Jaguars Sign Ben Bartch Back to Practice Squad

The Jacksonville Jaguars have brought back former starting guard Ben Bartch, signing the fourth-year veteran to the practice squad. 

To make room for the addition of Bartch, who is the rare practice squad offensive lineman with starting experience, the Jaguars released offensive lineman Coy Cronk from the practice squad. 

Bartch began training camp on the PUP list and returned to action toward the end of training camp, winning the left guard job almost immediately upon his return. Bartch started the first three games of the season before being benched for Tyler Shatley in Week 4 and falling down the depth chart.

A fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Bartch has appeared in 41 games for the Jaguars over the last three seasons, starting 20. 

The Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for guard Ezra Cleveland at the trade deadline, dealing a 6th-round selection that they earned for Laviska Shenault and ultimately taking Bartch's roster spot.

Cleveland, 25, was a second-round selection out of Boise State in 2020 and has appeared in 54 career games for the Vikings, starting 40. He has started most of his games at left guard, but did spend his rookie season at right guard.

Cleveland has started and appeared in six games this season, all at left guard. His rookie deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season. He has a connection with Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, too, as Rauscher coached the Vikings offensive line in 2020 and 2021.