The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran tight end Ernest Wilford and waived first-year wide receiver John Matthews, the club announced today.  Wilford spent the preseason with the Jaguars before he was waived on Sept. 4.

Wilford, 6-4, 235, was originally a fourth-round draft pick of the Jaguars in 2004 as a wide receiver, and five of his six NFL seasons have been in Jacksonville.  He signed with Miami as an unrestricted free agent in 2008 and played in seven games for the Dolphins.  He rejoined the Jaguars prior to the 2009 season and played in 15 games at tight end with seven starts, finishing with 11 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown.

Wilford has played in 85 career games with 44 starts and career totals of 155 receptions for 2,142 yards and 15 touchdowns.  All 44 of his starts came with the Jaguars and he ranks second in team history with a 13.9-yard average per reception. 

Ranking first among current Jaguars in career receiving yards (2,117), which is seventh in franchise history, Wilford also ranks second among active players in receptions (152).  In addition, he is one of only eight players in team history to record 2,000 career receiving yards.  He has 22 career receptions of 25-plus yards, the third-most in franchise history, while his 15 career touchdowns are tied for the fourth-most in franchise history.