JACKSONVILLE -- Doug Marrone didn't speculate Wednesday on running back Leonard Fournette.
The Jaguars' head coach said that's not unusual, and it's something he declines to do regarding pretty much any player's injury status.
Fournette, the Jaguars' rookie running back who has become the focus of the team's offense in his first six NFL games, is not expected to practice Wednesday. He sustained an ankle injury in the Jaguars' loss to the Rams Sunday.
"I think we'll see; I don't try to get into that," Marrone said Wednesday of Fournette's status for the Jaguars' game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
"The only reason why is I got burned before [projecting injuries]. I was sitting here and I had my crystal ball out. I was like, 'Hey, listen. This guy's going to be OK to play.' He didn't play, and I got crushed [publicly]."
Fournette, who has rushed for 596 yards and six touchdowns in his first six games, sustained an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter Sunday. He had the ankle taped and received a spat on his cleat, being cleared by trainers to reenter the game.
"He was ready to back into the game, but there's a lot of adrenaline that goes into that – that you're able to do that," Marrone said. "We just have to wait and see until the following week."
With Fournette running effectively, and the Jaguars leading the NFL in rushing through six games, teams have game-planned the Jaguars' aggressively to defend the area. The Rams stacked the line of scrimmage with five or six defensive lineman and two or three linebackers much of the game, limiting Fournette to 30 yards rushing in the final three quarters after a 100-yard first quarter.
Marrone on Sunday and Monday discussed the need to counter that approach, and discussed it again when speaking to the media Wednesday.
"I just think we have to work on that stuff during the week," Marrone said. "There are different ways of doing it. We have to be prepared for something we don't see on film. That's really what it comes down to – and being able to identify it on the field and say, 'OK, we're going to this right away.'''
Marrone said combating stacked defenses is about more than simply throwing to single-covered wide receivers.
"That's the first thing you think of," Marrone said. "You say, 'They've got all of these guys … you've got to go do (throw) it.' That's the first process that goes through your mind, but in the same sense you don't want to limit yourself to just putting yourself in one dimension. You're trying to keep yourself balanced."
Also on Wednesday:
*Marrone discussed the release Tuesday of third-year kicker Jason Myers, who missed two 54-yard field goal attempts against the Rams. Myers had converted 11 of 15 field goals this season with three misses from more than 50 yards. He also had missed two extra points this season. The Jaguars signed third-year kicker Josh Lambo Tuesday. "He has a lot of talent, he just hasn't been consistent," Marrone said of Myers. "We're just trying to get ourselves better. I told him to keep going, keep working. We just wanted to bring someone in and see if we could get some more consistency at that position."
*Marrone said he didn't see the release of Myers as a message to other players. The Jaguars' special teams as a whole struggled Sunday, with punter Brad Nortman hitting punts of 16 and 28 yards. Special teams also allowed a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a six-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown. "People say, 'Well, hey: are you trying to send a message?" Marrone said. "I don't to do that stuff through the media. I'd rather just tell the player and say, 'Hey, listen: if you don't pick your game up, you're in trouble.' That happens quite a bit, those conversations. But I also tell them, 'You're doing a hell of a job; let's keep that going.'''
*Along with Fournette, wide receiver Marqise Lee (knee) and center Brandon Linder (illness) were not expected to practice Wednesday; Marrone said Linder is improving from the illness that has kept him out the last two games. Listed as expected to practice were: quarterback Blake Bortles (right wrist), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (calf), cornerback A.J. Bouye (hamstring), running back Chris Ivory (hip), safety Tashaun Gipson (neck), defensive end Lerentee McCray (knee), guard Patrick Omameh (hip), tight end Marcedes Lewis (shoulder) and defensive tackle Malik Jackson (groin). …
