abry Jones and linebacker Myles Jack, stating that Smith was taking time to heal his body and that the issue wasn’t “something terrible.”
Smith officially made the decision to step away from football early last month to “get his world in order” and give more time to himself and those around him. Not too soon after, Jack told the media that the veteran linebacker basically seemed sure about stepping away, and nobody else has indicated that he’s thinking differently, so it appears Campbell’s wish might be a long shot. Then again, with the competitive spirit Smith has, you never know.
For the time being, the Jags will have to weigh their options between veterans D.J. Alexander Ramik Wilson and Najee Goode to replace him. They also have third-round selection Quincy Williams as an option, who I discussed in our latest episode of the Jags Den Podcast below.
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