JACKSONVILLE –The Jaguars moved to increase competition in their secondary Wednesday.
Ray Polk, a rookie free safety from the University of Colorado, signed with the Jaguars on Wednesday, a move that came two days before the Jaguars are scheduled to open 2013 training camp.
Polk (6-1, 219) was released on Tuesday by the Seattle Seahawks, where he had signed as a rookie free agent shortly after the 2013 NFL Draft.
Originally recruited to Colorado as a running back, Polk moved to the secondary following his freshman year, and sustained a series of injuries while at Colorado, missing practice or playing time with shoulder, sternum, wrist and ankle issues. He started three games as a redshirt freshman in 2009, and then started at free safety as a sophomore with 60 tackles.
He then registered 60 tackles as a junior despite missing two games with concussion symptoms, and started seven games as a senior after missing five games with a high-ankle sprain.
Polk immediately adds speed to the Jaguars' secondary, having run the 40-yard dash in 4.43 and 4.4 seconds at the Colorado Pro Day this past spring, according to NFL.com.
The Jaguars' projected starters entering training camp are Dwight Lowery at free safety and rookie second-round selection Johnathan Cyprien at strong safety, with rookie Josh Evans – a sixth-round selection having a chance to push Lowery at free.
Chris Prosinski, who played 29 games the past two seasons – starting seven last season – is expected to compete for a reserve role at free safety, with second-year veteran Antwon Blake, free-agent rookie Chris Banjo and free-agent rookie Steven Terrell also competing at safety.
The Jaguars' roster now stands at 90 players, with Polk having filled the roster position left vacant by the release of rookie free-agent quarterback Jordan Rodgers on Tuesday.
The Jaguars' veterans are scheduled to report to camp Thursday, with the first 2013 training camp practice scheduled for Friday at 9:55 a.m.
