IRVING — On Sunday, linebacker Dekoda Watson started for Jacksonville in London in a game against the Cowboys. On Thursday, he was in Dallas’ locker room.
The Jaguars released Watson on Tuesday. And the Cowboys are adding him to their 53-man roster to give the club more depth on special teams and at linebacker.
“It’s a weird deal to play against them and the next thing you know they’re picking me up the following week,” Watson said. “It’s a quick flip, but it’s a business.”
Watson played for Rich Bisaccia, the Cowboys special teams coordinator, and Joe Baker, Dallas’ assistant secondary coach, as a rookie with Tampa Bay in 2010.
Watson, 26, a fifth-year player from Florida State, made his first start at outside linebacker for the Jaguars on Sunday. He finished with two defensive tackles and three special teams tackles.
He spent his first four seasons in Tampa Bay before joining Jacksonville in the offseason as a free agent, signing a three-year, $6.25 million contract. He had 14 tackles in nine games this season.
Watson reportedly had sports hernia surgery in late June. Watson said Thursday he had surgery on “both of my groins, but I’m good now.” Watson missed all of the Jaguars’ OTAs, minicamp and the first three weeks of training camp.
“I came off the surgery and they were expecting something more once I came back and it kind of lingered a little bit,” Watson said of the Jaguars. “Once I was at my peak, I was able to play against Dallas and I played with high energy, I felt good about it and I came with a lot of confidence.”
Follow Brandon George on Twitter at @DMN_George.