Reggie Williams' knee injury will require surgery, there is still no news on Brad Meester's biceps injury, and the prospects for signing first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey are not encouraging.
That's the state of the Jaguars' most pressing issues as they head toward Friday night's intrasquad scrimmage. Coach Jack Del Rio addressed all three issues following Wednesday's practice.
"Reggie will require surgery for his cartilage," Del Rio said. "He'll need a little cleanout. He should return. Once I get a timeline, I'll let you know."
Williams reported to training camp with a knee injury that was thought to be minor. He was initially placed on the team's physically unable to perform list but came off that list and practiced with the team on Tuesday. Tuesday evening, Williams had to leave practice on a cart after the condition of his knee worsened. Del Rio said Williams will undergo an arthroscopic procedure.
Meester was to be examined by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. A determination on Meester's injury should be forthcoming.
Del Rio painted a dim picture of the team's attempts to sign Harvey, the defensive end who was the eighth overall pick of this year's draft. Harvey has already missed nine practices in this training camp and Del Rio expressed concern for the time Harvey is missing.
"He's fallen behind; no question. It's unfortunate he's not here. We have some deals in front of us that are outrageous, in my opinion. He's losing time. At some point in time, you lose so much time you lose value. We're not there yet," Del Rio said.
The "outrageous" deals to which Del Rio was probably referring are the ones signed by linebacker Vernon Gholston (sixth overall) and defensive end Sedrick Ellis (seventh). Both are pass-rushers and their contracts have likely set the standard for Harvey. Gholston signed a deal with the Jets that guarantees $20 million and Ellis just did a deal with the Saints for more than $19 million in guaranteed money.
"Hopefully, he wants to be here so bad that we can work something out," Del Rio said.
Asked if he thinks the Ellis deal will help bring Harvey to terms, Del Rio said: "I don't think so; not based on the number I was given."
Meanwhile, the Jaguars gave a small crowd at practice on Wednesday afternoon a brief scrimmage preview, as the Jaguars conducted a six-play "live" goal line drill.
On play number one, with the first team offensive line on the field, running back Montell Owens gained a yard to the two-yard line. Rookie running back Chauncey Washington followed with a one-yard plunge that was halted dramatically by the sound of linebacker Mike Peterson filling the hole. The defense held on third and goal by stopping rookie running back Lavarus Giles for no gain.
In the next series, with Cleo Lemon at quarterback and the number two offensive line on the field, Lemon opened with a play-action touchdown pass to tight end Charles Davis.
Giles followed with a two-yard run and Washington scored from a yard out.
"The next 'live' work we do will be the scrimmage. You need to build physical toughness as well as mental toughness," Del Rio said.
