JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Jaguars coach Gus Bradley mentioned following Saturday's preseason opener against Pittsburgh, both defensive end Chris Clemons and safety James Sample were back at practice on Monday.
Clemons has spent all of training camp on the non-football injury list, with what the team has called personal issues. Sample was on the physically unable to perform list with a broken foreman he suffered during organized team activities.
Both players have been cleared to practice on a limited basis. Bradley said the plan is to bring Clemons along slowly and but it's good to just have him back on the field.
"Sure, yeah it's great to see him out there," said Bradley. "We'll work him back and Jared [Odrick] and Roy [Miller] and those guys back into it. I think those guys are working back into it to where they have a chance to have confidence in what they came through and I think it's important."
Sample, a fourth-round selection in the 2015 draft, has been cleared to practice but not for contact. As a rookie Sample is already behind and Bradley thinks the former Louisville product will get caught up once he's cleared for contact.
"Right now he's just doing individual and he can do some walk-throughs, so until they clear us to where we can see him in seven-on-seven and team he seems to be sharp and on it as far as picking things up, said Bradley. "That's one thing, and the other thing is just to get enough reps and execute, so until he gets into those periods. I am sure we will try to get him in the game as soon as they clear him."
Bradley also mentioned that both Clemons and Sample are in good shape, but said it's too early to tell when they'll make their preseason debuts.
Other notes:
-Defensive end Jared Odrick also returned to practice on a limited basis
-WR Rashad Green, WR Marqise Lee, WR Neal Sterling, CB Peyton Thompson, and OT Brennan Williams all missed Monday's practice.
-The Jaguars have waived undrafted rookie LB Matt Robinson via an injury settlement