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Jaguars not holding back Fowler after missed rookie season

Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Losing 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr. on a routine drill in minicamp hasn't deterred the Jacksonville Jaguars from getting the defensive end NFL ready.

Head coach Gus Bradley is giving Fowler the green light to test his surgically repaired ACL after missing his rookie season with the injury suffered in rookie minicamp last spring.

"I think you are seeing him. We are not holding him back right now. You know I think the challenge for us is how long can he play at that level," Bradley told Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country about Fowler. "You know can he do that 70 plays - can he do that 50 plays? I think we are trying to get a feel for that and it's his conditioning, but it's really with everybody in the D-line. How much can they play and keep our standard? So that is the challenge for him, but I have been impressed with him."

Fowler has proved to be worthy of his first-round selection thus far at Jaguars camp as part of their much-improved defensive unit. He is expected to be the team's featured edge rusher this season, joining Malik Jackson and Sen'Derrick Marks on the defensive line.

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