The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed second-year linebacker Alvin Bowen to the active roster from their practice squad and placed quarterback David Garrard on injured reserve with a finger injury on his right (throwing) hand. Garrard underwent surgery on the finger on Thursday.
Bowen, 6-1, 222, has played in two games for the Jaguars this season – on Sept. 19 at San Diego and Sept. 26 vs. Philadelphia – and has spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad. He signed with the Jaguars as a free agent on August 20 after spending part of the preseason with Seattle. He has also been with Buffalo and Washington. Bowen was originally a fifth-round draft pick of the Bills in 2008 before suffering a season-ending knee injury as a rookie in the preseason.
In 2009 Bowen opened the season on the Bills practice squad before he was waived on September 22. Two days later he was signed to the Redskins practice squad where he spent 10 weeks before being promoted to the active roster on November 30.
Bowen was a two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection at Iowa State. He led the team in tackles his final two seasons with 99 tackles as a senior and a career-high 155 tackles as a junior. He began his career at Garden City Community College in Kansas before transferring to Iowa State as a sophomore.
Bowen will wear number 54.
