He's not angry, necessarily.
Marcedes Lewis, the Jaguars' Pro Bowl tight end, has played more than long enough to know that injuries – nagging ones and ones far worse – are part of the NFL. Still, to get one now – after the lockout, after his holdout, as good as he felt entering the season . . .
Well, Lewis said, it sure ain't fun.
"It's just so annoying," Lewis said Wednesday as the Jaguars (1-0) prepared to play the New York Jets (1-0) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
"This could happen in camp, you know what I mean? But I'm human. Things happen, and you have to roll with the punches and treat it. We have one of the best staffs when it comes to getting your body back, so I'm confident in what we're doing."
Lewis, a six-year veteran and a Pro Bowl selection last season, sustained a strained calf in the Jaguars' season-opening victory over Tennessee. He at first thought it was a cramp, and told Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio as much. Del Rio told him to get an IV during the game.
Lewis did, which was when he realized it was a bit more serious.
"After I got the IV, I stood up and said, 'Ah, it's not a cramp, because I'd be able to stretch a cramp out,''' Lewis said. "It was just one little spot and it just stayed there. I'm doing everything I can to get back.
"It's annoying, but what can I do about it?"
Whether Lewis can play Sunday may not be known until Friday. That's when he said he plans to run on the injury, after which he will have a better idea of his status for the Jets game.
The Jaguars' backup tight end, Zach Miller, missed the regular-season opener with a knee injury that kept him out much of the preseason. Miller practiced Wednesday, said he had no problems and said he expects to practice Thursday.
"I feel good," Miller said. "Everything we've set as a goal to move forward we've hit."
Of Lewis, Miller said, "Hopefully, he'll be ready Sunday, too – but hopefully, we can all be out there contributing. An eighty- or eighty-five percent Marcedes Lewis is better than no Marcedes Lewis, but you don't want to set him back."
Del Rio said Miller's status won't influence the decision on whether or not to play Lewis.
"They won't be tied together -- we'd love to have them both," Del Rio said, adding that Miller is on track to return and be available for us as "as we go throughout the year."
The Jaguars' other significant injury from the Titans game was a rib injury sustained by cornerback Derek Cox. He left the game in the second half, after which Will Middleton played in his place.
Cox, like Lewis, missed practice Wednesday and Del Rio said Cox likely will be listed as doubtful for Sunday.
"He's less likely than the others," Del Rio said.
Also on Wednesday around the Jaguars:
*Wide receiver Mike Thomas discussed playing Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, widely considered one of the NFL's best cover corners. "I go to work, just like the next man," Thomas said. "Revis and (Jets cornerback Antonio) Cromartie, they're hell of a players, but I believe I'm a hell of a player as well. I strap my chinstrap up just like they strap theirs up. I'm looking forward to it. I believe in myself probably more than the next man, so I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge."
*Del Rio said linebacker Clint Session's limited playing time Sunday was a matter of how the Titans "tried to attack us and the way we responded." Session played just six snaps as the Jaguars were in the nickel defense much of the game. "He's ready to roll and ready when we call on him," Del Rio said.
*Defensive end Aaron Kampman missed practice after missing Sunday's game, and four players were limited for non-injury related reasons: fullback Greg Jones, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, running back Maurice Jones-Drew and cornerback Rashean Mathis.
*Del Rio said the defensive line is better-prepared to play without Kampman than last season, when he missed the final eight games of the season with a knee injury. "Our depth throughout our defensive line is better than it was at any point last year," Del Rio said. "Top to bottom, we're a stronger group."
*Jaguars quarterback Luke McCown on the Jets: "You hear a lot about their two corners, but they have a bunch of guys on their defense who are really good players. We've got a challenge. We're up for that challenge. We're going to prepare hard and be ready to play."
*McCown on confidence gained from winning his first game as the Jaguars' starter this past Sunday: "We can win. We know what kind of team we have. We know what we're about as a team. We're a hard-hat kind of a team. We're going to go to work every day, and at the end of the day, suit up and buckle your chinstrap and play ball."
*Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew on the Jets' defense: "They do the little things great. When they're stuffing the run, they have their hands inside, they're pushing guys back. Once they get you into 3rd-and-long, they bring their exotic blitzes. Their corners can cover and run with anybody in the league, so they do some great things. We have to execute. We have to improve on what we did last week. We have a tough task, but why sign up if everything was easy?"
*Drew Coleman, the Jaguars' nickel back who signed as a free agent from the Jets early in training camp, said of Sunday's game, "It's the next game on the schedule. I'm not going up there trying to look for revenge. I'm not trying to get at my old teammates or anything like that. It's an opportunity for the Jags to try to start the season off fast."
