Former Detroit Lions cornerback Corey Ballentine is getting another NFL opportunity.
Ballentine has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as teams begin training camp, adding another stop to a career that has taken him across the league. Jacksonville’s veterans reported Tuesday, with the Jaguars scheduled to hold their first camp practice Wednesday.
Ballentine Briefly Played for Detroit
Ballentine appeared in four games for the Lions during the 2021 season.
His entire workload in Detroit came on special teams, where he played 48 snaps without recording a defensive statistic. His stay was brief, but it became one more chapter in a career built largely on special-teams value and secondary depth.
The former sixth-round pick entered the NFL with the New York Giants in 2019.
Since then, he has appeared in 75 games with 11 starts. His regular-season stops include the Giants, New York Jets, Lions, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.
Ballentine has also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.
Jacksonville Adds Experienced Depth
Ballentine now joins a Jacksonville cornerback room that already includes several established and developing options.
At 30 years old, his clearest path to the roster will likely come through special teams. That role has helped him remain in the league despite bouncing between multiple organizations.
Ballentine has recorded 103 career tackles, nine passes defended, two forced fumbles and one interception. His most productive defensive season came with Green Bay in 2023, when he made six starts and finished with 43 tackles and seven passes defended.
Jacksonville has continued adjusting its secondary throughout the offseason, including the June signing of veteran cornerback Dane Jackson.
Bottom Line
Corey Ballentine’s time with the Lions lasted only four games, but the former Detroit cornerback continues finding ways to extend his NFL career.
Jacksonville becomes his latest opportunity to compete for a roster spot and contribute on special teams. For a player entering his eighth NFL season, sticking around this long is an accomplishment by itself.
