Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Hamilton is returning to full strength after having his 2023 season suspended due to a non-football-related back injury.
“Every indication this offseason is that he's heading in the right direction. He's coming back,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters earlier this week. “I'm excited about it and I know he is too. We missed that piece last year, and even though he played late [in the season], he just wasn't the same. ”
Hamilton received a contract extension last year, and although he was sidelined in August with a spinal abscess infection, he appeared to be in prime shape for a breakout season.
“There was a lot going on,” Hamilton told Jaguars.com in December. “I was experiencing a lot of side effects. I was in a strange place. This isn't really a normal disease, it's not a normal infection that people get. It was very strange. I felt very lucky. There were a lot of things that could have happened. I might not be able to play football forever.”
Hamilton returned in October, but played only 30 snaps in two games and was suspended for the next two games. By the end of the season, Hamilton had played in eight games, but his PFF grade was a dismal 36.2, less than half of his 2022 grade of 72.6.
The Jaguars didn't have much help from their 335-pound defensive tackle and struggled to generate much pressure from inside, as Josh Allen and Travon Walker accounted for more than two-thirds of the team's total sacks. Jacksonville also had three of its last six opponents gain 150 or more rushing yards.
The Jaguars opened up their pockets to add Arik Armstead to their defensive line to solve these problems. But getting a refreshed version of Hamilton will also go a long way.
