JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As expected Branden Albert was on the field Tuesday for Day No. 1 of Jaguars mandatory minicamp. The left tackle skipped the previous three weeks of voluntary organized team activities. According to several reports, Albert wanted a new contract.
Now that Albert is back with the team and practicing, he’s ready to move on. “I’m just happy to be out here with the guys and with the team, just working,” said Albert. “I feel blessed to be here and be back playing football.”
What concerned the Jaguars most about Albert’s absence from OTA’s was the lack of communication. Entering his 10th NFL season, Albert is a two time Pro Bowler and is penciled in as the Jaguars starter at left tackle. All though he’s been missing from the team up to this point he feels things will take care of themselves.
“In a place of business, things get ridiculed, violently opposed and then you accept it,” said Albert. “I do my job, everything will be forgot about. That’s all have to do: learn the playbook and move on.”
One thing Albert has to work on is getting himself in football shape.
“It’s not as good as the players who have been here,” said Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone when asked how he felt Albert looked on the field. “It’s not about Branden Albert per say for me. I’m just giving you an answer that’s the truth. Any player that’s gone through what Branden Albert has gone through and not have been with the team, when he shows up it’s not going to look as the team. That’s just the way it is and it’s not an indictment on him. That’s just the way it is.”
Raising the level of competition is something that Marrone has stressed since taking over as the head coach. Trading for Albert didn’t stop the Jaguars from taking Cam Robinson in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Left tackle is the only position that both players have ever played and Albert embraces the competition between the two.
“It’s good for the team,” said Albert. “That makes sure I don’t stay complacent. That makes sure that I work out. I didn’t take it for granted. It happened to me in Kansas City. It happened to be in Miami. It’s nothing new. I’m going to help Cam the best that I can to make him a better player. I’m secure in myself as a man and as a football player and as a man of the Lord. Nothing shakes me. I don’t fear anything. I don’t mean that in any old way. I’m going to help each and every young guy the best that I can and help myself at the same time.”