The Jacksonville Jaguars released Darnell Savage just two weeks into the season. At the time, he had no clear path to a starting role with fellow safeties Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray in the mix. However, his departure left the depth at the position a bit thin.
The fact that the Washington Commanders quickly swooped in and signed him raised questions about the decision to cut ties with Savage. That said, the Jags appear to have made the right call based on a recent update.
Darnell Savage couldn’t hit his stride with the Commanders after the Jaguars released him
Aaron Wilson of KPCR reports that the Washington Commanders are expected to move on from Darnell Savage, noting that he requested his release. The news came in light of their decision to make him a healthy scratch in the overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 13.
Just the game prior, the former first-round pick had played nearly half of Washington’s defensive snaps, so he was clearly an important piece in their backfield. That said, the Commanders no longer needed him after Will Harris’ return to the lineup.
Harris had been out since Week 3, and Savage had played well during his absence. That said, he may have felt that he deserved a bigger role.
Savage ended up appearing in eight games for the Commanders, registering 15 total passes, one pass defensed, and a forced fumble. With the Jags, he played two games and logged one tackle.
Savage had originally signed a three-year deal worth $21.75 million with the Jags in 2024. His release accelerated a cap charge and left nearly $5 million in dead money this year.
The Jaguars no longer had use for Darnell Savage
In retrospect, the Jaguars never knew what to do with Darnell Savage. Although he mostly played safety during his stint with the Green Bay Packers, he also lined up in the slot at times. That’s the role Jacksonville wanted him to play when he was signed last year.
Right off the bat, Savage didn’t look good playing nickel full-time and moved back to safety only when Antonio Johnson struggled. Then, the new regime arrived in 2025, and he didn’t truly fit the team’s scheme. Sure, the former Maryland Terrapin had a solid training camp, but didn’t do enough to win the starting job. And with Johnson flashing potential early on in the new defensive system, there was no longer room for him, even though Caleb Ransaw was out for the year after suffering a leg injury.
If Savage had shown he was capable of making an impact, the Jaguars would have probably kept him around and found a role for him. This is especially true when you take into account that Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard have been solid but neither has been a playmaker.
Ultimately, the Jaguars decided that Darnell Savage was not a good fit and gave him the chance to latch onto another team. The decision looks great in light of the Commanders’ decision to let him walk.
