Nelson Responding to Adversity

If Rashean Mathis can't play against the Bills, Reggie Nelson might find himself at corner again.

The Jaguars are back to worrying about Rashean Mathis' injury status.

Mathis, the team's premier cornerback, missed the game at Tennessee on Nov. 1 with a broken left index finger, and now he's in danger of missing Sunday's game against Buffalo with a groin injury.

Coach Jack Del Rio said Monday that Mathis will undergo an MRI on his groin and his status will be updated Wednesday, but he added that Mathis may miss some action.

Mathis was injured midway through the fourth quarter while making a hit on Braylon Edwards after the Jets receiver caught a 16-yard pass.

Mathis wasn't available for comment Monday, but he said after the 24-22 win over the Jets that "it doesn't look good."

If he can't play, the Jaguars would have to decide whether to move safety Reggie Nelson back to cornerback.

Nelson struggled at corner against Tennessee when he replaced Mathis in that game, missing several tackles and giving up a touchdown pass.

But they have more depth at safety than corner if Gerald Alexander can return from the shoulder injury that sidelined him against Tennessee.

Sean Considine returned to the starting lineup against the Jets after missing four games with a groin injury and an illness before playing 38 snaps against Kansas City. He led the team with nine tackles against New York.

If Alexander and Considine handle the safety slots, it would enable Nelson to move back to corner.

"We may (move him)," Del Rio said when asked if he'd consider moving Nelson again. "We'll see what we think is best. We'll work at it this week."

When Del Rio was asked about the move not working in Tennessee, he said, "Well, I think again the only thing didn't work is he didn't tackle very well, but other than that, he's a good football player. We'll plug him in where we need to."

Nelson had three tackles against the Jets and also made big hit, knocking a two-point conversion out of Edwards' hands although quarterback Mark Sanchez took the blame for not making the throw earlier.

If Edwards had caught the ball, the Jets would have had a three-point lead and the Jaguars would have needed a touchdown to win, which might have changed the last drive.

Of Nelson, Del Rio said, "He's a proud player. He's working hard. He's looking to be better."