Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is officially on the active roster and available for the team’s Week 8 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
It was an expected move that comes 16 days after the Jaguars opened up the 21-day window for Hamilton to return from the injured reserve where he spent the first seven weeks of the season.
While Hamilton has declined to divulge specifics about the issue that sidelined him to start the year, the Jaguars said he was treated with antibiotics meaning the defensive tackle was dealing with an infection of some sort. He was originally placed on the injured reserve while dealing with what the team called a “non-football related medical issue.”
Hamilton, 26, has developed into a full-time starter and earned a three-year contract extension earlier this year. But Jacksonville may be patient about his snap count and usage in his return to the lineup Sunday.
“You’re not in pads like you would be in training camp or earlier part of the season as much,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said of the challenges Hamilton faces. “Just that physicality part and getting his legs and his conditioning to gain speed back. If he’s up for this week, then I’m sure we’ll keep an eye on him.”
In addition to his prowess in run defense, Hamilton could provide a significant boost to the Jaguars pass rush. The team has been lacking interior push and has seen its group of outside linebackers record 12.5 of the team’s 13 sacks (27th most in the NFL) through the first seven games.
