Jaguars sign Duke Johnson to practice squad, activate A.J. Cann from Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to sign running back Duke Johnson to the team’s practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who cites Johnson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, as the source.

Johnson, a third-round pick out of Miami (FL.) in 2015, started his career with the Cleveland Browns. He played with the Browns through the 2018 season before being traded to the Houston Texans in August 2019. He stayed with the Texans for the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, but was released this past February.

Johnson has played in 91 career games through six seasons in the NFL. He has recorded 459 rushing attempts for 1,931 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He has also caught 307 passes for 2,829 yards and 12 additional touchdowns through the air.

Johnson’s receiving prowess is likely what head coach Urban Meyer and his staff are interested in after losing rookie running back and first-round pick Travis Etienne Jr. for the season due to a Lisfranc injury.

The team has confirmed the move and released running back Nathan Cottrell from the practice squad to make room for Johnson.

In other roster move news for the Jaguars, the team activated right guard A.J. Cann from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and waived defensive end/outside linebacker Aaron Patrick in order to make room for Cann to join the active roster.

Cann — who has started 90 games for the Jaguars since 2015 — was originally placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late August and missed the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. This should put Cann on track to start against the Texans for Sunday’s season opener in Houston.