After Podlesh, a second-year pro, went on season-ending injured reserve with a sprained knee Tuesday, Weatherford not only signed with the Jaguars for the final five games this season, but he received a minimum deal for next season, too.

"As far as I know, it's an open competition," he said. "But I've been in the NFL long enough to know that you can't always swallow what they're feeding you. Adam is a great guy. I'd love to get a chance to compete against him. But I'm just worried about the next five games. I want to try to help the team out."

If Weatherford does have a chance to compete for the job next year, it's uncertain if he'll have the same special-teams coach because Joe DeCamillis didn't receive a contract extension during the offseason and could depart.

Weatherford, 25, kicked in 41 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2 1/2 years after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2006. But he was waived last month after averaging 35.7 yards on five punts, with a net average of 30.2 yards, during a 30-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

"I definitely didn't see it coming. It was a shocker," Weatherford said. "I was disappointed in the way I played, but a guy is going to have rough games. To cut a guy after one [bad] game is rough, but I'm past that."

Weatherford later played in two games for the Kansas City Chiefs , who lost Dustin Colquitt to an injury, and averaged 42.7 yards on 12 punts, with a net average of 27.8 yards.

A RARE THANKSGIVING OFF

For most NFL players, Thanksgiving is another work day. If the players don't have a game on the holiday, they're usually practicing.

The Jaguars had a 50-50 shot of playing at Detroit on Thursday because the Lions were scheduled to play an AFC team on Thanksgiving this year, and the two AFC teams on their home schedule were the Jaguars and Tennessee Titans .

The league picked the Titans and inserted the Jaguars into the Monday night slot against the Houston Texans .

That led to the Jaguars having a rare Thanksgiving off after coach Jack Del Rio decided to hold practice Wednesday and give the players Thursday off before returning to work today. The Texans had Wednesday off and practiced Thursday.

Del Rio said he hasn't had Thanksgiving off since high school.

"It was a new experience," he said. "My wife's a great cook, and I do my part at home by eating a lot."

RUNNING ON EMPTY

The Jaguars will try to get their running game on track against a Texans team that ranks 23rd in the NFL against the rush. But the Texans pretty much stuffed the run in their 30-27 overtime loss to the Jaguars on Sept. 28 in Jacksonville .

The Jaguars ran for 139 yards in that game, but the total was misleading because David Garrard gained 41 yards on seven scrambles and Montell Owens added 41 yards on a touchdown run on a fake punt.

By contrast, Maurice Drew ran for 32 yards, and Fred Taylor finished with 25.

"Clearly we haven't been as good at it this year," Del Rio said of the running game. "The last couple of years, we were right at the top of the league in terms of ability to run the ball, force people to over commit and open up things in the play-action game. This year clearly hasn't been like it has been the last few years."

The Jaguars rank 18th in rushing this season, compared to second last season.

ETC.

Many Jaguars players and cheerleaders participated in the team's ninth annual Operation Blessing and distributed free food at A. Philip Randolph Park on Tuesday. Volunteers from Wachovia and Winn-Dixie also participated. Several players, including Garrard, running back Fred Taylor and linebacker Mike Peterson also gave away food in their own programs. ... When the Jaguars practice today, they will find out if Garrard is limited because of his sore ribs. He bruised them on his first scramble last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings and was limited in practice Wednesday. ... Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis (sore foot) is expected to practice today.

vito.stellino@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4279