The deep thigh contusion that has sidelined Trent Edwards since Wednesday will also keep him along the sidelines Sunday night in Indianapolis
"I had spoken with coach briefly before today's practice and he had said to me that I was not going to be available for this weekend's game," said Edwards following practice Friday. "So we're going to be pretty precautious in terms of trying to get me 100 percent for the last preseason game and not take any risks and that's kind of what I'm going with right now."
Jauron said J.P. Losman will start in Edwards' place and play about a half with the starting offense.
"J.P. will get a really good look and a long look on that night and it's really good for him to play and then hopefully coming back the next week Trent will be completely healthy," said Jauron. "The leg feels a lot better, he feels a lot better about it, but it just makes sense not to do anything here so we'll let it rest and heal."
As for how the thigh contusion feels at this point Edwards still feels it's improving, just not as fast as he would have hoped.
"It's making minimal progress day to day, but it's progressing which is a positive, but still it's not where it needs to be right now," said Edwards. "But I feel we're going in the right direction. I feel that the training staff has been doing the right thing with me and I can't complain about that."
Even though Edwards will not play Sunday night, he does intend to travel with the team this weekend.
"I would still like to be there and take in the environment and make sure I'm sitting in on all the plays and all the meetings and making sure I'm still very, very involved which I need to be," he said.
The second-year signal caller naturally would prefer to get all the snaps in what will be the final extensive dress rehearsal for the starting units. Knowing that's not possible however, Edwards is trying to do everything else that he can to prepare himself under the circumstances for the regular season.
"I can't do anything about it," he said. "What's frustrating is there are valuable reps out there for me to take advantage of, but it's out of my control. So I need to be able to take it all in and try to get better the best way I can without getting the reps and be back Thursday for the Lions game."
Hardy, Parrish unlikely to play
Receivers James Hardy and Roscoe Parrish are also unlikely to play Sunday night.
"He won't be playing," said Jauron of Hardy. "I don't think Roscoe will make it to the game either."
Jauron had hoped to have both Hardy and Parrish back on the practice field by Thursday, Friday at the latest, but with Hardy's hamstring still an issue and Parrish dealing with a sore knee it looks as though the receiving corps will shorthanded for the second straight preseason game.
Scott Mayle and Josh Reed did not play in the last preseason game against Pittsburgh.
