Luke Joeckel has said that he feels ready to play ahead of the 2013 NFL season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle, who was the second overall pick in this year's draft, missed last week's loss to the New York Jets with a hip muscle injury.
The 21-year-old told the team's website: "I feel good, I feel ready to go. Having these muscle strains, you feel like you shouldn't be out because it's not like a bone sticking out.
"My dad told me, 'I never want to see you laying on the field and I never want to see you have a tear unless a bone's sticking out, or blood's gushing out of your body', so, it's hard to sit out with an invisible muscle strain.
"As many reps as I can get is going to be great for me. This is a little bit of a setback, but I don't think it will affect me too much as long as I take great reps in practice these next two weeks in practice. I think I'll be mentally and physically ready by week one."
Joeckel signed a four-year contract with the Jaguars in June.
Sian Cowper
