Ramsey, Dareus, Linder held out
Jaguars’ injury list still grows despite Marrone’s caution
JACKSONVILLE — Despite the relative lack of heat and humidity in the first full week of Jaguars training camp — and the notable caution coach Doug Marrone has taken running contact drills — the injury list Thursday was the longest of the preseason so far.
Both starting cornerbacks, Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, plus nose tackle Marcell Dareus, center Brandon Linder, running back Thomas Rawls and linebacker Jake Ryan spent their time in corners of the practice field, engaging in such activities such as pulling weights along the ground and pedaling exercise bicycles.
Bouye and Rawls have been nursing hamstring injuries and have been limited during the first week of camp. Ryan is still rehabbing from a torn ACL last year when he was with the Green Bay Packers.
Ramsey, Dareus and Linder were described by Marrone as having “soreness.”
“I just want to make sure that we’re cautious with those players,” he said before practice. “I don’t want to turn a soreness into an injury. All three of those players are obviously players that we’re relying on for the season, and all three of those players have performed very well in camp since they’ve been here.”
Tight end Michael Colubiale, a rookie free agent from UCF, began showing symptoms of a concussion after Wednesday’s practice and was put into the concussion protocol. Marrone said he probably would not make the trip to Baltimore on Sunday for the combined practices with the Ravens.
On top of all that was the sight of rookie tight end Josh Oliver walking off the field early in practice, favoring his right hamstring. He did not return.
Marrone had some good news: Bouye, Rawls, wide receiver Marqise Lee (knee) and offensive tackle Cam Robinson (knee) “are getting close.”
Lee and Robinson sustained their knee injuries last season.
“I think, hopefully, we’ll have some news next week for those guys,” Marrone said. “And I think Jake Ryan is probably right after that. So everything’s trending for us in the right direction. I think everyone’s doing a good job. Everyone’s working hard to make sure that we’re getting through these tough days, and we can enter the season feeling really good.”
Marrone said his cautious approach to training camp has a lot to do with the Jaguars’ early schedule, which calls for three games in 18 days, capped by a Thursday night home game on Sept. 19 against Tennessee — which comes after a road trip to Houston.
“In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Hey, we have three games in a short period of time: Kansas City, Houston and then, boom, Thursday night,’” he said. “So we just want to make sure that we’re good. That’s why I think you’ll see a little more caution.”
Marrone said he didn’t know whether Ramsey, Dareus or Linder would play in today’s scrimmage, which is closed to fans. Thursday was the final day fans could attend a trainingcamp practice.
McGowan update
Former UCF running Taj McGowan, who was waived by the Jaguars after injuring his right knee during training camp, promised to make a comeback.
“Well I tore my ACL in practice this week,” McGowan posted on Instagram Thursday. “[I’m] not sad though. A lot of people thought I wouldn’t be here and I did that, now I get to prove the doubters wrong all over again. See you soon.”
McGowan hurt his knee in practice Tuesday, and tests revealed the extent of the damage. McGowan, an undrafted rookie, will revert to Jacksonville’s injured reserve if he clears waivers.