The Jacksonville Jaguars today placed DE Jeff Lageman on injured reserve and signed DE Eric Curry, a former first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lageman, who suffered a torn biceps in his right arm on the fourth defensive play of last Sunday's game in Chicago, will miss the remainder of the season. He will undergo surgery tomorrow.

"I'm extremely disappointed, but I have to get this surgery done so I can begin the process of healing and rehabbing," said Lageman. "I will remain a part of the team, and I'll be there to support my teammates and to perform a positive role, even though I can't be on the field. I also want to say 'thank you' to the fans of Jacksonville for their support and concern."

Curry, 28, spent training camp with the Green Bay Packers after signing with them as an unrestricted free agent on April 1. Curry was released by the Packers in the final cuts on August 30.

In five seasons in Tampa Bay, Curry started 44 of 59 games played, making 12 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The sixth player chosen in the 1993 draft from the University of Alabama, Curry was a starter his first three seasons and a backup most of 1996 and '97. At Alabama, Curry finished second behind Derrick Thomas on the school's all-time sack list with 22.5. He was a member of the school's 1992 national championship team, and he was first-team All-America, a finalist for the Lombardi Award and ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Curry is a native of Thomasville, Ga.

ERIC CURRY'S NFL STATISTICS

Year Team GP/GS TKL SOLO ASST SACKS INT FR FF PD

1993 Tampa Bay 10/10 21 16 5 5 0 1 3 0

1994 Tampa Bay 15/14 24 18 6 3 0 0 2 0

1995 Tampa Bay 16/16 29 25 4 2 0 1 1 2

1996 Tampa Bay 12/3 9 9 0 2 0 0 1 1

1997 Tampa Bay 6/1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS: 5 years 59/44 84 69 15 12 0 2 7 3