I don’t think it’s fair to classify it as a benching but Jarvis Jones’ starting role has been taken away by James Harrison. Dale Lolley tweeted out the news from Jones himself a short time ago. It will be Harrison who starts Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Jones had been the starter all season at ROLB. Now, it will be Harrison who starts though it’s still expected the team will typically rotate the four on an every-other series basis.
Anthony Chickillo saw a similar ascension earlier this year when he passed up Arthur Moats as the starting LOLB. As Lolley points out, the “first line” at outside linebacker will now be Chickillo and Harrison with Moats and Jones on the second line.
Jones hasn’t played terribly but he’s had a Jarvis Jones’ like season: solid against the run, a high effort player, but offering very little as a pass rusher. Harrison, in a vacuum, is the team’s best pass rusher at the position. He and Chickillo lead the position with, sigh, 2 and 2.5 sacks respectively. Moats has just 1.5 while Jones has been shut out through nine games.
In 45 career games, 34 starts, Jones has recorded just five sacks.
