"Quarterback David Garrard's back, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton's weight and defensive end Aaron Kampman's new role were the focus of attention Saturday when the Jaguars returned to the practice field.

Garrard, who discussed the specifics of his back injury, and Knighton, who said he still weighs in the 340s, ended their time on the sideline. Garrard practiced for the first time since Aug. 4 and Knighton for the first time since camp opened July 28.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Kampman, who signed a free-agent contract with $10 million in guaranteed money a year ago, will have his snaps cut from 70 to 45 a game this season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament two years in a row.

Garrard said he was encouraged that his back didn't get too sore after he came out Friday and did some work with trainer Mike Ryan.

"I'm not going to try to overdo myself with too many extra things," Garrard said of his plan for practice. "I've always had a little bit of back issues over my career but never to the point where it had me out of work. It was more in depth in the spine. It was more of a disk than an actual muscle."

Garrard sat out the preseason opener in New England and said that if the Jaguars were in the regular season, he probably would have needed a shot to play.

"My only thing is that's such a scary thing, to shoot yourself up and numb the pain, so you can go out there. I don't want to be like some of these guys you see that are retired and come back and can barely stand up straight," Garrard said.

He said physicians told him his back looks like the back of an offensive lineman. The linemen generally take a pounding over the years.

On whether he'll play Friday night against Atlanta, Garrard said, "If I'm out here practicing, then I bet I'm playing. That's kind of my thoughts."

On sitting out against New England, he said, "I hated the fact I didn't play in the last game last year [when he suffered a finger injury] and then to start this preseason and not play this year. It's been a while since I've not been out there under the lights with the fans yelling. I'm tired of sitting around watching."

The Jaguars were back to having four quarterbacks as Luke McCown also returned to practice Saturday."