The Jaguars signed sixth-year veteran tight end Ernest Wilford today and waived defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis.
Wilford, 6-4, 235, was originally a fourth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2004 as a wide receiver. He signed with Miami as an unrestricted free agent in 2008 and was released yesterday. He has played in 70 career games with 37 starts and career totals of 144 receptions for 2,019 yards and 14 touchdowns. All 37 of his starts came with the Jaguars and he ranks second in team history with a 14.1-yard average per reception.
In 2008 Wilford played in seven games with the Dolphins and finished with three receptions for 25 yards. He played in all 16 games at wide receiver for the Jaguars in 2007 with a career-high 14 starts, leading the team with 45 receptions for 518 yards with three touchdowns. He finished with seven touchdown receptions in 2005, joining Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell as the only Jaguars receivers to have six-plus touchdowns in a season.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Wilford did not play football until his senior year at Franklin/Armstrong Military High School. He was an All-Big East selection his final two seasons at Virginia Tech where he finished with 126 receptions for 2,052 yards with 11 touchdowns. An active member of the community, he has hosted the Ernest Wilford Golf Classic in Jacksonville to benefit the First Tee of St. John's County.
Lewis was signed by the Jaguars in the 2008 preseason and spent the entire season on injured reserve. He has played in four career games with Arizona.
