JACKSONVILLE – They're healthy – as healthy they've been all season.
That's the state of the Jaguars' offensive skill positions, and that means more options and depth for a young group seeking points and consistency to go with improvement shown this season.
But it may not mean significantly different looks Sunday.
Yes, players such as wide receivers Rashad Greene and Marqise Lee are now healthy and closer to full-go than they previously have been this season. Still, dramatic change may not be the best thing.
And it may not be coming.
"It's always a challenge," Head Coach Gus Bradley said as the Jaguars (4-6) prepared to play the San Diego Chargers (2-8) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m. "You start looking at guys, and they have different skill sets, but you start adding up four targets for all of them and before you know it, you're at 30 attempts."
The Jaguars last Thursday against Tennessee had all front-line skill position players healthy for the first time this season. That included wide receivers Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Bryan Walters, Marqise Lee and Rashad Greene, tight ends Julius Thomas, Marcedes Lewis and Clay Harbor and running backs T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson.
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson on Tuesday said the staff wouldn't try to work schemes or plays specifically to get returning players involved.
"We don't look at it that way," he said. "It's good to have a talented group of playmakers at the wide receiver, running back, tight end position. There are a lot of players there when you're looking there when we're talking about touches and matchups and those issues.
"Certainly, you feel a lot better about it when you have a healthy team than you do a non-healthy team. We look at it as a plus."
Injuries were a particular issue early in the season at tight end and wide receiver, with Thomas missing the first four games with a hand injury, Lee missing five consecutive games with a hamstring injury and Greene missing eight games with a thumb injury.
Lee and Greene's presence Thursday meant the Jaguars' top receivers all were active for the first time this season.
In that game, Allen Robinson played 59 of 60 snaps – his typical load this season – with Hurns and Robinson both playing 42 snaps. Thomas played 44 snaps, with Walters playing 16 snaps.
Lee played nine snaps after playing 25 the week before at Baltimore in his first game back from injury; Greene played four snaps against Tennessee in his first game after returning from injury.
"I think you just go by, 'What scheme do we like? How are we going to attack the defense?''' Bradley said. "You try to get roles for guys within that scheme and then you go. The quarterback has his reads and he has to stay true to that rather than trying to get the ball to certain guys."
Also on Wednesday, the Jaguars released their first official injury report of the week, with defensive tackle Roy Miller missing practice with a knee injury. Miller's absence was considered a veteran day off.
Check out images from Wednesday's practice as the Jaguars prepare to host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
"He should be fine," Bradley said of Miller.
Safety Craig Loston (ankle), running back Bernard Pierce (calf), Otto linebacker Dan Skuta (groin) and wide receiver Neal Sterling (illness) also missed practice Wednesday. Loston left last Thursday's victory over Tennessee with the injury and Pierce missed the game.
Skuta, the starter at Otto in nine of 10 games this season, said Tuesday he doubts he will play against the Chargers. He played through the injury last Thursday and left the game in the second quarter. Rookie Thurston Armbrister would start in his place.
Also Wednesday, defensive tackle Michael Bennett (hamstring) worked limited, with wide receiver Allen Hurns (foot/thigh) and tight end Nic Jacobs (hamstring) also working limited.
Hurns has played through the issues much of the season without missing a start, while Bennett missed the last two games and Jacobs did not play last Thursday against Tennessee.
Offensive guard Zane Beadles on Wednesday was fully cleared per the NFL's concussion protocol. He was injured on the Jaguars' final offensive play against Tennessee.