When the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, journeyman Jeremy Mincey will replace 2008 first-round pick Derrick Harvey in the starting lineup, head coach Jack Del Rio announced on Wednesday.

"(Defensive line coach) Joe Cullen believes Mincey’s earned the opportunity to be the starter this week," Del Rio said on Wednesday. "He (Cullen) said, 'I feel I need to do this for the group right now.' Joe cares very much about his group. He wants them to earn it on the field."

Harvey (6-5, 281) has started 26 straight games for the Jaguars, who their first-round pick, as well as two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick, to trade up and select the former University of Florida pass-rusher with the 8th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars signed Harvey to a five-year, $33.4 million contract that included $17.4 million in guaranteed money after a lengthy training camp holdout.

In 39 career games, Harvey has 82 tackles, six quarterback sacks, and an interception. Harvey has just six tackles and a half-sack through seven games this season.

Mincey (6-3, 270) also played his college ball at Florida, and was a 2006 sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots. Mincey joined the Jaguars in 2007, and has 19 tackles and 3 quarterback sacks in 16 games with Jacksonville.

Mincey spent last season on injured reserve.