JACKSONVILLE – These were well-deserved honors.
One was long-awaited and the other was a repeat. Either way, Thursday was special for two Jaguars specialists, with punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
For Cooke, in his seventh NFL season the Jaguars' most-tenured player, it was the first such honor.
"There's a sense of relief, because I felt like I've had a few seasons that were good enough," Cooke said. "It's all part of God's timing. That's something I've had to trust. Sometimes it's hard to trust that. But it all worked out when it was supposed to work out, so I'm excited."
Matiscik was named to the Pro Bowl for a second consecutive season, having made the event in 2023 when he was also named a first-team Associated Press All-Pro selection.
"To get the nod again is pretty cool," Matiscik said. "It never gets old. When you find out, you're heart is racing. It's kind of a relief that, 'Hey, I'm going back to the Pro Bowl again.'''
Cooke and Matiscik both said it was meaningful to be going to the Pro Bowl in a season when the other was going.
"It's fun to be selected to with Ross," Cooke said. "He's the best in the league by far. To be classified in the same category as Ross is pretty cool. I told him he has to show the rookie the ropes. We're excited."
Matiscik spoke of sharing the honor with "my best friend."
"It's awesome," Matiscik said. "To see him get his flowers that he rightfully deserves is really cool. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Matiscik and Cooke were the lone Jaguars players named as Pro Bowl starters. Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was named first alternate, with defensive end Josh Hines-Allen fourth alternate and defensive end Travon Walker fifth alternate.
"They've both been outstanding," Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell said. "The way they work every single day. They work together. They care about each other. You see the work they put in, and then it shows up on the field.
"They've been the best in the game. I'm not surprised at all."
Jaguars rookie kicker Cam Little informed Cooke and Matiscik of the honor Thursday during a special teams meeting.
"Cam did a little presentation in the only way Cam could do," Farwell said with a laugh, "but at the end of it, once he got to the point, it was a special part of it, and you could see how excited, how much they had worked for it. It was so emotional for Logan and Ross, because it is important to them.
"These guys worked so hard to be a Pro Bowler, to be honored across the league. It's such a big deal. It was a cool moment for the group."
Cooke, a seventh-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2018 NFL Draft, has an AFC-leading net average of 44.7 yards on 64 punts, with 32 punts inside the 20-yard line and 12 inside the 10-yard line. Farwell said Cooke "had a fantastic year."
"His ability to control returners with all those different punts he has, he's a problem for other coordinators," Farwell said. "It's a respect he gets across the league."
Matiscik, acquired as collegiate free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft, has appeared in 116 snaps on special teams and posted two special teams tackles (one solo) in 2024.
"He has had great snaps all year," Farwell said. "He's been fantastic in that, and that's a big part you don't want to overlook. What separates him from most snappers is coverage, him covering down the field. It's like a linebacker on a punt team. He's an actual tackler, where teams have to account for him.
"You literally have to block him. Across the league, there are not very many snappers, if any, that really get blocked. Ross gets accounted for. It just shows you the respect of him being a factor in coverage. It's a big part of our coverage."
NOTABLE
- Among the bright spots in a dismal Jaguars season: Rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones, who has emerged at the nickel position and who is a player Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said Thursday "can be as good as he wants to be. For a rookie to come in and have an immediate impact like he has, has been pretty impressive." Jones, a third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, has played in all 16 games with three starts and has one interception, one sack and seven passes defensed. "If he wants to be the best, then he'll continue to work that way," Nielsen said. "If he thinks that this is it, then this is what you'll see. He's playing really good football right now, but there's another step in his game. There's another level for him to achieve for him to really become one of the most dominant players at his position. That's what he wants to do."
Last full practice week of the 2024 regular season. 🏈 Check out practice photos from the Miller Electric Center as the Jaguars prepare to head to Indianapolis for the Colts game in Week 18!
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Joe Gaziano (97) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Javon Foster (62) and Mitch Morse (65) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive line coach/run game coordinator Phil Rauscher and offensive lineman Javon Foster (62) and during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo (90) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Myles Gaskin (38) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) and running back Tank Bigsby (4) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Joe Gaziano (97) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) and quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) and kicker Cam Little (39) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) and kicker Cam Little (39) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Joe Gaziano (97) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) and kicker Cam Little (39) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Joe Gaziano (97) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley (69) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Caleb Johnson (57) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Matthew Jackson (35) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma (48) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Tyler Shatley (69), Luke Fortner (79), Cole Van Lanen (70) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) and safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland (76) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) and safety Andrew Wingard (42) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley (69) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) and safety Matthew Jackson (35) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on January 2, 2025.
