The Jacksonville Jaguars today made four roster changes. They
signed offensive tackle Joe Patton, a five-year veteran of the
Washington Redskins, to fill the roster opening made yesterday
when Tony Boselli was placed on injured reserve. Middle linebacker
Bryan Schwartz was placed on injured reserve because of a
hamstring injury, and his roster spot was filled by Chester Burnett,
who was on the practice squad. And wide receiver James Battle
was signed to the practice squad.
Patton played in 61 games, making 54 starts, for the Redskins from
1994 to '98. He was released on August 30. A versatile player who
has seen action at both guard spots and left tackle, Patton was a
third-round draft choice in 1994 out of Alabama A&M. He played
two games as a rookie, then moved into the starting lineup in 1995,
replacing Jim Lachey. He started 15 games in 1996 and was the
only Redskins offensive lineman to start every game in '97. In '98,
he missed five games with injuries but still started 10 games at three
different positions. Patton, who turned 28 today, is 6-5, 306 pounds.
Schwartz injured his hamstring in practice on December 24. He had
played in eight games, making six tackles on defense and four on
special teams, and forced a key fumble in the October 17 Cleveland
game. A five-year veteran with the Jaguars who has started 40 of
55 games played, Schwartz did not play in the first five games of
this season because of a hamstring injury.
Burnett was signed to the Jaguars' practice squad on December 28.
He was with the team from September 29 through October 13,
although he was inactive for all three games in which he was on the
53-man roster before being waived. He had been waived by the
Redskins in the final cuts on September 5. Burnett, 25, was a
seventh-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 and
was waived before the start of the season. He was signed to
Washington's practice squad and then activated to the 53-man
roster for the final five games of the season, playing both linebacker
and on special teams, where he made two tackles. The 5-10,
238-pound Burnett was a four-year letterman at the University of
Arizona.
Battle was with the Jaguars in the 1999 training camp from August
2-31, when he was waived in the cut to 65 players. An undrafted
rookie out of Oregon State, where he was a two-year letterman,
Battle spent the early part of training camp with the Oakland
Raiders. In his last collegiate season in 1998, the 6-2, 200-pound
Battle caught 31 passes for 563 yards (18.2-yard average) and two
TDs.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Patton will wear jersey No. 68, and Burnett will
wear No. 54.
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