JACKSONVILLE – Sen'Derrick Marks says he's all good.
And if you think the Jaguars' veteran defensive tackle is anything near down about missing organized team activities over the next month, then you don't know much about Marks.
First, he doesn't get down about much of anything.
More importantly, Marks – entering his fourth season with the Jaguars – said he's better served this offseason rehabilitating and preparing his veteran body for an eighth NFL season.
Concerned about not being at OTAs? Worried?
"No – not at all," Marks said with a laugh on Thursday's final day of the first week of Jaguars 2016 OTAs, which are being held at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields.
Marks, who missed all but four games last season with knee and triceps issues, will miss all of OTAs. Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said that Monday.
Marks, who has been rehabilitating and working on the side in practice this week, said he has no doubt he will be ready for training camp in late July. He said there's a simple reason he's not pushing to return during the four-week Phase Three period of the offseason that includes three weeks of OTAs and a three-day minicamp June 14-16.
"There's kind of no reason to not be cautious," Marks said. "I'm not on a new team. I'm three years into this system."
For that reason, Marks said the idea this offseason is to be smart.
Marks, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the 2013 offseason, registered 12.5 sacks in his first two seasons playing three-technique defensive tackle in Bradley's 4-3 scheme. He was perhaps the Jaguars' best defensive player in 2014, registering a team-high 8.5 sacks and playing near a Pro Bowl level.
But Marks sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the 2014 regular-season finale against Houston, and rehabilitating that kept him out of the first five games of last season. He returned Week 6 against the Texans last season.
He played the next four games, showing signs of reaching his pre-injury form late in that stretch. He then sustained a season-ending torn triceps in a November 15 victory over Baltimore.
"I feel good," Marks said. "I feel confident in myself, my gameplay and what we're doing as a group. I feel I can still play to my ability."
The Jaguars this offseason signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Malik Jackson, who is expected to start at the three-technique position with Marks likely to play extensively in passing situations and non-base defensive packages.
The team also has second-year veteran Michael Bennett and rookie Sheldon Day working at times at the three-technique role.
"I honestly feel like even if I was out there we have guys who need to get the reps more than I would need to get them at this time," Marks said. "It's good for me that I am able to rehab and get that mental state back right. It also means those other guys can get those reps and I'm not taking reps away from a lot of the other guys – or an older guy like Malik where it's his first year here he needs those reps."
Marks smiled when asked if he had any worry being ready for training camp.
"No," he said with a laugh, adding, "even though I might not want to."
Marks added, "In my mind, I should be ready and I should be full go."
