Doug Pederson cuts son Josh from Jaguars at NFL’s 53-man roster deadline

NFL football is a brutal business. Sometimes more so than others.

One of those times was Tuesday, when NFL teams faced a deadline to cut their rosters down to 53 players. In Jacksonville, that meant head coach Doug Pederson cut his own son.

The Jaguars signed USFL tight end Josh Pederson in July to provide depth during training camp and the preseason. They declined to note when they signed him that he is, indeed, Doug’s son. They also declined to note on Tuesday that he’s Doug’s son when they listed Josh’s name among many others who saw their Jaguars dreams come to an end.

But he is Doug’s son. And now he’s looking for a new gig, thanks to his dad’s decision. Tough break.

Josh, 25, has never played an NFL snap. He played four years of tight end for Louisiana-Monroe and went undrafted in 2020. He joined the Houston Rattlers of the revamped USFL in the league’s second season this spring before getting his shot with his dad’s Jaguars in the summer.

Evan Engram, Luke Farrell, Brenton Strange and Leonard Tyrell all stood ahead of Pederson on the depth chart. In three preseason games, Pederson recorded zero catches and one bad snap when called upon for emergency long-snapping duty on a punt.

So it’s not like he stood out as a viable candidate to make the initial 53-man roster. But still. That’s a tough spot for both father and son.

At least Doug can’t be accused of nepotism. Not when the games count, at least.