JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Veteran NFL safety Tashaun Gipson is already hunting for a new number.
Gipson was handed No. 47 — the only jersey available for his position group — when he arrived for training camp practice in Jacksonville on Monday. It looked and felt awkward for the 13th-year pro who spent three previous seasons (2016-18) wearing No. 39 for the Jaguars.
Rookie kicker Cam Little is currently wearing No. 39, but Gipson is holding out hope that Little might want a different number once the roster gets whittled down to 53.
“I’m not used to this and don’t (anyone else) get used to this,” Gipson quipped Tuesday. “I would like to get (39) back, but at this point, if he has ties to it, I think I’m going to have to find another number. But 39 always has a special place in my heart for sure.”
So does Jacksonville, which was the main reason Gipson jumped at the chance to rejoin the franchise despite being suspended for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancers.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Gipson, who has acknowledged taking a supplement that contained a banned substance. “I’m grateful that they had enough respect for me as a man, as a player, as a person, to bring me in here and give me an opportunity. Nothing but love for the city, the organization, from the bottom of my heart.
“I’m just going to try to be a resource and try to pick these guys’ brains and kind of go from there.”
Gipson has started 165 games over 12 seasons with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago and San Francisco. He has 33 interceptions, including at least one in every year since signing with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He started 33 games for the 49ers over the past two years, advancing to two NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.
The Jaguars gave him a one-year deal to essentially be a midseason insurance policy, a guy who would become available beginning Week 7 against New England in London. Jacksonville is expected to be without backup Andrew Wingard for at least the first month of the regular season, and fellow safety Darnell Savage is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
So Gipson should get on the field in the preseason and might be a viable option for down the road.
“It’s a veteran player that we’re familiar with, who gives us more depth, gives us an opportunity at safety that right now kind of fills a spot,” coach Doug Pederson said.
Gipson joins a growing list of aging veterans signed by general manager Trent Baalke this year. The Jaguars previously added three starters with at least a decade of experience: center Mitch Morse, defensive lineman Arik Armstead and cornerback Ronald Darby.
In a league in which teams are usually trying to get younger, Jacksonville is headed in the other direction — part of a push to avoid the kind of late-season collapse that knocked the franchise out of the playoff picture a year ago.
“A lot of the things are above the shoulders,” Gipson said. “Some things talent can’t do. I’m a little long in the tooth. I try to spread wisdom as much as I can to these young guys and hopefully it sticks to them. It could just be that extra play that might be a game changer that could get us to where we need to go.”
It remains to be seen what number Gipson will be wearing for what could be his final NFL journey.
“It’ll be something different than 47,” he said. “That’s all I know.”
NOTES: The Jaguars activated Armstead (knee) from the physically unable to perform list. He is expected to practice Wednesday against Tampa Bay.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Newly signed Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson in search of a different number after 2 days of camp
FILE - San Francisco 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (31) celebrates during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran safety Gipson to a one-year contract Sunday, Aug. 11, reuniting him with the franchise despite a six-game suspension to start the regular season. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Newly signed Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson in search of a different number after 2 days of camp
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Coming off a poor season and playing with a young team, the New York Giants needed a lot of things to go right to turn things around in Brian Daboll’s third season.
So far they are heading the wrong way. The Minnesota Vikings outplayed them in a season-opening 28-6 loss and the Giants fell 21-18 to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The Giants have not made the playoffs after starting 0-2 since Tom Coughlin led New York to a championship in the 2007 season.
This is New York's ninth 0-2 start since 2013 and none has turned out well. The best of that bunch was a 7-9 finish in '13.
“So again, what really happened 10 years ago or last year, like I’ve always said, really has no bearing on anything this season,” Daboll said Monday. “I thought we made some improvements in a lot of areas. Need to continue to improve on the things that we’re not doing well at this time and focus on the Cleveland Browns.”
The Giants almost won, despite allowing Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to run up 425 yards and hold the ball for more than 37 minutes.
Giants kicker Graham Gano injured a hamstring on the opening kickoff and did not play the rest of the game.
Punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point on the first touchdown and the offense failed on a couple of 2-point attempts.
Rookie Malik Nabers dropped a fourth down pass and Washington's Austin Seibert kicked a game-winning field goal on the final play.
Daboll actually has been through an 0-2 start and got a Super Bowl ring. He was an assistant under Bill Belichick in 2001 when the Patriots started 1-3 and won their first Super Bowl.
The offense rebounded after failing to score a touchdown in the loss to Vikings. Daniel Jones (16 of 28 for 178 yards) threw touchdown passes to Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. Running back Devin Singletary carried 16 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line, which gave up five sacks last week, allowed one.
The run defense has struggled, giving up an average of 163 yards in two games. The Commanders ran for 215 yards Sunday led by Brian Robinson, who gained 133 yards with an 7.8-yard average.
Inside linebacker Micah McFadden led the team with 13 tackles and rookie cornerback Dru Phillips added 12, including seven solo. Each had a sack.
Second-year receiver Jalin Hyatt. The third-round draft pick in 2023 got a lot of time in training camp with the first team, but he has not been targeted this season in limited time. The bulk of the first-team reps for the wide receivers has gone to Nabers and veteran Darius Slayton.
Gano, who entered the game with a groin injury, pulled his hamstring chasing Austin Ekeler on a kickoff return and is out for a couple of weeks. Practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney will compete against a few free agents for the job this week.
21-49. Nabers become the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in a game. His mark is 21 years and 49 days. Gern Nagler was 21 years and 251 days old on Nov. 1, 1953, when he did it for the Chicago Cardinals.
Travel to Cleveland to face the Browns, who are coming off a road win in Jacksonville.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (26) celebrates his touchdown run against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs after a catch against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to pass against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) kicks a field goal against the New York Giants' Dru Phillips (22) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, right, runs into the end zone for a touchdown as Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil, left, defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws an incomplete pass past Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) on a two point conversion attempt during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts after missing a pass on fourth down against the Washington Commanders late in the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
