The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo (pronounced: EZ-er-uh too-ah-OH-low). He takes the roster spot of Kelvin Pritchett, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn knee ligament in practice last week.
Tuaolo was a second-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1991, when he started all 16 games and was named to several All-Rookie teams. He was waived by Green Bay after four games in 1993 and picked up later in the season by the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played through the 1996 season. The 6-3, 276-pound Tuaolo was signed by Buffalo last June 25 and released on August 18. In six seasons, he played in 80 games, starting 44 times, and made 10 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries. Tuaolo was a three-year starter at Oregon State, where he received honorable mention All-America honors in 1989. He is a native of Honolulu.
The Jaguars also released running back Steve Lee from their practice squad and signed 23-year-old offensive tackle Mike Flynn to their practice squad. A four-year starter at Maine, Flynn was signed as an undrafted rookie by the Baltimore Ravens last spring. He played in all four preseason games and was waived in the final cuts on August 25. Flynn, 6-3 and 295 pounds, spent the first week of the regular season on Tampa Bay's practice squad. He is a native of Agawam, Mass. Lee had been signed to the Jaguars' practice squad on October 22.
