Jacksonville Jaguars

Surgeon says reason for optimism QB Bortles will play Sunday

Published Oct. 14, 2015 12:06 a.m. ET

foxsports

Blake Bortles hasn't missed a snap since taking over as Jacksonville's quarterback in Week 3 of last season. And although the second-year player is dealing with a sprained throwing shoulder suffered in last Sunday's 38-31 loss to Tampa Bay, orthopedic surgeon Brian Schulz said Tuesday Bortles shouldn't neccessarily miss any time.

Schulz, who works at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles told Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union the injury, said Bortles' may well be able to play in Sunday's game against Houston.

Bortles suffered a Grade 1 AC joint sprain against the Buccaneers, but played the entire game.

"On the (grading) scale, it’s the least severe, but it’s pretty painful,” Schulz said, per the Times-Union. “He’s going to be quite tender. It may affect his throwing, but players can bounce back from this injury pretty quickly. It depends on how he responds to the treatment. It’s definitely possible he can play this weekend.”

Schulz also said the chances of Bortles making the injury worse by playing were "very small."