Former KC Chiefs LB Damien Wilson takes free agent visit with Jaguars
By Matt Conner
Former K.C. Chiefs linebacker Damien Wilson has taken his first known free agent visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars, per NFL reporter Field Yates.
Wilson would be a familiar face for new Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer, who served as longtime head coach at Ohio State. Wilson was not an alumnus, but he starred at the University of Minnesota in the Big Ten for two seasons and turned heads as a solid tackler in the conference.
The Dallas Cowboys liked what they saw from Wilson enough to take him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and he was a valuable rotational linebacker for them for his first four seasons in the league. From there, the Chiefs decided to sign him in free agency as a starting Sam addition to the defense’s second level.
Wilson has served as a starting linebacker for the last two years in Kansas City and put up 154 total tackles, including 6 for a loss, in 29 total starts for the Chiefs. He also added 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass deflections, and 1.5 sacks in that span.
Damien Wilson is taking his first free agent visit with the Jaguars.
Without Wilson on the second level, the Chiefs are likely going to add another young face to the defense while relying heavily on Willie Gay Jr. to take a major leap heading into his second season with the team. He was the team’s second round pick a year ago but played a lot more sparingly than fans thought he would. The team also has Anthony Hitchens returning as another starter, and they re-signed Ben Niemann in free agency.
The Chiefs also have Darius Harris, Emmanuel Smith, Omari Cobb and Dorian O’Daniel as linebackers hoping to make the active roster in 2021.