Jaguars’ Justin Blackmon Expected to Play Sunday

The Jacksonville Jaguars are having a season to forget. The Jags are 0-6 thus far in 2013, and it is hard-pressed to think they’ll win more than one game (if that) this year. The wide receiver position has been decimated of late, with the team’s leading receiver, Cecil Shorts, suffering a sprain in his SC joint in his right shoulder. Shorts was seen showing a full-range of motion in the locker room yesterday, and will be a game-time decision for Sunday afternoon’s hosting of the San Diego Chargers at 1 P.M. EST. Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon has played like a man possessed since his return from a four-game suspension stemming from a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Blackmon has accrued 19 receptions for 326 yards and 1 touchdown in only two games, and has easily been the most productive Jaguar when on the field. Blackmon is currently working through hamstring and groin troubles, but is expected to play against San Diego this Sunday. Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley has confirmed the expectation, stating that Blackmon is “progressing well.” The Chargers are only favored by 5.6 points this week, leaving many to wonder what type of Kool-Aid Vegas is drinking. The Jaguars will be cautious with Blackmon, making the decision to withhold from practice on Friday in order to let his minor injuries heal. The Jaguars will be without rookie wide receiver Ace Sanders, and are now slated to start Justin Blackmon, Mike Brown, and Stephen Williams. Brown and Williams have 14 receptions combined in their careers, leading one to believe that Blackmon will again be the feature of the Jaguars offense with running back Maurice Jones-Drew playing uninspired football in 2013.