JACKSONVILLE – Blake Bortles got what he wanted Tuesday.
He ran on his sprained right foot and threw passes – and felt pretty good doing it. That doesn't mean the Jaguars' rookie quarterback will absolutely, positively play against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, but it will surprise him if he doesn't.
"I definitely plan on playing," Bortles said Tuesday as the Jaguars (2-12) prepared to play the Titans (2-12) at EverBank Field Thursday at 8:25 p.m. "That will be the plan unless they tell me otherwise, then there'd be a discussion."
Bortles, who sustained a mid-foot sprain in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, practiced on what the team called a "limited" basis Tuesday in a light walkthrough workout at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields.
"Obviously it was still sore a little bit, but I was able to do some stuff and move around," Bortles said. "It was really good. It would have been hard to go out there and stand around in a walking boot for another day."
Bortles wore a protective boot after Sunday's game and again Monday. Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said after practice Tuesday he is "cautiously optimistic" Bortles will play Thursday.
"He did better," Bradley said. "You could see him improve. I think it's another day we need to see him. If we would have went full (Tuesday), he would have been limited in what he got done, so I think (Wednesday) will be important to see how he comes back after today. … I think (Wednesday) is a bigger day."
Bradley said he, Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell and the training staff will meet Wednesday to decide Bortles' status for Thursday, adding of Bortles' desire to play, "That's his mentality."
"That's the part that we love about him but I think we need to take a look at it," Bradley said. "The biggest thing with that is that Blake and our training staff work together. We appreciate that mentality. That's what we would hope that he would say, but the training staff and Blake need to sit down together after we go through tomorrow and see where we're at and come up with the best decision.
"Usually what happens is Dave and I and the training staff and the strength staff … we sit down and talk about all of it. With him we'll see how he's doing and how he feels."
Bradley said it's his understanding that Bortles won't be at risk of injuring the area more severely by playing, adding that this week's experience should be a positive for Bortles.
"This is really good for Blake right now, what he's going through," Bradley said. "Somewhere in his career he's going to be banged up. It might be a Thursday night game like this and he has to learn how to deal with it. It might be a Sunday game where he can't go on Wednesday and Thursday and he might get Friday's practice.
"That shortened period of time, it's really challenging for him to say, 'All right … What are you going to do in this situation?' That's what you're seeing, him kind of develop a routine for that."
Said Bortles, "I think every football player sort of plays through injuries. I broke some stuff in college and played through that. I think it's part of it. Unless there's something really, really wrong with you to where you can't play and you're hurting the team, then you go play."
Also around the Jaguars Tuesday:
*Because the Jaguars held a walkthrough practice, players on the injury report were listed with statuses that reflected their conditions had the team worked full. …
*Defensive end Andre Branch would have missed practice for a second consecutive day with a groin injury that has kept him out six of the past seven games, including the last two. He is considered doubtful for Thursday's game, but could play in the regular-season finale at Houston. …
*Linebacker Khairi Fortt was listed as not practicing. He has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. …
*Defensive end Ryan Davis (hip) was listed as limited, with safety Josh Evans (foot) limited and wide receiver Tommy Streeter (oblique) limited. …
*Defensive tackle Roy Miller (knee) was listed as not practicing. He received treatment and rehab on his knee Tuesday. …
*Defensive end Chris Clemons (knee) and Marqise Lee (elbow) were listed as full. …
*The Jaguars on placed running back Denard Robinson on injured reserve. The team had declared him out for the season with a mid-foot sprain last week.
