JACKSONVILLE–According to Jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman, Derrick Harvey has been benched and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Jeremy Mincey. The announcement marks the end of a nearly three year experiment. Obviously, things weren’t working out. Harvey, despite showing improvement in training camp, hasn’t registered his name on the final stat sheet in three of the team’s seven games this season, despite starting all of them.
Harvey also whiffed on Thomas Jones’ 70-yard run last week, which arguably enabled the runner to turn a two-yard loss into the gain that it became. Per NFL.com’s stat sheet, Harvey has six tackles and a half a sack this season. Last season he had two sacks; the year before (his rookie season), he had 3.5.
Barring some miraculous turnaround, the Jaguars will likely cut their ties with the defensive end in the offseason. Releasing him now doesn’t make much sense; his salary is guaranteed for the year.
Vito Stellino of the Florida Times Union said Harvey’s benching cements him as “one of the greatest busts in team history.”
