JACKSONVILLE – The injuries mount as season's end draws near.
Dwayne Gratz and Brandon Deaderick, a pair of defensive players injured in Sunday's regular-season home finale, likely will not play in the 2013 regular-season finale at Indianapolis this weekend, Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said Monday.
Gratz, a rookie who missed five games with a high-ankle sprain earlier this season, sustained a high-ankle sprain Sunday and Bradley said he likely will not play Sunday.
Deaderick sustained a dislocated elbow and is definitely out for the season.
Third-year left offensive tackle Cameron Bradfield also sustained a high-ankle sprain Sunday, but Bradley said he could try to practice Friday and play Sunday.
"He's got a chance to play," Bradley said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' 20-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field Sunday. "We'll have to be smart with how we practice him this week."
As for that practice schedule, the early part has been altered because of Christmas falling on Wednesday this season. Bradley moved the Jaguars' Wednesday practice to Tuesday and players will be off Wednesday before returning Thursday.
Bradley said the Jaguars likely will have a walkthrough-style practice Tuesday and practice with helmets Thursday.
"It works out with the schedule, so we're going to utilize that," Bradley said.
Linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) and defensive tackle Roy Miller (shoulder), each of whom missed a game for the first time this season Sunday, won't practice Tuesday but could work by week's end.
"We'll continue as a staff to talk about what's the best thing for both of those guys moving forward," Bradley said. "Roy might be a little different situation than Geno. He (Hayes) really wants to compete to see if we can get this thing in order to give him a chance to play on Sunday."
Safety Johnathan Cyprien, who missed a loss to Buffalo on December 15 with a thigh injury, came out of the Titans loss OK, Bradley said.
"He should be in good shape this week for practice," Bradley said.
Bradley said running back Maurice Jones-Drew also made it through the game OK. Jones-Drew played Sunday after missing the Buffalo loss with a hamstring injury.
The Jaguars last week placed wide receivers Cecil Shorts III (sports hernia) and Jeremy Ebert (ankle) on injured reserve, as well as guard Will Rackley (concussion) and linebacker Russell Allen (concussion).
Bradley said while roster moves were possible this week in response to injuries to players such as Deaderick and Gratz, it's unlikely those players would be late-week additions to the injured reserve list. That means if either player were to go on IR it likely would be early in the week.
If Gratz can't play, cornerback Will Blackmon likely will start in his place, and with Miller and Deaderick out Sunday, Jordan Miller – signed off the practice squad last week – played 35 snaps at defensive tackle. Blackmon played 56 snaps Sunday.
J.T. Thomas got 60 snaps in place of Hayes at outside backer and LaRoy Reynolds played 32 snaps to share repetitions with starter John Lotulelei, who was playing for Allen at weakside linebacker.
