JACKSONVILLE – The moment came for Carson Tinker Sunday.
Upon learning of the Jaguars' transactions to reduce the roster to 75 players, Tinker called his parents and his girlfriend with the news for which he had hoped since April.
The Jaguars' long snapper job was his.
"That's a phone call I've been waiting for for a long time," Tinker said shortly after the Jaguars' two-hour practice Monday morning at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields.
Tinker, a rookie free agent from the University of Alabama, had been competing for the long snapper job with not only fellow rookie Luke Ingram but Jeremy Cain, a seven-year veteran who had spent the last four seasons long snapping for the Jaguars.
"I know with Carson he did a nice job throughout training camp as well and in games and we just felt like we were heading in that direction," Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said Monday. "Jeremy (Cain) is very good. It's not going to be long and he will be picked up, I imagine, because he's a true pro and very talented."
Bradley called Tinker "a guy that we know could do it for a long time."
The move means Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee and punter Bryan Anger – the latter of whom holds on kicks for Scobee – will spend the next two weeks working with Tinker on timing and details.
"Everything's different, because each snapper has a different rhythm," Scobee said. "That's something we have to get used to. He has been here since OTAs started (in May). It's not like he just came in this week. We've gotten a lot of time in, but now we'll be able to get it in solely us three – that will make things easier to handle."
On Cain, Scobee said, "It's just unfortunate, but that's life in the NFL. It's the business side of it. The longer you stay with one team, like me being here – I've seen a lot of people leave. He was one of my closest friends. He's a great guy. It's the tough part about it."
Anger, a second-year veteran, said while there will be an adjustment with a new snapper, two weeks should be enough to be ready for the regular-season opener.
"It was kind hard to get our system going with three guys, so it will be good to get a routine going," he said.
Cain spent time with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans before joining the Jaguars in 2009. He had been relatively mistake-free in Jacksonville.
"He's a great snapper and a great guy," Tinker said. "I'm thankful he was here and I was able to learn a lot from him. He's a great guy, but they told me I had a chance to compete and I came here and really focused on what I can do.
"He kind of showed me the ropes. As far as long snapping goes, there's not too much he can tell me. But in terms of being in the NFL and playing in the NFL, he helped me a lot."
Also around the Jaguars Monday:
*Anger said he had no problem with punting just one time Saturday, and that the lack of work was a matter of rest and giving Ken Parrish a chance to punt before being released Sunday. Parrish punted four times for a 49.5-yard average; Anger punted once for 54 yards. "I got a call from (Special Teams) Coach (Mike) Mallory the day before," Anger said. "He ran it by me and asked me what I thought about it. It's not quite, 'less is more,' but it's about having smart repetitions. You do have a pitch count for the season."
*Linebacker Paul Posluszny said Monday he was fine after leaving Saturday's game briefly. Posluszny said he was kicked in the chest area and was out of breath briefly, but returned shortly thereafter.
*Bradley said rookie right tackle Luke Joeckel played well in his return Saturday after missing the second game of the preseason with a hip flexor injury. "He felt a little bit of rustiness, I'm sure, but after getting back in there he felt good and today he said he felt really good," Bradley said. . . .
*Bradley said while running back Maurice Jones-Drew likely will not play in the preseason finale Thursday, players such as Joeckel and rookie safety Johnathan Cyprien – players who have missed time in preseason because of injuries – could play against the Falcons. "There's a chance," Bradley said, adding that veteran wide receiver Cecil Shorts III also could play after missing the first two preseason games with a calf strain. Bradley said the idea is to allow the players "to get their timing and get their legs back underneath them" and to "make sure that they're comfortable heading into next week." . . .
*Strong-side linebacker Russell Allen missed practice Monday, but Bradley said the absence was about trying to ensure Allen is ready for the regular-season opener. He missed the second game of the preseason with an ankle injury, but played Saturday against the Eagles. "We want him ready for next week," Bradley said. Bradley said Allen likely won't play Thursday.
*Bradley said wide receiver Jordan Shipley has elevated his play in recent weeks, and has been receiving more repetitions for that reason. "I think we challenged him and we need him more," Bradley said. "We need to feel him more and he brought that the last two weeks."
*Bradley on Monday noted the play of defensive tackles Roy Miller and Kyle Love against the Eagles. Miller had a sack and Love had two tackles for loss.
