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Dante Fowler back for Jacksonville Jaguars; Jalen Ramsey to be ready for camp

By The Sports Xchange
Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. (L) stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was announced as the third overall pick in the draft selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 30, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
1 of 3 | Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. (L) stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was announced as the third overall pick in the draft selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 30, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

JACKSONVILLE -- The news emanating out of the Jacksonville Jaguars' camp this week finally took a turn for the good.

First there was the positive showing of Dante Fowler Jr. working out at full strength for the first time since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first rookie mini-camp workout in May, 2014. It was devastating news for the Jaguars that day about their No. 1 overall pick in the draft just a week earlier.

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But here was Fowler, going full tilt, not showing any signs of the injury that cost him an entire season.

That good news was matched a day later when the Jaguars announced that the slight meniscus tear this year's No. 1 draft pick, Jalen Ramsey, suffered the first day of the Jaguars' Phase Two workouts, was indeed minor. That was followed by the news that Ramsey would likely be ready to rejoin his teammates by the time the Jaguars open training camp in late July.

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Ramsey didn't waste any time in taking steps to return to full health. He underwent knee surgery Tuesday morning to repair the tear of the meniscus in his right knee.

"That's great news; outstanding," head coach Gus Bradley said after the team's second OTA.

Bradley was told of Ramsey's procedure immediately after the OTA by general manager Dave Caldwell.

"That's what we hoped for," Bradley said about Ramsey likely to be ready for camp. "We knew all of the scenarios. Going back and looking at how he handled it, he was very mature. I'm excited for him."

The other scenario would have been corrective surgery to repair the meniscus injury that would have been similar to the procedure that Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack had in September. That surgery cost Jack all but three games of his final season at UCLA and was the reason that so many teams passed on Jack in the first round before the Jaguars grabbed him early in the second round. That type of surgery would have kept Ramsey on the sidelines at least four-to-six months and might have cost him his entire rookie season as well.

That would have been devastating news for the Jaguars who can ill afford to lose their No. 1 draft pick a second year in a row. Not with the early progress that Ramsey had shown in the team's workouts up until this point.

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Bradley had already expressed pleasure with how quickly Ramsey had adopted to the Jaguars' defensive schemes and concepts.

"We weren't going to give him any nickel (inside cornerback) reps, but we felt like he was progressing (enough) and I had conversations with him saying, 'When we talk about nickel, start listening up,'" Bradley said. "That's proof right there - he's picking things up really quick."

While the Jaguars still plan to play Ramsey at cornerback inside and outside, Bradley made it clear that they'll go about Ramsey's development in a cautious way.

"That's what we'd like to do," the Jaguars' coach said about playing him both spots. "We're going to make sure we don't put too much on his plate, but if he can handle it, we'll teach him both."

There likely won't be any holding back when it comes to Fowler's play this fall. The talented defensive end from Florida soaked in the Jaguars' defensive concepts last year while he watched from the sidelines. And even with a new defensive coordinator in Todd Wash, the defense isn't likely to take on much of a different look. Fowler says he's ready to apply the scheme he learned from the classroom last year to the practice field this season.

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"It's actually better because when I was out last year I was in the film room and all the meetings. I didn't miss any meetings," Fowler said. "Mentally I'm ready to go. I just have to display it out on the field and put it all together."

The Jaguars desperately need Fowler to be at full strength and to produce from the LEO, pass-rushing end spot. The team was tied for 20th in sacks last season with 36. The weak-side end where Fowler will now start produced only seven sacks a year ago by two players (Andre Branch and Chris Clemons), neither of whom are with the team any longer. Fowler will be looked to, to cover those seven and possible get into double-digit sack totals.

He said, "There really isn't a lot of pressure on me. I just know that I have some big shoes to fill. I'm ready. I'm just trying to prepare myself. Be ready for the first game when we go out there and when it's time to win. There is no pressure at all. I feel good. I felt good out here running around. My body is getting in shape. I haven't felt this good in a long time."

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Bradley said while it's still early, he likes what he's seeing in Fowler's effort on the field, even with the team being cautious in his number of reps.

"I think Dante has looked really good. He's been through phase one, phase two, phase three - still has some work to do. He has a little bit of rustiness. We're holding him back a little bit," Bradley acknowledged. "He's not getting the same reps as everybody else. We just want to see how he comes along and how he handles it, but attitude and work ethic? Unbelievable, unbelievable."

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