The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed four veteran players to new contracts: defensive tackles John Jurkovic and Kelvin Pritchett, cornerback Curtis Anderson, wide receiver Will Moore and running back Chris Parker. The Jaguars' current roster remains at 65 players.
Jurkovic started the first three games in 1997 before suffering a fracture of his right tibia on September 22 vs. Pittsburgh. He spent the rest of the season on injured reserve. An eight-year veteran who specializes against the run, the 31-year-old Jurkovic has started 20 of his 22 games as a Jaguar, including postseason. In 1996, he was named second-team All-AFC by United Press International.
Pritchett, 28, has started 25 games in three seasons with the Jaguars. Last year he was sidelined by a knee injury suffered in practice on October 30 and he underwent reconstructive knee surgery five days later, missing the remainder of the season. He made 44 tackles in eight games, as well as a team-record three sacks on October 5 vs. Cincinnati. In seven NFL seasons, Pritchett has 24 sacks.
Anderson played in the final nine games of 1997 on special teams. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie, he spent the first two months of the season on the Jaguars' practice squad. The 24-year-old Anderson made eight tackles on special teams.
Moore, 27, was the team's fifth wide receiver in 1997, catching one pass in 10 games played. He also made 10 tackles on special teams. Moore will return for his second season with the Jaguars after playing for New England in 1995 and '96 and in the CFL from 1992 to '94. He caught 43 passes in 1995. Moore signed with the Jaguars as a veteran free agent in 1996.
Parker, 25, made the final roster cut in 1997 after spending all of 1996 on the practice squad. But he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the first quarter of the season opener on August 31 at Baltimore and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery on September 11. Parker led the team with 141 rushing yards in the '97 preseason.
