JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars addressed their offensive tackle situation Tuesday.
They did so by signing a veteran player with a significant number of starts at the most significant position on the line.
Kelvin Beachum, a fifth-year veteran left tackle formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, officially has signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. The Jaguars announced the signing on Wednesday.
Beachum, 26, who visited the Jaguars Monday, has started 35 of 40 games in four NFL seasons, starting 12 games in 2013 and 16 in 2014. The Steelers' starting left tackle since 2014, he started the first six games this past season before sustaining a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Beachum was a seventh-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Steelers from Southern Methodist University.
Beachum is the Jaguars' latest move to address the offensive line since the end of a 2015 season in which the team allowed 51 sacks. The Jaguars last week signed interior offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau shortly after not re-signing center Stefen Wisniewski and releasing guard Zane Beadles.
Luke Joeckel, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, has been a starter for the Jaguars at left tackle each of the last two seasons.
