JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It may be nearly eight weeks before the Jacksonville Jaguars have three of their top five defensive backs on the field.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said there's no timetable for safety Barry Church, safety Tashaun Gipson and nickelback Aaron Colvin to return from various injuries. None of them have participated in the Jaguars' first seven organized team activities -- there are three more this week -- and they may not participate in next week's mandatory three-day minicamp, either.
That means they may not be on the field until July 26, which is when veterans are required to report for training camp.
"We’re simply going back and forth to see where they are," Marrone said. "I mean, you look at someone and say, ‘Do I really want to put them out there right now,' or, 'We have the next couple of weeks. We could just make sure he’s in good shape and then put him out there?'"
One or more of the three players -- plus a list that also includes tight end Marcedes Lewis, tight end Neal Sterling, and running back T.J. Yeldon -- may be cleared medically to participate later this week or next, but Marrone said he and the staff could opt to hold them out to avoid any chance of a setback to ensure they're ready for training camp.
"I kind of go back and forth on that sometimes, because one option we can [have them back for minicamp] or you get to this point now and you’re like, ‘OK, we just have the minicamp left,'" Marrone said. "What’s the better option: to bring them back early and make sure they’re ready for training camp or throw them in this minicamp and say they’re OK and you get three days with them and then they report when the rest of the team reports?"
The Jaguars are not required by the NFL to report specific injuries and have not commented on what is keeping Church, Gipson and Colvin out, though Colvin was wearing a protective boot when organized team activities began on May 23. The three players have worked off to the side during OTAs and Church and Gipson have been running the length of the field.
One benefit of the three defensive backs' absence is more reps for some of the younger players, such as safety Peyton Thompson, safety Jarrod Wilson, and cornerback Doran Grant.
