Duvernay signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Jags last offseason but was released after just one year. He caught 11 passes for 79 yards on offense and, per usual, was highly involved on special teams. He returned both kicks and punts in Jacksonville and did so for the Ravens while on his rookie contract. Duvernay will continue to play his return specialist role in Chicago.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport were the first to report the move. The release of Duvernay, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract, will clear just over $2.7 million in cap space for the Jaguars and leave them without a kick/punt returner. Duvernay returned 19 punts for 167 yards and 14 kicks for 351 yards last season. Duvernay caught 106 passes for 1,386 yards, and nine touchdowns in his final season at Texas and boasts 4.39 speed. That said, he’s never totaled more than 37 receptions in his five professional seasons, and won’t be viewed as anything more than a special teamer on the open market. The 2021 First-Team All-Pro returner will be 27 at the start of next season and should draw plenty of interest for his return prowess.

The Jaguars continue to run rampant in free agency, as Duvernay becomes the fourth player to agree to a deal with the team on the first day of legal tampering. Duvernay caught 37 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 but was an afterthought in the Ravens’ offense last season, totaling just four receptions on nine targets. A special teams ace who was named an All-Pro in 2022 and to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022, Duvernay will likely offer more on kick and punt returns than he will on offense.

Duvernay’s impact will be mostly felt in the return game. He’s managed only nine targets in 13 games this season but returned 23 punts and nine kicks prior to going down with a back injury in Week 14. In addition to Duvernay, the Ravens also activated CB Ar’Darius Washington, who is also expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Texans.