Happy birthday! You’re fired! Jaguars cut defensive lineman hours after birthday post

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Happy birthday … and you’re fired.

The Jaguars wished defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi a happy 29th birthday across social media on Monday morning, a nice gesture that they do for players. Not long after that post on social media, the NFL Network reported that the Jaguars were cutting Fatukasi.

It was a cruel twist and an example of one side of the building not talking to the other one.

The move wasn’t entirely unexpected. Fatukasi signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Jaguars in 2022 and was expected to be a major force on the line. But Fatukasi largely underwhelmed, turning in the two least impactful seasons of his career. Fatukasi had 48 tackles and 1.5 sacks in two seasons with the Jaguars. He was never below 27 tackles during his time with the Jets.

His release will save the Jaguars $3.5 million this year but carries a dead cap number of more than $9 million. The Jaguars need the cap flexibility as they try and find a means to re-sign or franchise tag edge Josh Allen and receiver Calvin Ridley.