Brown, Payne vie for spot with Jags

JACKSONVILLE — During the offseason, Blair Brown and Donald Payne were expected to battle for the starting strong-side linebacker position.

After getting beat out by seventh-round draft pick Leon Jacobs, both players admit now they are in a battle just to make the Jaguars’ 53-man roster as backups.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got to find where I can fit so I can make the team,’’ said Brown, a fifth-round pick in 2017 out of Ohio University. “Making the team is not handed out to nobody. You’ve got to show what you can do.’’

Both will likely need strong special teams performances to secure their spots and an ideal opportunity will come in tonight’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at TIAA Bank Field.

Though Brown and Payne will see plenty of special teams action, their defensive snaps will be limited because the starters are expected to play into the third quarter. The third preseason game isthe final tune-up for the starters.

With Jacobs’ impressive ascent at strong-side, Brown was moved to weak-side linebacker and Payne was shifted to middle linebacker until last week when he was moved again to weak side.

Both players, like the entire backup linebacker group, have yet to distinguished themselves in the preseason.

Brown lost valuable practice time earlier in training camp after suffering a concussion. With only two tackles after two preseason games, Brown has not performed up to offseason expectations. When the Jaguars began organized team activity workouts in May, Brown was considered to be the frontrunner for the starting strong-side job alongside middle linebacker Myles Jack and weakside linebacker Telvin Smith, who both have performed like they are ready for the regular season to start now.

“I just didn’t fit the spot,’’ said Brown, who played in 13 games last season as a rookie, including starting two games at weak-side linebacker.

In last week’s 14-10 victory against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, Brown made a few misreads on run plays and ended the game with one tackle and a fumble recovery on Minnesota’s final possession.

And Payne missed a sure tackle on running back Mike Boone that went for 9 yards.

“I just got to know my assignments,’’ Payne said. “I think that was the biggest thing [against Minnesota.] I just didn’t know exactly where I needed to be lined up.

“I was on the 53-man last year, but it hasn’t given me a locked-in spot. I feel like every day I’m still fighting for a position on this team. But I’m studying my playbook and I think this week will be a lot better.’’

The Jaguars close out their preseason schedule next Thursday at Tampa Bay before they must trim the roster from 90 to the league-required 53 players by next Saturday.

Earlier this week, the Jaguars signed rookie linebacker Nick DeLuca to replace Brooks Ellis, who voluntarily left the team and was waived. The Jaguars backup linebackers also include second-year player Deon King and rookies Manase Hungalu, Andrew Motuapuaka and Reggie Hunter.

“I just want to make sure I make decisions based on what they have done now and not what they have done in the past,’’ Jags coach Doug Marrone said. “We just wanted to look at some of the Mike linebackers and we moved [Donald] Payne over to Will, which I think is more his natural position. But he can play both. They both have to do a good job on [special] teams. You have to be able to do a good job on special teams.”