Quinn Gray's expectations are no different than they were a week ago. David Garrard expects to begin jogging sometime this week.
"We had a great game plan that allowed us to get a win and that's all we're trying to do, get a win," Gray said on Thursday, as the Jaguars continued preparations for this Sunday's game in New Orleans.
Last week, Gray was preparing for his first game as a starting quarterback. The Jaguars won that game, 24-23, with a game plan that included 14 consecutive running plays to start the game.
Will the Jaguars use the same game plan this Sunday against the 3-4 Saints? Gray said that would be fine with him, as long as it delivers a win.
"Go out and help the team win," Gray said of his personal game plan. "I'm not trying to go out there and be the star person or become something I'm not. I just want to help these guys win."
In Tampa, Gray completed seven of 16 passes for 100 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and an 85.4 passer rating. He overthrew several receivers but he said that was mostly by intent.
"If he's (receiver) not there, he's not there. We're not trying to force anything," Gray said.
It's the greatest compliment of his play that he avoided a turnover, though he had to pick up a fumble and dive out of the end zone to avoid a safety in the second half. It can also be said of Gray that he led an eight-play, 53-yard, game-winning touchdown drive, which he capped with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones.
Gray said he's more comfortable this week. "Last week, I had a lot of nervousness I had to get out of my system," he added.
Coach Jack Del Rio told reporters at the start of this week that he maintains hope David Garrard will return to the starting lineup in Tennessee on Nov. 11. Garrard was injured early in the second quarter of the Jaguars' loss to the Colts on Oct. 22. His injury was initially described as a significant high-ankle sprain that could result in a month of inactivity, and Garrard spent last week on crutches and didn't travel with the team to Tampa.
In the locker room on Thursday, Garrard was without crutches. He moved about without a limp and reported that he believes his recovery is "ahead of schedule."
"The only way we can know is when I do some jogging and come in the next day and see how I feel," Garrard said. He added that he expects to test his ankle within the next couple of days.
"I do," he said when asked if he thinks he'll be able to return to the starting lineup in Tennessee. "I have my fingers crossed."
Garrard was the leading rusher in the league among quarterbacks prior to his injury. He expects that his injury will diminish his scrambling ability until he is fully recovered, but he's actually looking forward to proving himself as a pocket passer.
"I like to stay in the pocket and throw the ball. I don't think it'll affect me but I'll probably get rid of the ball a little more. That's really what I want to be," he said of the pocket passer designation.
"That's where I've been trying to get to. I'll just get there a little quicker," he said.
