The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed rookie cornerback T.J. Heath to the active roster from the practice squad and placed third-year tight end Zach Miller on injured reserve. Second-year cornerback Walter McFadden was signed to the practice squad.
Miller played in four of the first six games in 2011 and had four receptions for 42 yards with a 14-yard touchdown catch in week four against New Orleans. He was inactive for the season-opener vs. Tennessee with a knee injury and in week five against Cincinnati with a shoulder injury.
Heath, 6-0, 179, was signed as an undrafted rookie by the Jaguars on July 27 and spent the first six weeks on the club's practice squad. A three-year starter at Jacksonville State, he recorded 145 career tackles and 10 interceptions. He earned first-team All-OVC honors as a senior and was a second-team All-America selection as a junior.
McFadden, 5-10, 180, was a fifth-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2010 and played in four games as a rookie. He was waived on Sept. 3, 2011 as part of final cuts. He played in 49 games with 25 starts at Auburn where he finished with 87 tackles, 20 passes defensed and nine interceptions. Three of his nine interceptions were returned for touchdowns, a school-record. As a senior, he started all 13 games and earned All-SEC honors after making six interceptions and returning two for touchdowns.
A native of Pompano Beach, Florida, McFadden attended Ely High School. He had eight interceptions in his final two seasons and was a first-team all-state selection by the Florida Sports Writers Association. His older brother, Bryant McFadden, plays cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.