Aaron Kampman's wait may last one more week.
Kampman, the Jaguars' 10-year veteran defensive end, missed practice Friday after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday. Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio said Friday while Kampman will be available Sunday he may miss one more week.
Kampman missed the first four games of the season trying to return from a knee injury that kept him out the last eight games last season.
He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
"He's available," Del Rio said Friday as the Jaguars (1-3) prepared to play the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m. "Ideally, we'd get him a little more work before we go, but he's available. We want to see how he responds to the weekend.
"In all likelihood it may be another week."
Kampman's absence Friday was planned, Del Rio said, and Kampman said while he wants to play it's ultimately the team's decision.
"I stated my case Wednesday and Thursday," Kampman said. "They know I want to be out there and want to help the team. In the end, I'm still the employee. I'm sure they'll do what they think is best and we'll go from there."
Said Del Rio, "Really, quite frankly, I'm leaning toward giving him another week practicing and strengthening and building confidence before we let him go. He is available. If we have somebody slip on a banana peel between now and Sunday we may be calling on him."
The Jaguars also apparently will be without tight end Zach Miller Sunday.
Miller, who caught a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, missed practice Friday with a shoulder injury sustained late in Sunday's game. He practiced limited Wednesday and full Thursday, but Del Rio said he was unable to do enough Thursday to show he could play.
Miller has been listed as doubtful on the team's injury report.
"He wasn't able to finish the week," Del Rio said. "It wasn't good. He practiced, but the things we asked him to do made him uncomfortable. That will be a major question mark."
Miller, a third-year veteran, has shown potential in two-plus seasons with the team, but also has been limited by injuries throughout his career.
"They're all legitimate deals," Del Rio said. "He's worked through them the best he can. You hope to get beyond that at a certain point and certainly it has hindered us from doing some of the things with him that we've had designed to take advantage of his talent.
"It's one of those things. One of the big abilities is availability. We've come up short there a little bit with Zach."
Miller said he hopes to return next week against Pittsburgh.
"It's frustrating right now, because it's just one thing after the other," he said.
Also Friday:
*Cornerback Derek Cox (groin) and running back Montell Owens (knee) missed practice for a third consecutive day and have been ruled out for Sunday's game.
*Miller, wide receiver Kassim Osgood (hamstring) and guard/center Jason Spitz (quadriceps) have been declared doubtful for Sunday. Osgood missed practice Thursday and Friday and Spitz missed on Friday.
*Defensive tackle Tyson Alualu (knee) and offensive tackle Eugene Monroe (shoulders) have been listed as probable. Monroe practiced full all week and Alualu practiced full Thursday and Friday after being limited Wednesday.
*Del Rio talked extensively about the progress of rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert through four games, two as a starter. "I'm excited about the way he's developing, the way the team has responded to him, the way he's reacting to situations he has been presented with," Del Rio said. "I like the way he's going right now. There is a lot of reason to be optimistic about the overall direction of what we're going to be able to do as an offense because of him." Del Rio said Gabbert learns with "every snap he takes. It's valuable experience for him and you can see growth. He's been unflappable. He's a very competitive guy and a proud guy and he's working at it. He has begun his career the right way."
*Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said of Bengals rookie wide receiver A.J. Green, "He's a young, hungry rookie – talented. I'm sure they like what they've gotten in him so far. He has potential to be a very good receiver." Green has caught 19 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns this season. "Some rookies come ready to play; some rookies don't. Some rookies, it takes two or three years. He definitely came in ready to play."
