Arik

Armstead

As expected based on earlier reporting, Washington will be scratched. He’s droppable if you have a late move you need to get in ahead of Sunday kickoff. Also inactive for the Jaguars are: S Andrew Wingard (concussion), Yasir Abdullah, OL Walker Little (concussion), TE Johnny Mundt, DL Emmanuel Ogbah and DL Austin Johnson. DL Travon Walker (knee), S Eric Murray (neck) and Arik Armstead (hand) are playing despite questionable tags in a huge game for the Jaguars.

Walker hasn’t played since Week 11, but was able to get in two limited sessions this week and appears to be trending towards a return in a must-win AFC South top-of-division showdown with the Colts. The pass rusher has had a somewhat disappointing year to this point with just 2.5 sacks in nine games. Arik Armstead (hand) and Eric Murray (neck) are also questionable for Jacksonville.

Armstead was a late addition to the injury report with a hand issue and is now officially inactive for Week 13. With Travon Walker (knee) also ruled out, the Jaguars’ defense line is looking sparse against the Titans. Meanwhile, Dyami Brown is a healthy scratch as Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) makes his return.

Armstead hasn’t practiced all training camp with a back injury and the Jaguars are already speaking about him as if they’ll have to manage him throughout the season. We wouldn’t expect Armstead, entering his age-32 season, to see any work this preseason at this point.

Armstead underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus earlier in the offseason, something that did not get in the way of him signing a three-year, $51 million contract with the Jaguars. The timing and nature of the active Physically Unable to Perform means Armstead can be activated at any time and still counts towards the 90-man offseason roster. All signs continue to point to Armstead being ready for the start of the 2024 NFL season.

Armstead was let go by the 49ers earlier this month after he declined to restructure his deal. Landing in Jacksonville, the former first-round pick will join forces with EDGE Josh Allen and third-year pass rusher Travon Walker as the Jaguars work to improve on a defense that allowed the 11th-most yards per game last season. Armstead totaled 27 tackles, four TFLs, and five sacks last season with the 49ers and has 33.5 career sacks to his name.

Houston’s revamping of the defensive line continues unabated just before the official kickoff of free agency. The Niners’ acquisition of Collins likely means Arik Armstead will be released this afternoon. Collins had 11 sacks over the past three seasons with the Texans. In 2023, he set a career high with 41 tackles.

Armstead has spent his entire nine-year career in San Francisco but has never been a three-down player. Injury has limited him to fewer than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons combined. Designating him as a post-June 1 release would clear $18.039 million in cap space, but the 49ers wouldn’t see any of that relief until the summer. On the wrong side of 30 with an increasingly lengthy injury history, Armstead nevertheless still performed well when on the field in 2023.

Armstead will miss most, if not all, of the 49ers’ offseason work programs but should be good to go come training camp. The veteran defensive tackle, who played in all three of the 49ers’ postseason contests, said he suffered the injury in Week 13 against the Eagles. Armstead totaled 27 tackles and five sacks this season and also recorded a sack of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

Kittle was limited in each of the 49ers’ first two practices to open the week but was upgraded to full on Friday. The veteran tight end was never at risk of missing Sunday’s game and is officially good to go after being removed from the report. In addition to Kittle, the 49ers also removed Arik Armstead (knee/foot) from the injury report.