JACKSONVILLE – Wednesday is a very, very big day for Sen'Derrick Marks.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles perhaps isn't anticipating the day quite as much as the veteran defensive tackle, but he – like Marks – expects to practice.
"Today is a huge day," Marks said Wednesday, adding, "I'm going to make sure I have the green light (for Sunday) today. I'm going out and going all-out.
"It's really a game-day situation for me."
Those were two unknowns entering Wednesday, with Bortles having sustained a Grade 1 AC joint sprain in his right (throwing) shoulder this past Sunday and Marks not yet having played this season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery in January.
Wednesday was a busy day for injury news around the Jaguars, with middle linebacker Paul Posluszny – though not expected to practice Wednesday – saying he expects to play Sunday.
Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley told Houston media early in the day that Bortles could practice, and Bortles said around noon he expects to practice Wednesday afternoon.
The second-year veteran threw in the team's walk-through practice Wednesday morning.
"I planned on practicing the whole time, so nothing's changed there," Bortles said Wednesday as the Jaguars (1-4) prepared to play the Houston Texans (1-4) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m. "I expect to do that today."
Bortles said he sustained the injury on a run shortly before halftime against Tampa Bay Sunday, and that with adrenaline flowing during the game the injury didn't bother him and "wasn't a big deal." He said he experienced what he considered normal soreness after the game.
Bradley on Monday said while it wouldn't be surprising if Bortles missed practice Wednesday the quarterback was expected to be OK.
"I think he was just taking the safe route," Bortles said. "I planned on practicing the whole time. I think that's kind of the attitude you have to have. I'm going to practice until you tell me I can't."
Marks, the Jaguars' starting three-technique defensive tackle and sacks leader last season with 8.5, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Houston in the 2014 regular-season finale. He has practiced limited in recent weeks, getting his most extensive work last Wednesday.
Marks said he expects a similar – and perhaps a more intense practice – Wednesday of this week and that he hopes for a result that will have him active Sunday.
"Today is a huge day to make sure my mind is clear, to make sure I have no doubt," Marks said, adding, "There's nothing wrong with my knee. There's nothing wrong with the structure of my knee. It's all mental: do I have enough power and can I get it through my mind that I can push off and I can go?
"I think I can go out today and really play free-minded and I don't have to worry about it."
Marks said he felt he was close last week during an intense workout Wednesday, but said trainers and coaches saw differently.
"They saw me limping a couple of times when I wouldn't stick it in the ground," he said. "For me, I think it's close."
Posluszny missed last Sunday's game with a high-ankle sprain after being a game-time decision. He did not practice at all last week. The Jaguars allowed 183 yards rushing and missed 23 tackles in a 38-31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I feel really good, and I think we'll test it later on in the week and see how it goes," Posluszny said. "We were really, really close Sunday, so I feel like I should play this Sunday. I know I told you that last week, though, too. We're farther ahead this week."
