Jones-Drew expects to return to practice next week

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew expects to be back at practice next week.

Jones-Drew has missed five consecutive practices, didn't travel to Tampa Bay last week and didn't dress for Thursday night's preseason finale against Atlanta.

He denied an Internet report he had arthroscopic knee surgery, but acknowledged he has been “taking care of all the nicks and bruises.”

He says he felt the best thing to do was to rest and get his body “back right.” He calls the false report “a big mess over nothing.”

Jones-Drew started every game last season and finished with a career-high 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns.