JACKSONVILLE – Paul Posluszny has been cleared.
Posluszny, who missed the Jaguars' loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday with a concussion, on Monday was cleared to return to practice, news that highlighted Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley's next-day press conference.
Posluszny, the team's starting middle linebacker and leading tackler, sustained a concussion in a November 10 victory over Tennessee. He did not practice last week.
He missed his first game Sunday since joining the Jaguars in 2011.
"We'll still have to manage him (Posluszny)," Bradley said Monday, a day after the Jaguars' 27-14 loss to the Cardinals at EverBank Field.
"He might see some limited contact, but he has been cleared to practice."
Cornerback Will Blackmon and wide receiver Mike Brown sustained AC joint injuries against the Cardinals, with Bradley saying Brown is more questionable this week than Blackmon.
Rookie cornerback Dwayne Gratz sustained a hamstring injury Sunday, but Bradley said he thinks Gratz will be OK this week. Bradley also said guard Will Rackley (concussion) and wide receiver Stephen Burton (concussion) had not been cleared.
Safety Josh Evans (thumb) and linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) should work this week despite injuries, Bradley said.
Bradley on Monday also addressed the team's running game, which produced just 32 yards on 16 carries against Arizona. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 23 yards on 14 carries a week after the Jaguars as a team averaged 1.8 yards per carry against Tennessee.
"We need to find a way to run the ball," Bradley said. "We just have to. It doesn't matter how good they are up front. They're good in the front seven. We still have to find a way."
Bradley said an example of what the Jaguars need to do to run effectively was a 1-yard first-quarter touchdown run by Jones-Drew, a play when the line sustained blocks and finished the play.
"That showed up at times, but for the most part we didn't see that type of finish," Bradley said. "That's what we have to challenge our guys (to do). That picture we had on goal line, that's how we all have to operate together….
"When you watch the tape, there are some things in there we can coach and say, 'We have to do this each play, every play.'"
Also around the Jaguars:
*Bradley on Monday said while there were positives early in the Arizona game offensively, two missed chances in the second half particularly hurt. Trailing 24-14, the Jaguars took possession on the Arizona 42 late in the third quarter and at midfield early in the fourth quarter on back-to-back drives. They lost one yard and punted on the first series and punted after picking up one first down on the second. "We didn't take advantage of those opportunities," Bradley said. "We didn't capture those. I felt like our defense gave that opportunity and I thought the special teams gave that opportunity, but I think it came back down to those situations, we didn't capture them."…
*Chad Henne will start at quarterback against the Houston Texans Sunday, Bradley said. Henne has started the last five games, with opening-day starter Blaine Gabbert healthy in the last three. Henne completed 27 of 42 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions Sunday….
*Bradley said the team had six hurries on Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer in addition to three sacks Sunday. The Jaguars define a "hurry" as a hit on the quarterback that leads to an incomplete pass. "Obviously, we'd like to do more," Bradley said…
*Bradley said cornerback Alan Ball played well Sunday, something that began the week before with a play on a deep pass against Tennessee. He also said defensive end Jason Babin showed good effort and played well Sunday….
*Bradley said the defensive intensity was decent to start, and that it picked up throughout the game….
*Second-year defensive end Andre Branch played with good effort and had several good pass rushes Sunday, Bradley said. Branch had a sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries Sunday….
*Bradley said punter Bryan Anger and returner Jordan Todman also had solid games, with Anger finishing with a 47.8-yard average and six punts inside the 20-yard line and Todman returning four kickoffs for a 36.0-yard average….
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