Jaguars Promote WR Michael Walker to Active Roster Before Texans Game
A day before the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) are set to kickoff against the Houston Texans (5-3) in London, the team made some changes to its active roster, promoting rookie wide receiver Michael Walker from the practice squad.
To make room on the 53-man roster, the Jaguars waived rookie linebacker Joe Giles-Harris, who played three snaps at strongside linebacker against the New York Jets in Week 8.
Walker is now the team's sixth receiver on the active roster after wide receiver after veteran wide receiver Marqise Lee was placed on the team's reserve/injured list earlier this week.
Walker was featured throughout the 2019 preseason as a punt returner, making it reasonable that he may be activated on Sunday as a special teams player. With wide receiver Dede Westbrook questionable with a neck/shoulder injury, Walker's promotion makes Westbrook's status for Sunday even more of a question mark.
And if Westbrook is still active, it is highly unlikely he will assume his typical role as punt returner, with either Tyler Ervin or an active Walker taking his place instead.
Waiving Giles-Harris is a bit of a surprising move considering starting strongside linebacker Leon Jacobs did not make the trip with a hamstring injury, but Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash indicated Thursday that reserve linebacker Austin Calitro can fill in at the strongside linebacker spot.
Obviously with the outside linebacker stuff, Leon [Jacobs] is still not back, but Austin [Calitro] has played both positions, which really helps us," Wash said.
Calitro started at weakside linebacker against the Jets since both Quincy Williams (hamstring) and Najee Goode (toe) were out with injuries, but Wash said Thursday that Goode would return to the starting lineup at weakside linebacker this week. With Giles-Harris' release, it is safe to assume Calitro will step in at strongside linebacker when the Jaguars are in their base defense.
