JACKSONVILLE – All there is to do is treat. And wait.
That was Monday's update regarding Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, who missed the second half of the regular-season opener Sunday with what Head Coach Doug Marrone called a "minor hamstring injury."
The approach this week: treatment. The prognosis?
Time will tell.
"We're just going to treat it during the week," Marrone said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' 20-15 Week 1 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. "We have a lot of time, and we'll see where it is."
Fournette, who rushed for 41 yards on nine carries against the Giants, left Sunday's game late in the first half. He was walking in the Jaguars' locker room at TIAA Bank Field Monday with his leg wrapped.
The Jaguars are scheduled to play the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots (1-0) at TIAA Bank Field in the 2018 regular-season home opener Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
"A lot depends on how he is," Marrone said when asked how the team will approach Fournette returning to practice this week. "If he's ready to go, we'll ease him back in there and see how he feels. A lot of it depends on that, really."
The Jaguars currently have two healthy active running backs: backup T.J. Yeldon and reserve Corey Grant. Marrone was asked if a player such as running back Brandon Wilds could be activated from the practice squad if Fournette can't play Sunday.
"I don't think we're at that point yet," Marrone said.
Marrone said Fournette told him he previously had dealt with a similar hamstring issue.
"In high school, I think he said," Marrone said. "I just think when you have something before and it feels the same way you know how to deal with it."
Marrone said he listens to both players and doctors when considering when to play an injured player.
"If the doc clears a player, then I listen to the player," Marrone said. "If the doc doesn't clear a player, I don't even address it with the player."
Also on Monday:
*Marrone revisited the Jaguars' penalty issues against the Giants. "We've got to do a better job," he said. "You're not going to win with the penalties we had and the yardage we had. I told the team today, 'You have a 39 percent chance of winning with over 100 yards in penalties.'" The Jaguars committed 11 penalties for 119 yards, and Marrone said penalties limited the offense at times in the second half. "It goes back to third down," he said. "You're 60 percent in the first half: three out of five. In the second half you're one out of eight and the penalties contributed to that." …
*Marrone discussed the play Sunday of left guard Andrew Norwell, who allowed a first-half sack and committed a hands-to-the-face penalty that negated a second-quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Bortles to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. "I thought it showed a little bit that he missed training camp," Marrone said of Norwell, who missed the first two preseason games with a calf issue. "I think he'll just get better. I think he'll tell you the same thing." …
*Marrone said while team officials have discussed the necessary roster move when the team activates defensive end Dante Fowler Tuesday, the move likely won't be announced until Tuesday. Fowler missed the regular-season opener while serving a one-game NFL suspension. The Jaguars must release or waive a player to move Fowler to the 53-man roster. …
*Rookie strong-side linebacker Leon Jacobs wore a walking boot in the locker room. "We're being more protective with that," Marrone said. "We expect him to be out there Wednesday practicing." …
*Marrone reiterated what he said following Sunday's game – that reserve defensive end Lerentee McCray played well in Fowler's absence. "He had a good game in both areas – special teams and playing [defense],'' Marrone said. "That's a benefit for us." McCray had a sack, a quarterback hurry, a tackle for loss and two tackles Sunday. …
