Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby was removed from Jacksonville’s starting lineup in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans and did not take the field despite being active in Week 15 against the New York Jets.
Darby, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million free agent contract with Jacksonville in March and started the first 12 games of the season, was benched in favor of third-year Jaguars cornerback Montaric ‘Buster’ Brown for the rest of the year, head coach Doug Pederson revealed Monday.
Noting the move was not disciplinary, Pederson praised Brown for his performance this season, in rotation and at times in relief of starting cornerback Tyson Campbell, who has battled hamstring and shoulder injuries.
“I just think Buster’s been playing well, and really just giving him an opportunity right now,” Pederson said.
Pederson also hopes to play Jaguars fifth-round rookie cornerback De’Antre Prince, who has appeared in eight games but primarily on special teams, more often defensively by making the switch.
“Moving forward I think with the last three games, I think you’ll see Buster and hopefully get a chance to see Tre Prince and see where he’s at, as well,” said Pederson. “But yeah, Buster’s been playing really well.”
Brown has logged 63 total tackles including five for loss, his first NFL interception and seven defended passes in 14 games and seven starts this season. He has recorded 103 tackles and 11 defended passes in 34 career appearances.
A 10th-year pro, Darby previously played for Pederson with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2017-19. While productive in his time with the Eagles, recording six interceptions, Darby was dealt a string of significant injuries, a torn ACL, a dislocated ankle, and hamstring and hip strains.
After a second ACL tear, with the Denver Broncos in 2022, Darby joined Baltimore to fill spot-starting and rotational roles in the Ravens’ secondary. He experienced a career resurgence, breaking up nine passes, his most since 2020, in 18 games including the postseason.
Darby took over the starting role vacated by Jacksonville releasing Darious Williams in March, at outside cornerback under first-year Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.
“I just go out there and work,” Darby told Jaguars Wire in a July interview. “You know, this [is] Year 10 for me. Like, I’ve been making plays. You don’t make it to Year 10 not being able to play. So I just go out there and do what I gotta do, like I do all the time.”
Darby posted 46 total tackles with three for loss and nine defended passes through Week 14, bringing his career totals to 447 tackles with 12 for loss, eight interceptions, 106 defended passes and one forced fumble over 118 games and 107 starts.
Darby ranks No. 7 among Jaguars defenders with 659 defensive snaps logged this season. He took the field for 17 plays against the Titans in Week 14, his first game out of the starting lineup.
