The Jaguars are now without two starting wide receivers for the rest of the 2024 season.
After losing slot receiver Christian Kirk to a collarbone injury in Week 8, Jacksonville placed outside pass-catcher Gabe Davis on its injured reserve during its Week 12 bye with a reported meniscus tear.
Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, finished the campaign with 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Friday identified potential candidates to replace Davis in Jacksonville’s offense moving forward, including Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay and Tim Jones among active roster members and Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus and Austin Trammell from the team’s practice squad.
Washington, in particular, could see his usage increase further. He has averaged nearly 35 offensive snaps per game since Week 8, largely due to Kirk’s absence, after logging almost 15 per game over the first seven matchups of the season.
“Yeah, Parker takes a big step forward, obviously. It’s a big role for him,” Pederson said.
“Devin Duvernay increased his role, but we’ve got Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus, Austin Trammell’s been elevated [from the practice squad] a couple of times. Any of those guys can step up. Tim Jones can obviously increase his role a little bit more offensively. But really Parker’s the guy that kind of steps into that role.”
Washington has 10 receptions for 118 yards this season, his second with the Jaguars since Jacksonville selected him at No. 185 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He caught 16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.
Washington has also returned six points for 24 yards on average this year, including a 96-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots in Week 7.
Pederson expressed confidence in Washington’s development with the Jaguars this season and his ability to step into the starting lineup based on his previous experience doing so.
“I’ve seen a lot. His growth, maturity, understanding what we are asking of him, what he can do within the system. He and [Jaguars quarterback] Trevor [Lawrence] being on the same page. Just the growth. The growth that he’s made.” Pederson explained.
“This’ll be a great opportunity, much like the end of last season where he stepped up big in Christian’s absence, he’s got to do it again. That’s part of being a backup. He doesn’t — and I can understand this — think of himself as a backup, which is great. I can understand that, but now he gets an opportunity to be the guy. So, a lot of confidence in him and a lot of trust in him.”
Duvernay, Jones and Trammell have combined for five receptions and 69 yards this season. Cooks caught three passes for 38 yards as a rookie in 2023 but has yet to log a statistic this season. Cephus, an undrafted rookie, has yet to appear in a game with Jacksonville.
