JACKSONVILLE – Blake Bortles addressed the big issue first.
The issue: the injured left – non-throwing – shoulder that has the Jaguars' starting quarterback on the injury report for the first time this season.
The question: How does it feel?
"Good – it feels good," Bortles said Wednesday as the Jaguars (3-5) prepared to play the Indianapolis Colts (3-5) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Sunday at 1 p.m.
Bortles, who never has missed an NFL start because of injury and who has started the Jaguars' last 69 regular-season games, sustained his injury in the fourth quarter against the Eagles. He practiced Monday, and Head Coach Doug Marrone said at the time he made all of his usual throws that day.
"I'm ready to go – better than ever," Bortles said. "It's just banged up – no different than anybody else getting a nick or a bruise or whatever. It's part of playing an NFL football season. It's going to happen at some point. There isn't anybody playing that feels 100 percent healthy and is totally good to go.
"Everybody's dealing and handling something that they've got going on trying to make sure they're good and their bodies ready for Sunday."
The Jaguars last week signed former Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Landry Jones as a precautionary measure, with the idea at the time being that Bortles would play against the Colts.
Also on Wednesday:
*Running back Leonard Fournette was listed on the injury report with a hamstring injury and was expected to practice Wednesday. Other injured players listed as expected to practice: Bortles, cornerback D.J. Hayden (toe), linebacker/defensive end Lerentee McCray (hamstring) and tight end James O'Shaughnessy (hip). Fournette missed six of the last seven games, including the last four games leading to this past Sunday's bye. Hayden missed the last six games leading to the bye and O'Shaughnessy missed the last two games before the bye. …
*Two Jaguars cornerbacks were not expected to practice Wednesday: All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye (calf) and undrafted rookie free agent Quenton Meeks (knee). Bouye missed the Jaguars' pre-bye loss to Philadelphia in London and Meeks sustained his injury in that game after making his first career start. …
*Notable on Wednesday's injury report: the absence of all starting offensive linemen. Starting right tackle Jermey Parnell (knee), starting center Brandon Linder (knee) and starting left guard Andrew Norwell (foot) all were limited in practice much of the first half of the season – though none of three has missed a start this season. All of the players were removed from the injury report this week and are expected to work full Wednesday. …
