JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – JUNE 15: A Jacksonville Jaguars helmet as seen during Jacksonville Jaguars Mandatory Minicamp at TIAA Bank Field on June 15, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Well, the Jacksonville Jaguars made sure that Foley Fatukasi’s 29th birthday will be one that he won’t forget.

On Monday afternoon, the Jaguars released the veteran defensive tackle in a move that saves $3.5 million against the cap, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Oddly enough, the move came just hours after the Jaguars sent out a happy birthday message to Fatukasi on X/Twitter:

In 2022, Fatukasi signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville worth $30 million. The former New York Jet appeared in 30 games over his two seasons with Jacksonville (29 starts), compiling four pass defenses and 1.5 sacks during his tenure there.

The Jaguars won the AFC South division crown in 2022 and reached the AFC Divisional Round, where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. They entered the 2023 season with much bigger expectations, only to finish 9-8 and miss out on the postseason altogether.

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Releasing Fatukasi saves minimal dollars against the cap for the Jaguars, who have plenty of work to do leading up to free agency in nine days. Among them: What to do with star wide receiver Calvin Ridley, a pending free agent, who finished as the team’s leading receiver in 2023?

Star pass-rusher Josh Allen is also a pending free agent, though he’s expected to receive the franchise tag if the two sides don’t agree on an extension before free agency.