Jaguars OLB Dawuane Smoot nearing return, begins 21-day practice window to be activated

The Jacksonville Jaguars have opened outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot's practice 21-day activation window as the veteran defender works his way off the team's reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Players who began the season on reserve/PUP become eligible for the 21-day activation window after four games.

Smoot's activation window opened after the team's victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

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The Jaguars will have 21 days to move Smoot to the active roster. If Smoot is not activated after 21 days, he will be ineligible to compete with the team this year, including the postseason. While Smoot isn't likely to play this week against the Buffalo Bills, the pass rusher did tell Action Sports Jax's Brent Martineau after practice Wednesday in England that if he had to play this week, he would.

"If I had to go this week I would, I'm just trying to get acclimated, feel out the game a little bit more, get my steps back and I'm back in there next week for sure," he said.

Smoot, who re-signed with the team on a one-year deal earlier this year, suffered a ruptured Achilles late last season against the New York Jets in Week 16. He hasn't practiced this year and was placed on the team's reserve/PUP list within days of re-signing with the club.

Drafted by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Smoot has played primarily as a rotational lineman/outside linebacker with 17 games started and 87 total games played. He has accounted for 123 total tackles with 60 quarterback hits and 22.5 sacks.

Smoot has accounted for at least five sacks in the past four seasons. He did not begin to play extensively until the 2019 season.

The Jaguars have totaled just nine sacks this year with six of them coming from outside linebacker Josh Allen, two via Travon Walker and one by OLB K'Lavon Chaisson. With the addition of Smoot in the coming days or weeks, the team's pass rush should get an uptick.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X,  formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars open 21-day practice window for OLB Dawuane Smoot