JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker tried to act like he was pain free, like his badly sprained right ankle wasn't affecting his speed, his cuts, his play.
It was too difficult to hide.
Sims-Walker knew it, and so did his coaches and teammates. So the Jaguars (6-5) decided Friday to sit Sims-Walker for Sunday's game against the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans (5-6), giving him extra time to get healthy for the season's stretch run.
"I'm very frustrated, especially this time of the year," Sims-Walker said. "We're trying to make a big playoff push and I can't be out there to help this team. I'm frustrated, very frustrated. Trying to gut it out, trying to act like I can play.
"I probably can, but they know and I know that I'm not normal. I'm not me. I'm not moving like I was earlier. I'm not running the same kind of routes I was. Even though I'm trying my hardest to show that I'm not in pain, I'm in pain, and it shows. It's hard to hide it."
Sims-Walker injured his ankle during a Nov. 14 game against the Houston Texans and was inactive the following week against Cleveland Browns. He was limited in practice last week, but he returned last Friday and started against the New York Giants after receiving a painkilling shot.
Sims-Walker caught four passes for 48 yards against the Giants, giving him 36 receptions for 466 yards this season. He also dropped at least two passes.
"I'll know when I'm back," Sims-Walker said. "When I can tolerate the pain that I'm in, when I can tolerate making the cuts, when I can tolerate that, I'll be ready to go."
Without Sims-Walker, the Jaguars will use Kassim Osgood and Jason Hill opposite leading receiver Mike Thomas. The Jaguars also could go with more two-tight-end sets, using Marcedes Lewis and Zach Miller at the same time against the Titans.
Sims-Walker won't even travel with the team.
"I'm going to stay here and get treatment," he said. "There's no use being out there standing on it watching when I can get treatment. The No. 1 thing right now is take these next five days off and get healthy and try to come back next week. Hopefully it will feel a lot better."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
