JACKSONVILLE – Scott Milanovich is heading back to Canada.
This time, the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach will be the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos.
Milanovich, the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach since 2017, spent 2012-2016 as the head coach of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and coached that organization to the CFL's Grey Cup Championship following the 2012 season.
The Eskimos announced Milanovich as their head coach Thursday afternoon.
Milanovich will remain on the Jaguars' staff for the final three games of the regular season.
"Scott was adamant that he wanted to finish out the season in Jacksonville with his position group and his fellow coaches," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said in a statement. "He'll continue to work hard on preparing our quarterbacks for the remaining three games of the season.
"I'm excited for Scott and his family to embark on a new journey in Edmonton in January, and we wish them the best."
Milanovich served as the Jaguars' interim offensive coordinator for the last five games of the 2018 regular season.
Also around the Jaguars Thursday:
*Third down remains an issue for the Jaguars' offense, and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said Thursday improving efficiency there remains a priority. The Jaguars have converted third downs into first downs just under 34 percent of the time this season and rank 27th in the NFL in the category. "We're going to try to come out and stay on the field," DeFilippo said. "I thought we stayed in third and manageable last week. Unfortunately, we just couldn't covert. We had a lot less third-and-longs last week. The plays that were called, there were a lot more crossed-off third-and-two-to-threes and four-to-sixes than most weeks, but we need to do a little better job of making those plays." …
*DeFilippo praised rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II Thursday, saying the sixth-round selection has "progressed this year very, very well." Minshew has started nine games and played in 11 this season after beginning the season as a backup to veteran Week 1 starter Nick Foles. "It's tough for any rookie to come in and play," DeFilippo said. "I just want to see his continued maturation in terms of seeing his eyes in the right spot, getting the ball out on time and then continuing to make plays with his feet. If we see those things over the course of the next three weeks, I think from Gardner's standpoint I think you'll see him develop a pretty good deal." …
*DeFilippo spent five seasons with the Oakland Raiders as quarterbacks coach – from 2007-2008 and again from 2012-2014. He was asked Thursday about the team's final game in Oakland Sunday. "I know the passion of that fan base and that comes with that team and that area of the country," DeFilippo said. "Obviously, we're expecting a very hostile environment. It's like that on a regular day. We're going to have to be able to handle that and handle the extra, added noise and everything that's going to come with the last game at the Oakland-Alameda (County) Coliseum. It's a special place. … I enjoyed every day I was there as a Raider. It's a really neat deal to say you're a Raider. When they say, 'Once a Raider, always a Raider,' they mean it.'' …
*Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. missed practice for a second consecutive day with an ankle injury and was the only active Jaguars player not practicing Thursday. "We have a plan whether he plays, and we have plan if he doesn't play," DeFilippo said. "Obviously, we hope he does play." Defensive end Calais Campbell (back) and center Brandon Linder (knee) practiced limited after missing practice Wednesday – as is usual for the two veterans during the regular season. …
*Cornerback A.J. Bouye (calf), safety Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and tight end Seth DeValve (oblique) all practiced full for a second consecutive day; Harrison missed the last two games and DeValve has missed the last four. Wide receiver Dede Westbrook (neck/shoulder) and cornerback Tre Herndon (shoulder) both practiced limited for a second consecutive day. …
