The two other players to work out for the Colts on Monday were wide receivers Michael Walker and John Humphrey.
The Colts can sign as many players to futures contracts as they want as long as they stay within the 90-man roster limit. That doesn’t go into effect until Feb. 8 so the players on futures contracts will remain on the reserve list.
The New York Giants held tryouts for five players on Wednesday, including WR Michael Walker and QB Kyle Sloter.
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The New York Giants held tryouts on Wednesday despite it being a travel day, and met with five different free agents.
Among those in attendance in East Rutherford were wide receiver Michael Walker and quarterback Kyle Sloter.
Walker, who was Second Team All-American and Second Team All-ACC in 2018, was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Boston College in 2019.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Walker appeared in seven games last season, hauling in two receptions for 15 yards, while adding 411 yards on 18 kickoff returns.
Sloter (6-foot-5, 218 pounds) signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent rookie out of Northern Colorado in 2017. He’s also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings (2017-2018), Arizona Cardinals (2019) and Detroit Lions (2019). He has never appeared in an NFL game.
Also visiting the Giants were defensive backs Saquan Hampton and Jeremiah Dinson, as well as wide receiver Chris Lacy.
Hampton (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) is a New Jersey native who was born in Hamilton Township and attended Rutgers. He was a sixth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFL Draft and was released with an injury settlement in September. He’s appeared in five career games and recorded one tackle.
Dinson (5-foot-11, 189) went undrafted in April after leading Auburn in tackles in 2019, and has bounced around between the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. He has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Lacy (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) originally signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2018. He’s also spent time with the Detroit Lions (2018-2019). He has appeared in eight career games (two starts), hauling in three receptions for 60 yards and returning one kickoff for 23 yards.
The Jags will be placing their second big name on their Reserve/COVID-19 list in quarterback Gardner Minshew II.
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced that five players would be added to their Reserve/COVID-19 list, including starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II. The other four players were running back Ryquell Armstead, tight end Charles Jones, receiver Michael Walker, and safety Andrew Wingard.
We have placed RB Ryquell Armstead, TE Charles Jones, QB Gardner Minshew II, WR Michael Walker and S Andrew Wingard on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. pic.twitter.com/OmVTi3HcJh
As mentioned last week, being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list could mean a player contracted COVID-19 or was simply in contact with a person or people who had the coronavirus. Of course, either scenario requires quarantining and the clearance of doctors, which is exactly why the list was made.
Minshew, who will be the most talked about player of the offseason, is entering his second year. He took the nation and Jacksonville by storm after replacing Nick Foles Week 1 of the regular season and also ended the season as the starter. He finished his rookie season 285-of-470 (60.6%) for 3,271 passing yards, 21 touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of 91.2.
Armstead, Wingard, Walker, and Jones were also apart of the Jags’ 2019 rookie class and made contributions.
Armstead had 35 carries for 108 yards and a receiving touchdown, which helped to propel the Jags to a victory over the Denver Broncos.
Wingard was one of two undrafted rookies to make the team alongside linebacker Joe Giles-Harris. He registered two starts, 30 tackles, and a sack. He also saw a lot of time on special teams.
Walker was predominately used as a special teams returner. He had three punt returns for 13 yards and 18 kickoff returns for 411 yards.
Lastly, Jones only registered a catch for five yards after initially being placed on the practice squad after the formation of the final 53-man roster. He was activated to the main roster in November and remained there until the end of the season. His placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list will mark his second time on it as he was also placed on it last week.
The five aforementioned players will join tackle Ryan Pope, guard Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, and cornerback Parry Nickerson on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, putting them at a total of eight players.
The Jags receiving corps got stronger after the draft and there is a lot that needs to be sorted out behind star D.J. Chark.
Earlier in the week, we started our depth chart projections for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends all covered, here are our projections for the wide receivers position:
Projections to make the final 53-man roster
Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
WR1: D.J. Chark Jr.
D.J. Chark was the most improved player on the Jags’ roster without a doubt. He also proved to be their top receiver, becoming the first receiver since Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns (2015) to garner 1,000 receiving yards.
It didn’t matter who the quarterback was, Chark shined and received a Pro Bowl nod after making highlights after highlights. The crazy part is that he’s just scratching the surface and is only 23 years old.
WR2: Chris Conley
Chris Conley was one of the Jags’ veteran additions during the 2019 free-agency period and will enter 2020 as the Jags’ most experienced receiver as a sixth-year player. He had some issues with drops in 2019 but still managed to register 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns.
As a new offensive coordinator to the Jags’ organization, Conley is a player I think Jay Gruden will be more than comfortable with as the No. 2 alongside Chark. However, it wouldn’t shock me if Laviska Shenalt received a lot of looks as the No. 2, too, but health is a concern with him and he’s also extremely raw.
WR3 (slot starter): Dede Westbrook
The Jags will roll out a lot of multiple receiver sets under Gruden and one can understand why when looking at the potential they have. Gruden has also been known to get a lot of production from the slot and that became clear when looking at the success of Jamison Crowder, who registered 221 passes for 2,628 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns throughout four seasons with Gruden and the Washington Redskins.
Westbrook is just as talented as Crowder and could serve the same role for Gruden’s offense in Jacksonville. After all, it’s where he’s flourished and his 2018 season is proof of that as all five of his touchdowns came from the slot.
WR4: Laviska Shenault Jr.
He was the Jags’ second-round addition of April’s draft and they have big-time plans for him. Shenault was extremely versatile while with Colorado playing as an exterior receiver, a slot receiver, running back, H-back, and as a wildcat quarterback.
Jags coach Doug Marrone says he’s already asked Shenault what kind of load he’s willing to take as a versatile weapon and the rookie is up for the challenge. That said, look for the Jags to be creative with Shenault while working him in slowly as an exterior receiver.
WR5: Keelan Cole
Having Keelan Cole as a No. 4 to No. 5 receiver on this roster is proof that the Jags at least have depth at receiver though the results may not be completely what fans want. He’ll enter the season with 1,600 career receiving yards, a 15.4 yard per catch average, and seven touchdowns.
With the depth chart now crowded Cole may have to see a lot of time on the field through special teams. It might be even wise to consider him in a returners role to protect the receivers further up the depth chart from injuries.
WR6: Collin Johnson
Collin Johnson was the second receiver drafted by the Jags in April’s draft as the team took him in the fifth round. At 6-foot-6, 222-pounds, there is a lot to be excited about with Johnson as he gives the Jags a massive jump-ball target to help Gardner Minshew II out.
There are questions as to if Johnson will be able to separate on the next level and he’ll also need to improve with breaking/sinking into his routes. However, if there is any receivers coach who could turn him into a solid pro it’s the Jags’ own Keenan McCardell.
