Dante Fowler Now an Uncaged Jaguar

Jacksonville Jaguars 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler tore his ACL around 20 minutes into his first workout with the team. And for the last year and change, he’s been a caged Jaguar, going through rehab, restrengthening the surrounding muscles and regaining flexibility in the joint.

But now, a few days into his first training camp, the big Jaguar has been let out of the cage in preparation for his first real season in the NFL. Head coach Gus Bradley made it clear Saturday that the promising young edge-rusher won’t be held back in training camp.

He told SB Nation’s Big Cat Country, “I think you are seeing him. We are not holding him back right now,” Bradley said, via . I think the challenge for us is how long can he play at that level. Can he do that 70 plays? Can he do that 50 plays? … So that is the challenge for him, but I have been impressed with him.”

You can see from the video Drew Copley tweeted of Fowler beating right tackle Jermey Parnell a couple of times that he still has what made him the Jaguars’ No. 3 overall pick in him. He feels 100 percent healthy, but that he’s still looking to get his full pre-injury form back.

He told the team’s official website, “You really can’t tell how close I am. I know that I am back, but I know my capabilities. I still have to get my explosiveness back. I feel explosive and I feel faster, so I can only imagine how it’s going to be when everything comes in. I still have work to put in.”

And Bradley isn’t going to hold him back from putting it in!