Doug Pederson cuts son, Josh, from Jaguars roster on decision day

NFL

By Christian Arnold

August 29, 2023 | 11:23pm

Family dinners at Doug Pederson’s house might be a little awkward going forward. 

Tuesday marked the deadline for NFL teams to trim rosters to 53 players, and just like his 31 counterparts, the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach had to make those tough decisions.

But one cut was likely the hardest for the head coach — his son Josh Pederson.

The Jaguars had signed the 25-year-old tight end in July to give the team some more depth at the position.

The younger Pederson had bounced around the NFL after playing college football at Louisiana-Monroe. 

Josh has not played in a regular season NFL game but has spent time with the 49ers, Saints and Chiefs.

Last season, he played for the Houston Rattlers of the USFL before getting a shot with the Jaguars this summer. 

During his time in the USFL, he reeled in 24 receptions for 325 yards in 10 games. 

Through three preseason games this year, Pederson did not record a catch and had one bad snap when he filled in as a long snapper on a punt attempt. 

With Evan Engram, Luke Farrell, Brenton Strange and Leonard Tyrell all ahead on the depth chart, Pederson was a long shot at best to make the 53-man roster. 

The Jaguars are the favorites to come out of the AFC South after Pederson led them to a 9-8 record and the division crown in 2022 before winning a dramatic playoff game against the Chargers in the first round.