Mike Thomas said he's not going to worry much. Not yet.
Thomas, the Jaguars' leading receiver, said while he had a slightly different role against the Baltimore Ravens this past Monday than he previously had, his concern is playing well and making plays.
As long as he has that chance, he said he won't complain.
"I let them to do what they do," Thomas said Friday as the Jaguars (2-5) prepared to play the Houston Texans (4-3) at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday at 1 p.m.
"In the crucial times, I'll be out there, I guess. I'm still handling myself as a starter and preparing that way. That's what I'll continue to do."
Thomas, a third-year veteran, has caught 28 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season. After starting the first six games of the season, he returned punts this past Monday, taking over a role he had played his first two seasons.
After fielding the first Baltimore punt, he did not open the Jaguars' first series.
Mike Sims-Walker, who re-joined the team the Wednesday before the Baltimore game, and Jason Hill opened the game at receiver. Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said Thursday Sims-Walker was the receiver in the Jaguars' two-back, two tight-end formation against Baltimore, and because the Jaguars ran more effectively than expected from that formation, Sims-Walker played more extensively than expected.
Thomas played more extensively in the slot than he had in the first six games, though Koetter said Thursday, "You definitely have not seen the last of Mike Thomas as outside receiver."
"That's music to my ears, most definitely," Thomas said. "They have a lot of different packages. We do like to run the ball a lot, and in those packages, we were running it quite a bit, so you can't really be too mad. If they were throwing it every down and I wasn't in there, then maybe I'd be upset. . . .
"Whatever I need to do to help the team out, get us in field position or whatever the case may be – I'll do that," Thomas added. "I'm still in there getting reps, so we'll just see how it plays out.
Also on Friday:
*The Jaguars ruled four players out – defensive end John Chick (abdomen), offensive tackle/guard Eben Britton (back), fullback Brock Bolen (calf) and safety Courtney Greene (hamstring) – for Sunday's game against the Texans. Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio said the hope is Chick and Britton will be able to return after next week's bye week.
*Rookie wide receiver Cecil Shorts did not practice, and was added to the injury report as questionable with a hamstring injury. Shorts said he first had the issue in practice Saturday, two days before the Jaguars' victory over the Ravens. He had had his best week of practice leading to the Ravens game. "Anytime you're hurt, it's a concern, but you get treatment, and see what happens," Shorts said. "We tried to push through it this week, and it probably wasn't a good idea."
*Hill (wrist), linebacker Clint Session (elbow), guard/center Jason Spitz (quadriceps) and Sims-Walker (illness) were also listed as probable.
