Javarris James' whirlwind week ends with appearance for Colts

Javarris James' whirlwind week didn't end with a starring role, or even with a role in the Indianapolis Colts' offense.

What it did end with was an afternoon in an NFL uniform.

And for James, that was more than enough.

James, the former Immokalee High School and University of Miami standout running back, played as a reserve and special teams player for the Colts in a 19-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first NFL regular-season action for James, a rookie who spent the first four games of the 2010 NFL season on the New England Patriots' practice squad.

“I just enjoyed it,” James said. “I had a heck of a week this week. I've been traveling, but I'm here and I'm just living my dream.”

James, the cousin of the Colts' all-time leading rusher, Edgerrin James – also a standout at Immokalee and UM – joined the Colts this past week after a busy three days,

James, who originally signed with the Colts a free agent shortly after the NFL Draft this past April, was released by the Colts after the final preseason game. He then signed with the New England Patriots' practice squad.

The Patriots released him Tuesday, and by Wednesday, he was on the Washington Redskins' practice squad. He also practiced with the Redskins that day.

On Thursday, the Colts signed him to their 53-player roster.

“I went to sleep a Patriot, woke up a Redskin and went to sleep a Colt,” James said with a laugh last week. “It came out of the blue. I had just gotten out of practice when they called me. I was excited. I'm just happy to be back.”

James, after spending the offseason, training camp and preseason with the Colts, has knowledge of the offense, head coach Jim Caldwell said.
“He was immersed in it for a number of months,” Caldwell said. “It should help him in terms of recall.”

But while James entered Sunday's game as the Colts' third running back, his action against the Chiefs on Sunday came on kickoff coverage, kickoff returns and punt returns.

“One thing about the NFL is special teams is a big key,” James said. “I just wanted to go out and make sure I did my job. I got in on a couple of tackles. It went good.”

The last time James played was for the Colts in the final game of the preseason. He rushed for 32 yards on 11 carries in a loss to Cincinnati that night in early September.

“It's different from preseason,” James said.

James, who rushed for 2,162 yards and 18 touchdowns in four seasons at Miami, said there was a an advantage to changing teams multiple times this past week. Whereas often young NFL players get released then work out and wonder about their next stop, James said his situation was different.

“The good thing about it was I didn't have to sit home and wait on a call,” he said. “They just called and gave me my flight information. My agent hadn't told me that the Colts had brought me up. They called me and were asking for my flight information. I didn't know what they were talking about. That's when they told me. I was in my hotel room. I was excited, man.”

James said his cousin actually knew his situation before he did, a fact Javarris said he learned upon phoning his father with what he quickly realized was old news.

“He told me Edgerrin had just talked to him,” James said. “He (Edgerrin) has connections, I guess.”

James' NFL debut Sunday came in a game that featured another former Naples area high school player. Jake O'Connell, who played at Gulf Coast High School and at Miami (Ohio) University, is now in his second season with the Chiefs.

James said he looked for O'Connell after the game, but the two failed to connect. O'Connell, a tight end, also was active, and played special teams.

“I was looking for him, but there was so much stuff going on out there, man,” James said.

Whatever occurred after the game, James said what was most memorable and most important about his Sunday was this:

And after a long few months, and a wild few days, he played in a real NFL game.

“It was three days and I was with three different teams,” James said, smiling. “Hopefully, I can be around here for a while. It all worked out for me. I guess God's got a plan for me.”



(naplesnews.com)