The Jaguars activated wide receiver Devin Duvernay from their injured reserve on Saturday, ending his four-week stint on the list and making him available to play in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville signed Duvernay via free agency this offseason and deployed him as the team’s primary kickoff and punt returner to begin the campaign.
However, Duvernay hurt his hamstring in Jacksonville’s Week 5 win over the Indianapolis Colts and was placed on the injured reserve on Oct. 9. His 21-day injured reserve practice window was opened Wednesday.
Duvernay returned five kickoffs for 20 yards per return, seven punts for 11.6 yards per return, caught one pass for a one-yard loss and rushed three times for 10 yards in his first five games with the Jaguars this year.
Over the first four seasons of his NFL career, with Baltimore, Duvernay posted 94 receptions for 898 yards and five touchdowns, 27 rushing attempts for 219 yards and one score, and averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns and 12.8 yards per punt return.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson suggested Friday that Duvernay could see an uptick in usage offensively given the injuries Jacksonville has suffered at wide receiver, including losing starting slot receiver Christian Kirk for the season after he broke his collarbone in Week 8.
“I think he’ll have a bigger role now that the guys are banged up, right? More than just returner out there,” Pederson said. “So again, Devin is a pro. He prepares, he gets himself ready to go and I would anticipate him playing a little bit more on offense.”
