Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue will not attend the team’s mandatory minicamp this week as he seeks out a new contract.
Yannick Ngakoue should be entering his fourth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars this fall. But he announced this week that he will not be attending the Jags mandatory minicamp as he continues his contract negotiations with the organization.
“I will not be attending minicamp as my contract has not been resolved,” Ngakoue said in a statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I remain committed to Jacksonville, the fans and my teammates. My hope is to be with Jacksonville for years to come.”
Ngakoue is one of the best young pass-rushers in the NFL. Since being drafted in 2016, the defensive end has earned 29.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
He had initially said that he wasn’t concerned if his contract was resolved before the start of the 2019 season, but he appears to have changed his mind, perhaps because of some of the major contract extensions signed by other pass-rushers around the league.
Ngakoue faces penalties for missing mandatory minicamp. He will be fined $88,650 across the three-day period: $14,775 for the first day, $29,550 for the second day, and $44,325 for the third day.
But Ngakoue is not the only player sitting out minicamp to make a statement. Jadeveon Clowney is not expected to attend the mandatory minicamp in Houston as he continues on with his contract negotiations.
And Trent Williams demanded to be traded or released from the Redskins last week and has also said he will not participate in team activities.
Ngakoue has received the support of at least one teammate, with Leonard Fournette tweeting “Pay @YannickNgakoue.”
Ngakoue is also not the first defender to run into problems with Jacksonville this offseason. Linebacker Telvin Smith announced he is taking the 2019 season off to “get [his] world in order,” while Tom Coughlin criticized Jalen Ramsey for not attending the voluntary OTAs.
The Jaguars will open their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday at the practice fields adjacent to TIAA Field.