JACKSONVILLE – Leonard Fournette officially is questionable.
Fournette, the NFL's second-leading rusher and the focal point of the Jaguars' offense this season, was listed as questionable on the team's final injury report of the week Friday.
Fournette missed practice Friday after also missing the first two practices of the week.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said the first step in determining Fournette's status is whether he is cleared medically to play. After that, an injured player must determine if he believes he can play, after which coaches determine if the player can be effective.
"It's a simple process, and it's one we're working our way through," Marrone said Friday as the Jaguars (3-3) prepared to play the Indianapolis Colts (2-4) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Sunday at 1 p.m.
Fournette, the No. 4 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, sustained an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter of the team's 27-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday. He was cleared medically to return, but did not play after the injury; the Jaguars were in their two-minute hurry-up offense late in the game when Fournette was cleared to return.
Marrone has said throughout the week he is taking a wait-and-see approach with Fournette, saying that adrenaline often allows players to return to games immediately after being injured – and that sometimes those same players can't play in subsequent weeks.
Fournette said Thursday he expected to be able to play Sunday.
Fournette, who has rushed for 596 yards and six touchdowns this season, has scored a touchdown in all six of the Jaguars' games this season. He and former New England Patriots running back Robert Edwards are the only players in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Fournette, Chris Ivory and Corey Grant have been the Jaguars' three active running backs in all six games this season. Marrone said T.J. Yeldon, the Jaguars' fourth running back, has practiced well in recent weeks and could be active Sunday regardless of Fournette's status.
"That's a possibility," Marrone said.
Fournette was one of three Jaguars players listed as questionable on the Friday injury report, with the others being wide receiver Marqise Lee and safety Tashaun Gipson. Center Brandon Linder (illness) was ruled out for a third consecutive game with Tyler Shatley having started the last two games in his place.
"That's up to the doctors," Marrone said of Linder. "The doctors tell me, 'Listen, he's ready to go' or, 'He's not ready to go.' I say, 'Hey, Doc, can you give me a sense of when that's going to be?' 'When A, B and C happen.' A, B and C haven't happened.''
Lee missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, then worked on a limited basis Friday. Gipson worked limited Thursday and Friday after missing practice Wednesday. Peyton Thompson likely would play in place of Gipson.
With Lee injured, the Jaguars have five healthy wide receivers: starter Allen Hurns, rookie Keelan Cole, special teams ace/reserve receiver Arrelious Benn, reserve Jaelen Strong and reserve Max McCaffrey. Hurns has started the last five games after starter Allen Robinson sustained a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 1.
Hurns has 21 receptions for 244 yards and two touchdowns this season and is the only Jaguars wide receiver with a touchdown reception this season. Cole, Benn and McCaffrey have combined for eight receptions for 63 yards and no touchdowns.
Strong has yet to play after being acquired off waivers from Houston September 19, He was out with a hamstring injury, but was cleared to play last week. He was not on the injury report this week.
