Jacksonville releases toublesome Fournette

The Jacksonville Jaguars cut running back Leonard Fournette Monday after three tumultuous seasons, severing ties with the No. 4 pick of the 2017 NFL draft.

The Jaguars declined to pick up Fournette’s fifthyear option for 2021 in May and had been trying to trade him and his $ 4.16 million base salary throughout the offseason. He had his best statistical season as a pro in 2019, rushing for a careerhigh 1,152 yards while also catching 76 passes. Nevertheless, the Jaguars have regressed from a team that nearly upset the Patriots in the AFC championship game to a team that won only 11 games in the two seasons that followed, leading to yet another rebuilding project for the downtrodden franchise.

After the roster move was announced, Jaguars Coach Doug Marrone told reporters that “we couldn’t get anything” in terms of trade offers for Fournette. “A fifth, a sixth — anything.”

This summer, Fournette lobbied for the Jaguars to sign free agent quarterback Cam Newton even though the team already had anointed Gardner Minshew as its signal- caller, leading some to think he was trying to undercut the young passer.

Jets

New York signed veteran Donte Moncrief to help their banged- up wide receiver group. The team also announced it released Brett Maher, meaning incumbent Sam Ficken won the kicker competition. New York also claimed defensive back Zane Lewis off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.

Texans

Houston signed inside linebacker Zach Cunningham to a four- year, $ 58 million contract extension. Cunningham, 25, was a secondround draft pick in 2017 and ranked second in the NFL last season with a careerhigh 137 tackles, the fourth most in franchise history.

49ers

San Francisco placed starting middle linebacker Fred Warner on the reserve/ COVID- 19 list, less than two weeks before the start of the season. Warner didn’t practice Sunday and was placed on the list.