Ben

Koyack

Koyack survived the Jags’ first round of cuts on Saturday but was cast aside after Jacksonville claimed two tight ends (Seth DeValve and Matt Orzech) off waivers. A former seventh-round pick out of Notre Dame, Koyack logged 110 target-less snaps last season. He’ll look to latch on elsewhere as a blocking tight end.

He’ll miss multiple weeks with a torn meniscus. The injury leaves Neal Sterling as Jacksonville’s No. 3 tight end.

The second-year seventh-rounder caught 19 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown this season. Although Julius Thomas has busted hard as a Jaguar, Koyack doesn’t have the athletic profile to emerge as a starter.

Koyack hauled in a big 17-yard reception in the second quarter, but he was otherwise quiet in a dysfunctional Jaguars passing game which managed 126 yards as a unit. Even if Julius Thomas (back) misses another game, Koyack will be a weak streamer when the Jaguars take on the Broncos’ defense in Week 13.

An in-line type who can create holes in the run game, Koyack will compete for a spot on a team currently carrying six tight ends.

A seventh-round pick out of Notre Dame, Koyack made no noise during his roughly-four months on the roster. He might be a practice squad candidate.

Koyack (6'5/255) succeeded Tyler Eifert and Troy Niklas as the go-to tight end at Notre Dame, racking up 44 career catches for 532 yards (12.1 YPR) and five TDs. He ran 4.76/4.82 at the Irish Pro Day, adding a 30-inch vertical and 9-foot-8 broad jump. Although not a dynamic athlete, Koyack is a competitive blocker with huge hands (10 3/4") and natural short-area receiving skills. Koyack projects as an in-line tight end who could be a functional short-term starter, but is best suited as a backup.

Koyack was an exclusive rights free agent. A role player, he has 24 career catches.