Jacksonville Jaguars confirm RB Maurice Jones-Drew for opener but as backup – NFL News
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey has confirmed participation of recently returned running back Maurice Jones–Drew in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings but said he will be first tried out down at number 3 position instead of taken straight
on the starting line.
It is the first-ever statement from any official of the Jaguars since Maurice ended his 38-day holdout because of the pending fresh deal demand to rejoin the squad unconditionally.
Although it was expected that Maurice will be a part of the squad on his arrival in Jacksonville, no one might have anticipated he would be pushed at a backup position. It nevertheless is not something new for him - this is exactly how he had started his
pro career.
The coach said:
"I don't know the number of reps that he will play, but I would imagine that he will play, yes."
Maurice himself remains confident and upbeat about his fitness and form. He showed up on the field for a regular team practice on Monday, for the first time during the entire offseason and preseason phases.
The RB said:
"It felt great. Obviously studying the playbook kind of getting into the intricate details of things, the snap count. It felt great to get out there and run around with the guys and get hit a little bit. It's kind of good to get my legs back underneath me
and getting ready to roll."
He added:
"Everything I'm doing I'm just trying to get acclimated with how they're blocking and the blocking scheme, my reads, reaction times, things like that that I couldn't work on being away."
Mularkey has also backed the fitness level of the RB but said a real picture will be known after the player has a padded practice this Wednesday. The coach said from his physical fitness the player appears to be game-ready.
Still, it seems that the coach and the player himself want to ease into the game gradually, which is a rather sensible approach and will certainly avoid risks of any injury scare. Since the player has been on the sidelines for a longer period any haste can
waste his immediate prospects.
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