National Football League

Jaguars switch up defense, insert Josh Evans, J.T. Thomas into starting lineup

Published Sep. 24, 2014 5:52 p.m. ET

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After giving up an average of 466 yards in three losses, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made two changes to their starting defense.

Second-year safety Josh Evans, who filled in for the injured Johnathan Cyprien at Washington, will start in place of Winston Guy beginning with Sunday's game at San Diego. J.T. Thomas, who has been backing up Paul Posluszny at middle linebacker, will now hold down the outside pass-rushing linebacker spot previously held by LaRoy Reynolds.

Guy had as many penalties for unnecessary roughness and personal fouls during the Jaguars' 0-3 start as he did passes defended (1). Although their 10 sacks are tied for the NFL lead in that category, Reynolds was not responsible for any of them.

"Sometimes the shock to the system like this brings them back and elevates their level of play," coach Gus Bradley said Wednesday after practice. "And maybe that's what we'll see from them. But we feel good about J.T. and what he's done, and Josh played pretty well in the Washington game."

Evans, a sixth-round pick out of Florida a year ago, started 11 games as a rookie at free safety but was beaten out for that job by Guy during the preseason. Guy will now back up Cyprien at strong safety, with Sherrod Martin -- who was signed Tuesday by the Jaguars when they waived Chris Prosinski -- to play behind Evans.

Thomas started the final two games of 2013 at outside linebacker but had been groomed to back up Posluszny, who did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury. Bradley said Reynolds will be the second-string middle linebacker for now but added that will become the role held by rookie Jeremiah George, who the Jaguars signed this week from the practice squad of the New York Jets.

The Jaguars have not recorded an interception or recovered a fumble over the last 10 quarters, a stretch during which they've been outscored 119-27. They and the Cleveland Browns are the only teams giving up an average of more than 400 yards a game.

"We really like them as players. We like their skill set," Bradley said of Guy and Reynolds. "But it's about consistency and about when you have the opportunities to make plays, to make the plays."

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.

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