A former Illinois football player is making the news today as Arrelious Benn received a contract extension from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This is a big signing for the Jaguars as he has been a solid player, when healthy, for this franchise.
According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, Benn has agreed to a deal with Jacksonville for one year with an option for a second year.
Per league source, deal for #Jaguars WR Arrelious Benn will be one year plus an option for second year.
— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) February 15, 2017
Benn was a standout wide receiver for the Illinois Fighting Illini and this led to him being drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft.
The first year in Tampa Bay was successful for Benn. He caught 25 passes for 395 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was a solid season by rookie standards and his career was only beginning.
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In year two, Benn increased his production to 30 catches for 441 yards and 3 touchdowns. Building on his rookie season was supposed to be a great thing, but injuries started to derail his career in year three.
Knee and shoulder injuries held Benn back in year three in Tampa Bay. He only had a chance to play in eight games that season and then was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2013.
Benn didn’t get a chance to play for the Eagles because before the 2013 season started he tore his ACL and missed the entire year. He then missed the 2014 season after suffering a back injury and then he was released by the Eagles. The Jaguars then proceeded to pick him up in 2015.
After the Jaguars signed Benn, he went down with a broken left collarbone in August of 2015 and missed the entire 2015 season.
Benn was released by Jacksonville in September 2016 but then was picked up the next day due to an injury to another player on the team. He finally had a chance to play football again and this time he spent the season healthy.
In 2016, Benn finished the year with 5 receptions for 116 yards, which included a big game-winning touchdown with 2:49 to go against the Chicago Bears. He scored on a 51-yard reception to win the game 17-16.
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Benn now finds himself with some sense of stability and that is great to hear. I hope he stays healthy and gets his career back on track because he has some serious wide receiver talent.