JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –The Jacksonville Jaguars have promoted first-year WR Larry Pinkard from the team's practice squad, and activated fourth-year DB Calvin Pryor and rookie WR Dede Westbrookfrom the team's reserve/injured list to the 53-man active roster, the club announced today. To make room on the roster, the club waived second-year DT Sheldon Dayand third-year WR Jaelen Strong, and placed seventh-year WR Arrelious Benn (knee) on the team's reserve/injured list
Pinkard, 6-0, 196, previously spent time with Green Bay and Oakland before signing with Jacksonville on April 17, 2017. Pinkard played collegiately at Old Dominion University where the Washington, D.C. native totaled 160 receptions (third in school history) and 2,338 receiving yards (second in school history) during his college tenure. Pinkard, who has yet to play in an NFL game, will wear No. 18.
Pryor, originally a first-round draft pick (18th overall) by the New York Jets in 2014, has appeared in 44 career games and has totaled 191 tackles (130 solo), 14 passes defensed and two INTs in his three seasons in the NFL. Pryor was traded to Cleveland prior to the 2017 season on June 1, after spending his first three seasons (2014-16) with the Jets, where he started a career-high 15 games in 2016, finishing third on the team and first among DBs with a career-high 79 tackles. In 2015 Pryor started 12 of 13 games and posted 71 tackles. As a rookie in 2014, Pryor appeared in all 16 games, making 11 starts and 67 tackles. Pryor was a standout at Louisville and started 32 of 38 games, totaling 218 tackles, 2.0 tacks, seven INTs and 14 passes defensed. A native of Port St Joe, Fla., Pryor was a standout at Port St. Joe High School where he played DB and RB and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2015. Pryor was claimed by the Jaguars off waivers on Sept. 8. He will wear No. 29.
Westbrook, drafted in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, was placed on the reserve/injured list with a core muscle injury on Sept. 8 and was designated for return on Oct. 30. Westbrook, a native of Cameron, Texas, played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and finished his career ranked fourth in school history with nine 100-yard receiving games, tied for sixth with 21 TD receptions, seventh with 2,267 career receiving yards and 12th with 126 career receptions, despite playing just two seasons in Norman. As a senior, he was one of five Heisman Trophy finalists (along with teammate Baker Mayfield) and was Oklahoma's first winner of the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate receiver. In 2016, Westbrook set the school's single season record with 17 receiving TDs and recorded 100-plus receiving yards in eight of the Sooners' nine Big 12 games. He led all Power 5 players in receiving yards (1,524) and receiving TDs per game (1.31) while ranking third in receiving yards per game (117.2). Westbrook totaled 12 offensive TDs of 40-plus yards in 2016, the most in a season by an FBS player since at least 1996. Prior to playing at Oklahoma, he attended Blinn Community College and Cameron Yoe (Texas) High School. Westbrook will wear No. 12.
The Jaguars have used both of their reserve/designated for return designations and currently have 53 players on their active roster.