JACKSONVILLE – Friday's moves cut hard and deep.
And while the Jaguars must make at least four more moves to reach the NFL's league-mandated roster limit of 53 by Saturday at 4 p.m., they made significant progress toward that Friday.
All of this happened less than 24 hours after the preseason finale at Washington Thursday:
*Wide receiver Neal Sterling, a seventh-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, released.
*Tight end Ben Koyack, a seventh-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, released.
*Running back Storm Johnson, a seventh-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, released.
*Cornerback Jeremy Harris, a seventh-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, released.
The Jaguars released a total of 18 players Friday, reducing the roster from 75 to 57 players. They have until 4 p.m. Saturday to move to 53.
The Jaguars on Friday also released quarterback Stephen Morris, defensive tackle Richard Ash, defensive end Camaron Beard, defensive end Cap Capi, wide receiver Kasey Closs, offensive lineman Will Corbin, tight end Connor Hamlett, defensive end Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, wide receiver Erik Lora, offensive guard Chris Reed, cornerback Rashaad Reynolds, linebacker Todd Thomas, cornerback Peyton Thompson and wide receiver Tony Washington.
The four drafted players released were competing for spots at deep positions.
Sterling, who played collegiately at Monmouth, missed the first three games of the preseason with a hamstring injury, and then looked impressive Thursday when he caught three passes for 38 yards against Washington. With the release of Washington, Sterling, Kloss and Lora, the Jaguars have five receivers on the roster: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, Rashad Greene and Bryan Walters. Sterling could be re-signed to the practice squad if he is not claimed by another team.
Koyack, who played collegiately at Notre Dame, also could be re-signed to the practice squad. The Jaguars now have four tight ends on the roster: Julius Thomas, Marcedes Lewis, Clay Harbor and Nic Jacobs. Thomas is out for at least the first two weeks of the season with a hand injury.
Johnson, who played collegiately at Central Florida, started one game as a rookie last season and played in six. He rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries as a rookie, but the Jaguars have now have five running backs on the roster: rookie starter T.J. Yeldon, Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart, Bernard Pierce and rookie Corey Grant. Johnson also has practice-squad eligibility.
Harris, who played collegiately at New Mexico State, spent his rookie season on injured reserve before playing six games last season. He impressed at times this past offseason, but as is the case at running back, the Jaguars are deeper at corner than they were the past two seasons, with Aaron Colvin, Davon House, Dwayne Gratz and Demetrius McCray at the position. The Jaguars also have on the roster rookie free agent Nick Marshall, a developmental player who moved to corner in the offseason after two years playing quarterback at Auburn. Harris could be re-signed to the practice squad.
Morris, who played the entire game Thursday with the Jaguars resting starter Blake Bortles and reserve Chad Henne, also appears a strong practice-squad possibility. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown against Washington.
Another release of note: defensive end Cap Capi, a player who was effective in a reserve role during the preseason. He registered a team-high three sacks, but the Jaguars have four veteran Leo pass rushers on the roster: Chris Clemons, Andre Branch, Chris Smith and Ryan Davis. Branch is out for what the team has called a significant period of time with a knee injury.
