T25-FLORIDA-RBS
No. 10 Florida counting on RB Jones to return soon
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's depth chart at running back looks like this: a career backup, a walk-on and a former safety.
With a beefed-up offensive line and a few new faces in the backfield, the 10th-ranked Gators were supposed to have an improved, maybe even feared, ground game this season.
But with starter Matt Jones sidelined because of a viral infection and freshmen Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane continuing to have ball security issues, Florida's rushing attack is alarming for all the wrong reasons.
Coach Will Muschamp says "any time you have something like this and you're in uncharted waters and you're uncertain of it, you always plan without the player. If the player's there, it's great."
It's unclear when Jones will return. He's already missed nearly three weeks of practice.
JAGUARS-SHORTS
Jaguars WR Shorts III returns to practice
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts III is practicing again after a two-week hiatus.
Shorts strained his left calf Aug. 5 in training camp and sat out the first two preseason games.
He was medically cleared to practice Monday and back on the field Tuesday, taking part in every drill. Shorts is expected to make his preseason debut Saturday night against Philadelphia.
Shorts caught 55 passes for 979 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games last season. He missed the final two games because of a concussion.
He averaged 17.8 yards a catch, which set a team record and ranked second in the NFL.
With fellow receiver Justin Blackmon suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, the Jaguars are counting on more from Shorts in his third season.
DOLPHINS MOVES
Dolphins TE Keller placed on injured reserve
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Miami Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller has been placed on injured reserve with a severe right knee injury that will force him to miss the entire season.
The move came Tuesday, three days after Keller was hurt in an exhibition game at Houston in which he tore several knee ligaments.
Miami filled Keller's roster spot by signing linebacker Nathan Williams, an undrafted rookie from Ohio State.
OBAMA-DOLPHINS
Obama and '72 Dolphins, a salute after 40 years
WASHINGTON (AP) - The 1972 Miami Dolphins have finally received their White House moment, 40 years after their historic undefeated season.
It was a long wait for a Super Bowl championship team whose feat of 17 games without a loss has been unmatched in the NFL.
President Barack Obama welcomed former team members and their then-coach, Hall of Famer Don Shula, at a White House ceremony Tuesday in recognition of their perfect season. Among those present was the team's star fullback, Hall of Famer Larry Csonka, who made the trip from Alaska.
The '72 Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins in the January 1973 Super Bowl. But in 1973 President Richard Nixon was preoccupied with the Watergate scandal, and White House salutes to sports teams were less of a tradition than now.
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