The Jacksonville Jaguars got the news they have wanted since before the team began OTAs three weeks ago.
Tackle Brandon Albert will be at the team’s mandatory veteran minicamp next week, according to Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. The question was asked after the team concluded its final practice on Friday. As Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com wrote, how much Albert participates, if at all, will depend on what kind of shape he’s in when he reports to EverBank Field for the first time since March.
“He told me he’s going to be here,” Marrone said. “I take him for his word, so we’ll see.”
Alabama tackle Cam Robinson was the second-round pick of the team in April. Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said the rookie would be in the mix to claim the left tackle job that still remains open.
As of press time, Robinson is in the driver’s seat of winning the starting job, but if Albert shows up and plays well in training camp and in the preseason, he could win the slot. That means Robinson could be kicked inside to play left guard.
Marrone said he will wait until Albert passes a physical once he arrives before the team decides how much he’ll participate in the three-day minicamp, which begins Tuesday.
“There’s a process that everyone goes through,” Marrone said. “I’m assuming that he would [pass the physical], but you never know, so I’m not going to jump ahead of myself. We’ll set that plan when he comes.”
Albert hasn’t participated in the Jaguars’ voluntary offseason conditioning program or OTAs because he is reportedly not happy with his contract situation. The Jaguars traded their 2018 seventh-round pick to Miami for Albert in March, and he’s due a base salary of $8.875 million in 2017 and $9.575 million in 2018, though neither salary is guaranteed. Albert was a first round draft pick in 2008 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will hold their minicamp next week.