Count it as good news for the Jacksonville Jaguars this week that starting DE Travon Walker and receiver Parker Washington are listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the AFC South rival Colts. Both returned to practice this week.

"It was great to have Travon back out there," head coach Liam Coen said after practice Friday. Walker suffered a knee injury in Week 11 in the Jags' win over the Chargers, and was sidelined for the next two games. "He's confident and feels positive right now."

Walker, 24, at 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds, was fast becoming a consistent disruptor for Jacksonville. The top pick in 2022 draft out of Georgia, Walker has been solid, if not spectacular, in Weeks 1-9, with 2 1/2 sacks and 20 total tackles; he had a quiet Week 10, then racked up four tackles and half a sack in his shortened Week 11 in the Jags' win over the Chargers.

Washington, 23, was back on the practice field on Thursday after leaving the game in the first half with a hip injury he suffered during a punt return against the Titans last week. A sixth-round pick out of Penn State in 2023, Washington has broadened his role this season, returning two punts for touchdowns and so far totaling three TDs on 36-of-57 receptions.

Coen admitted Walker and Washington's return to practice this week gives the team an emotional lift, but he wasn't ready to mark the two as sure-fire for Sunday's game.

"Even though we see these guys again, I definitely think there's a heightened sense of awareness. You want to go play, you want to compete in games like this," he said.

But down the stretch of the season, he said, "we’ve got to make sure that we're doing right by those guys and what's best for our team.”

Jacksonville's defense has only grown stronger this season, ranking at or near the top in run defense, allowing 86.7 yards per game through Week 13, and now at No. 11 in total defense. The Jags' passing D now rates No. 23, but it has improved significantly over the secondary from 2024.

Jourdan Lewis is among the reasons for what has become a formidable secondary. The cornerback, who has quickly become a leader for the Jags, was a full participant at this week's practices. "He is an elite communicator in terms of the way he sees the game, for sure," Coen said Friday when asked how Lewis has looked since returning from injury. "He's got a calming presence that I think helps out a lot of guys, an accountability factor out there as well."

Lewis has provided key coverage for Jaguars this season, creating turnovers and twice picking off opposing QBs. The 30-year-old Michigan man, a third-round draft pick for the Cowboys in 2017, is in his first year in Jacksonville after signing a 3-year, $30-million free-agent contract in March. Out for three games in November after suffering a neck injury in Week 9 against the Raiders, Lewis returned in Week 13 for the Jags' 25-3 road victory over the Titans. He played limited minutes – 42 snaps – registering one tackle assist at Tennessee. Fantasy sites anticipate Lewis will return to form against the Colts.

"The guys trust him and know that he's going to compete his tail off," Coen said, "getting better and better, healthier and healthier." He stressed that Lewis is among the players stepping up this year "to help us get to the point we're at on defense right now."

Others listed as questionable for Sunday include DT Arik Armstead, who leads the team with 5.5 sacks, but missed Week 13 with a hand injury, and starting safety Eric Murray, who has been elevated from injured reserve after missing five games with a neck injury.

"That's why they're pros," Coen said. "I'm never too concerned if our guys are going to show up to play on Sundays."

Announced as out against the Colts are S Andrew Wingard (concussion) and LT Walker Little (concussion).