Tony Boselli was not to practice today, Mark Brunell was to be limited in his participation, and coach Tom Coughlin deflected another battery of questions about the medical status of his team.
It was almost life as usual at Alltel Stadium, where the daily injury report has become the focus of reporters and the centerpiece of nearly every press conference. Coughlin recently stated, "I will not tell you want the injury is," but the questions persist, especially about Boselli.
What's the favorite game in Jacksonville? Not football, but the daily game of verbal chess between a coach who won't tell all about his team's state of health, and a media who continues to ask.
All right, here's today's medical report, as provided by Coughlin, who steadfastly maintains the opposition might gain and has gained a competitive advantage from a supply of information beyond what the league requires:
• Boselli and Brunell are listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Seattle. Boselli's ailing right shoulder remains the burning issue, amid reports Boselli's season is in jeopardy. Of course, the addition of offensive tackle Todd Fordham only served to fuel that speculation.
Brunell "has a very low-grade headache today," Coughlin said of his quarterback's recovery from the concussion he suffered on the Jaguars' first offensive play this past Sunday.
"If I progress the way I have, I don't expect it to be a problem. Today will tell a lot," Brunell said in assessing his chance for being under center Sunday in Seattle, where Brunell will be in a "homecoming" game at the University of Washington's Husky Stadium.
• Tight end Kyle Brady is listed as "probable" with a hip-pointer injury he suffered in the loss to the Browns. He was to be limited in practice today, as was defensive end Tony Brackens, who was participating for the first time since his knee injury in the final preseason game. Brackens is listed as "doubtful," as is cornerback Fernando Bryant, who suffered a foot injury against the Browns.
"We're going to put him in uniform and see how he responds," Coughlin said of Brackens.
• Safety Donovin Darius and running back Fred Taylor are listed as "out" for this Sunday.
"There's no way they're going to do anything to let me be put in harm's way," Boselli said of the Jaguars medical team, which is led by head physician Dr. Carlos Tandron. "They didn't clear me to play last Sunday. He was the one who openly made the call that I wasn't ready to play. I trust him implicitly.
"I've done my research and I'm comfortable with it," Boselli added of his shoulder injury. "If it worried me, I'd be having surgery right now."
Fordham returned to his home in Jacksonville after being released by the Broncos in final cuts. Admittedly, he has done little to stay in shape over the past month, but he could find himself in the lineup this Sunday if Boselli doesn't play.
"This is a move that solidifies some things for the future," Coughlin said of having signed Fordham.
A return to health would certainly solidify some things for the Jaguars' future, too, but that would sure make Coughlin's press conferences boring.
