JACKSONVILLE – He likes what he sees from K'Lavon Chaisson.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, too, likes the potential for the talented, third-year outside linebacker to take real advantage of a real opportunity.

That begins in a big way Sunday.

"K'Lavon's definitely going to have an opportunity," Caldwell said Thursday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (7-8) prepared to play the Houston Texans (2-12-1) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday at 1 p.m.

Chaisson, the No. 20 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, has started 11 of 38 career games with two career sacks . He has missed seven games this season with a meniscus injury, has played mostly special teams when healthy – and will play an increased role in the defense following a season-ending torn Achilles sustained by veteran lineman Dawuane Smoot.

"He's working on his craft daily," Caldwell said. "He had the setback with the injury. Now, he's back healthy and continuing to work. He's a guy who given this opportunity has to take advantage of it. We're looking forward to him doing it."

Caldwell called Chaisson a "very intelligent player" who "knows the system."

"I see the talent," Caldwell said. "You see the speed. You see the size. You see the ability. He can drop into coverage. He can rush the passer. There's so much ability there. You can see why he was drafted [in the first round]. It's just time for him to become that player now.

"A lot of times you have guys who are drafted at a certain spot and certain things happen. Whether it's injuries, or they come in with a veteran guy in front of them. You really can't compare guys, but K'Lavon … what we see from him we like it. We like what he does on the field.

"Hopefully, he can do it more now."

Smoot, though not a starter, yet again this season was among the Jaguars' most-productive defensive linemen. He was tied for the team lead with five sacks and second with 12 hits on the quarterback. Chaisson has one quarterback hit this season, with defensive lineman Arden Key (4.5 sacks, 11 hits) and rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker (3.5 sacks, eight hits) also expected to replace Smoot's production.

"It's going to be tough," Caldwell said. "He's one of the guys we look to to make plays. We just have to have a next-man-up mentality. Smoot did a great job for us.

"We have a couple of guys who are ready to step in and get an opportunity and play."

NOTABLE

• Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, after missing practice Wednesday with a toe injury, practiced limited Thursday; he has played through the injury in each of the last three games. Long snapper Ross Matiscik (back), the only Jaguars player other than Lawrence not practicing Wednesday, also practiced limited Thursday. Jaguars players practicing limited for a second consecutive day Thursday were Walker (ankle), safety Andrew Wingard (shoulder), right guard Brandon Scherff (abdomen/ankle) and defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi (ankle).

NOTABLE

• Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor on Thursday praised second-year veteran Walker Little for his performance in a 19-3 victory over the New York Jets Thursday. Little, who played 15 snaps at right tackle and 15 snaps at left tackle in a victory over Dallas the previous Sunday, made his first start of the 2022 season against the Jets and played all 72 offensive snaps at left tackle in place of injury Cam Robinson. "I thought he did a really good job," Taylor said. "It wasn't easy. Those are good pass rushers over there. We were not in a ton of positions where we had to drop back and throw, so that's something you still want to continue to see from Walker. But in terms of handling the elements, handling good pass rushers, having to run the ball, dropping back on third down when we needed to throw it, things like that … I thought he did a good job."

QUOTABLE

• Taylor on a Jaguars offense that has featured four different receivers with 100-yard receiving games this season – tight end Evan Engram (two), wide receiver Christian Kirk (three), wide receiver Zay Jones (two) and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (one): "I think part of it is just Trevor operating the offense. The ball finds who the ball needs to find based on the way the defense plays us for any particular play. He's efficient running the show. That's what we envision. We envision all five eligible [receivers] being a target at any given time and the ball going to the right guy."