JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars accomplished at least one bye-week objective.
They're healthy.
They're as healthy as possible two and a half months into an NFL season, anyway – with Head Coach Doug Marrone on Monday morning saying all active players should practice this week.
"We expect everyone to be out there practicing," Marrone said as the Jaguars (4-5) began preparing to play the Indianapolis Colts (5-4) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We're healthy after the bye, which is one of the goals that you want to do – give yourself a little bit more time, get yourself ready to go. We feel good about it."
The most notable player returning to health:
Quarterback Nick Foles.
Foles, out since sustaining a broken clavicle in a Week 1 loss to Kansas City, was named the starter by Marrone last Tuesday over rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II. The team went 4-4 with Minshew as the starter.
"When he was injured, I knew there was an opportunity if there were no setbacks that he would be able to come back," Marrone said of Foles.
Foles, who was placed on injured reserve immediately after his injury, returned to practice three weeks ago as allowed by NFL rules. The Jaguars activated him from injured reserve last week.
"We've already gone through the progression," Marrone said. "When he first came back, we were focused on building up the reps and building up the amount of speed around him. Early on, we didn't want anyone around him [in practice]. We didn't want any setbacks.
"Then we started putting him on the move and doing a bunch of different things. He's up to speed as far as where he should be physically and throwing and all of that. We're not going into this week limiting anything he should do."
Marrone also said linebacker Jake Ryan will begin practicing Monday after spending the first nine regular-season games and the preseason on the reserve/non-football injury list. Ryan signed with the team last offseason as an unrestricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers after missing last season with a preseason torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Marrone said he also expects four players who missed the final game before the bye week with injuries to return to practice. Those players: weak-side linebacker Quincy Williams (hamstring), strong-side linebacker Leon Jacobs (hamstring), wide receiver Dede Westbrook (neck/shoulder) and nickel cornerback D.J. Hayden (neck/shoulder).
"The players are excited to be back," Marrone said. "The coaches are excited to be back. We're going to focus on having a good day today as an extra day [of practice]. We're going to work our butts off to put ourselves in position for a good performance when we go on the road versus Indy."
