JACKSONVILLE – The quest for depth continues.
The Jaguars, after addressing offensive line and running back depth in recent days, addressed the latter position again Tuesday – and got significant special teams help, too.
Benny Cunningham, a running back who played the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears, signed with the Jaguars an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday afternoon.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"I'm just excited to have the opportunity," the seventh-year veteran from Middle Tennessee State University said. "I feel like this place will be home for me. I'm excited to get started. …
"There are pieces in place that this team can win the Super Bowl. I just want to be part of something special."
Cunningham (5-feet-10, 218 pounds), who originally signed with the St. Louis Rams as a collegiate free agent shortly after the 2013 NFL Draft, has rushed for 797 yards and four touchdowns on 191 carries in six NFL seasons. He has 1,001 yards and three touchdowns on 114 career receptions.
He also has a 26.3-yard average on 110 career kickoff returns, with a career-long of 102 yards on a return for the Rams in 2015 that did not result in a touchdown.
Cunningham spent four seasons with the Rams, signing with the Bears as a free agent in 2017. He largely was a special teams player with Chicago, rushing 14 times for 36 yards in two seasons there.
"It's an understanding for the role I've developed in the league," Cunningham said of special teams. "It's the expectations teams have of me and the expectation I have of myself. I embody that as my role; I look forward to it and take pride in it.
"Anything to do with the game, I love it. That's why I've been playing for so long."
Cunningham became the 11th free agent signed by the Jaguars since the March 13 start of the 2019 NFL League Year. The team has signed quarterback Nick Foles (Philadelphia), running back Alfred Blue (Houston), tight end Geoff Swaim (Dallas), wide receiver Chris Conley (Kansas City), offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (Cincinnati) and linebacker Jake Ryan (Green Bay) in addition to re-signing four players from last year's team who had become free agents: right guard A.J. Cann, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, offensive tackle Josh Wells and guard/center Tyler Shatley.
Cunningham and Foles were teammates with the Rams in 2015.
"I can't wait to call Nick, talk to him and catch up," he said.
Take a look back at the career of newly signed Jaguars running back, Benny Cunningham.
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) rushes for a gain during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. Washington won 24-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) is defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Mike Jenkins (24) on a 101-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game on Monday, Dec. 17, 2015 in St. Louis. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) returns a kickoff in an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 13, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham runs a kick back 102 yards during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) returns a kickoff in an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Charlotte, N.C. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) during a preseason NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Edward Jones Dome on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 in St. Louis, Mo. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) dives to the end zone against Green Bay Packers defensive back Marwin Evans (25) as Cunningham fumbles the ball during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) runs from Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (26) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Adam Shaheen (87) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) walks through the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) runs with the ball during a NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 27th, 2016 in Denver. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) celebrates a first down against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half at the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL preseason game, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) catches a pass during warm-ups in an NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018 in Denver. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 in Seattle. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham (30) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
