JACKSONVILLE – The status of Paul Posluszny remains uncertain.
Posluszny, the Jaguars' middle linebacker who on Wednesday morning was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, did not practice Wednesday afternoon because of a concussion sustained Sunday in the Jaguars' victory over Tennessee.
Posluszny has not been ruled out for Sunday's game against Arizona.
"He's getting better every day," Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said Wednesday as the Jaguars (1-8) prepared to play host to the Cardinals (5-4) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
"He's making good progress. I know he's feeling better and he's making good progress, so we'll wait and see."
Bradley, who said Posluszny likely will not practice Thursday, also discussed Tuesday's news that rookie linebacker LaRoy Reynolds had been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
Reynolds will be eligible to return to the active roster December 6, the day after the team's home game against Houston.
"I had a long, good talk with him (Tuesday)," Bradley said. "I talked to our players about making smart decisions. When you make decisions, it's not only yourself. You have to keep the team in mind. He obviously made a mistake and now he's paying the consequences.
"He's a young guy. I feel like he's learned a lesson and he'll come back better because of it. We'll welcome him back in four weeks when he comes back."
If Posluszny does not play, veteran Russell Allen – a starting outside linebacker in the first nine games of the season – will move inside, with John Lotulelei starting outside. Lotulelei played about 10 plays of base defense for Allen on Sunday against Tennessee, with Allen playing 22.
"Russell has played a lot of snaps here for the Jaguars and we have all of the confidence in him," Jaguars defensive coordinator Bob Babich said. "He's the next guy up and that's what we've got to do. He hasn't played in a game yet so obviously that presents a little bit of a problem as far as being the Mike linebacker. But he's the guy that we'd play, he'd be the next guy up….
"You can sit around and say, 'Why me?' and these types of things but, hey, we just keep going. We went out there and practiced today (Wednesday). We hated that Paul wasn't there – he's the leader of the defense, the quarterback of the defense – but you've got to go."
Also around the Jaguars Wednesday:
*Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer on a conference call with Jacksonville media Wednesday discussed what he expected from the crowd at EverBank Field Sunday, saying, "We know this is going to be an interesting atmosphere. It's not going to be a sold-out stadium; it's going to be a little bit of a different energy in it and we've got to be prepared for that and just be ready to play football." Palmer, asked what he meant by "different energy, said, "There's a totally different energy when a stadium is full if every seat is sold out, and when the stadium is empty there's a different energy. You can't worry about any of those outside distractions. You've just got to focus on doing your job each and every play and do what it takes to win the game regardless of how many people are watching or who is in the stands."…
*Asked his reaction to Palmer's thoughts, Bradley said, "We're going to enjoy playing at home. This is another opportunity for us. Our hopes is to build this to where it becomes a great third-down advantage for us – (where) it's so loud that it's hard for opposing teams to come into our stadium, but we have to earn that. This is a step that we can take in the right direction."…
*In addition to Posluszny, wide receiver Stephen Burton also missed practice with a concussion, with running back Maurice Jones-Drew (knee), defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks (ankle), defensive end Jason Babin and center Brad Meester also missing practice….
*The absence of Meester and Babin were "coach's decisions," and Bradley said Jones-Drew and Marks also were given what is considered their normal practice days off. Jones-Drew, Marks, Babin and Meester are expected to play Sunday….
*Defensive end Tyson Alualu (elbow), defensive end Andre Branch (neck), wide receiver Mike Brown (ankle), defensive tackle Roy Miller (shoulder), tight end Danny Noble (hamstring), guard/center Will Rackley (head), wide receiver Cecil Shorts III (groin) and wide receiver Stephen Williams (Achilles) were listed as probable. Bradley said all except Williams are expected to play Sunday, with Williams' status uncertain….
*Running backs Jordan Todman and Denard Robinson took equal repetitions Wednesday, Bradley said. Robinson entered the Tennessee game No. 2 on the depth chart, but played sparingly after a first-quarter fumble. Todman had a five-yard touchdown run in the second half and Bradley said each likely will play Sunday depending on situations….
*Babich on rookie cornerback Dwayne Gratz, who had an interception Sunday in his second NFL start: "He's still getting better each day. Each rep he gets better."…
*Bradley said linebacker Nate Stupar could be active to play Reynolds' special teams role Sunday. Stupar was inactive Sunday after being claimed off waivers from San Francisco the previous week.
