JACKSONVILLE – Will Rackley will start at guard on Sunday.
The Jaguars' lineup at wide receiver entering the weekend is significantly less certain, Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said Friday, with the look of position on Sunday against the Houston Texans largely determined by the status of Mike Brown.
Brown, a first-year veteran, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an AC joint (shoulder) injury sustained in a loss to Arizona. He worked Friday and Bradley said he expects a decision on Brown's status for Sunday to come Saturday.
"We'll probably make that decision tomorrow (Saturday)," Bradley said Friday as the Jaguars (1-9) prepared to play the Houston Texans (2-8) at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday at 1 p.m.
Brown, cornerback Will Blackmon (shoulder) and outside linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) all were listed on Friday's injury report as questionable, with wide receivers Stephen Burton (concussion) and Stephen Williams (Achilles) ruled out.
If Brown doesn't play, Bradley said Jeremy Ebert likely will be signed from the practice squad.
Ebert, a first-year veteran, was active for the Jaguars from Weeks Two through Five, catching two passes for 10 yards. He has been on the team's practice squad the rest of the season.
Brown, a first-year veteran, and has played six games this season, catching 17 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown. With Justin Blackmon suspended indefinitely, he has started the last two games.
"I'm sore, but I still have a couple of days," Brown said. "It's getting a lot better. I'm progressing really well. It's been going really well. It's wait and see, but it's progressing."
Rackley, the starting left guard in the first eight games of the season, missed the last two games with a concussion sustained against San Francisco the week before the bye. He was cleared to practice this week and Bradley said he will start Sunday.
Second-year veteran Mike Brewster started the last two games at left guard.
"It was incredibly frustrating," Rackley said. "Especially with a head injury, because you never have any clue to when you'll get back better. It's really frustrating."
Bradley said Hayes wore a brace Friday and didn't appear limited. He said the team feels better about Hayes entering the weekend.
Blackmon will be worked out before the game and Bradley said he likely will be a game-time decision. Bradley has said throughout the week that while the injuries to Blackmon and Brown were similar, Blackmon was a bit more likely to play Sunday.
Bradley also said he was strikingly pleased with the Jaguars' practice this week. He said the first two days of the week were really good, with the challenge Friday to do so again.
"It's just not normal," he said. "I haven't seen a practice like that where guys are competing the way they are on a Friday, not in pads. All things are going in the right direction. Hopefully, we can stack another (good practice) up tomorrow and go into the game feeling confident."
The following players were listed as probable for Sunday: defensive tackle Roy Miller (shoulder), cornerback Dwayne Gratz (hip), safety Winston Guy (hamstring), defensive tackle Abry Jones (back), wide receiver Cecil Shorts III (groin), wide receiver Kerry Taylor (toe), tight end Danny Noble (hamstring), middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (concussion) and Rackley.
