JACKSONVILLE – This has the feel of a healthy team.
It has felt that way much of the week around the Jaguars, and it felt even more so Friday despite three key players being listed as questionable on the week's final injury report.
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum, who missed Thursday's practice to rest his surgically-repaired knee, is expected to play against the Oakland Raiders Sunday despite being listed as questionable. Defensive end Jared Odrick (hip) and tight end Julius Thomas (ankle) are also expected to play despite being listed as questionable.
"Odrick should be good – same with Julius," Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley Friday as the Jaguars (2-3) prepared to play the Raiders (4-2) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m. "We'll see with [Thomas on Saturday], just to see where he's at. We want to make sure he's close to one-hundred percent."
Wide receiver Neal Sterling (foot) was the only other Jaguars player listed as questionable, with all other injured players not listed on the status section of the injury report. That means they, too, are expected to play.
That list included wide receiver Allen Hurns, who missed Thursday's practice and said at the time he considered himself day-to-day. Hurns had been listed with a shoulder injury after sustaining a hard hit in the second half of a victory over the Bears Sunday.
"Much better," Hurns said Friday.
Hurns, who has missed just one game in his NFL career, said the hit he sustained Sunday was one of the hardest of his career. He also said while ideally he would prefer to have practiced multiple days this week he has improved at preparing with minimal practice in his career.
"There's nothing like getting a full speed rep," he said. "But as time goes on you get comfortable where you can see [reserves] Rashad [Greene] running a route, or B-Walt [Bryan Walters] running a route and you say 'OK, if I get this look I can break it out …' certain things like that."
Hurns missed or was limited in practice in many weeks last season after sustaining a sports hernia injury that required offseason surgery. He finished the season with 64 receptions for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara (hamstring), right tackle Jermey Parnell (hip), defensive tackle Abry Jones (hamstring), defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks (knee), strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (calf) and center Brandon Linder (foot) are also expected to play after being limited or missing practice at least one day this week.
Greene (Achilles), running back Corey Grant (toe) and safety Tashaun Gipson (knee) were listed on the injury report this week but practiced full all week.
Bradley said the team likely will decide Saturday how to handle punt and kick return duties. With Greene and Grant out last week, wide receiver Marqise Lee worked at both roles. Bradley said that's a possibility again this week depending on who the team wants to activate and deactivate Sunday.
"We just have to look at the overall active list and see what we need in terms of guys up," Bradley said.
