Sanders returned from a 31-day
leave of absence Sunday and attended practice for the first time since
organized team activities in June.
Sander spent much of the two-hour session running and riding a stationary bike, trying to get acclimated to the sweltering heat and humidity.
''I've
got a lot of work to do to get back, but I feel pretty good for the
most part,'' Sanders said. ''I've got to get back used to the weather.''
Sanders
announced July 22 he was taking a leave of absence, seeking treatment
and facing a four-game suspension. The next day, the NFL suspended
Sanders without pay for the first four games of the season for violating
the league's substance-abuse policy.
Sanders
said ''personal issues'' caused his misstep and was dealing with ''a
lot of stuff, just with life and family and a lot of issues going on.''
''I
feel much better,'' he said Sunday. ''Got a lot of stuff worked out I
needed to get worked out. Shoot, I just got to keep moving on from this
point. ... I actually learned a lot just about myself and just life in
general. I got a lot of stuff that I can keep in my pocket now.''
Coach Gus Bradley said Sanders might play in Thursday night's preseason finale against Atlanta.
Bradley
welcomed Sanders with a huge hug Sunday morning ''like I was his son or
something,'' Sanders said. ''It always feels good to know that people
love you.''
''He's in really
good spirits,'' Bradley said. ''He knows he's not where he needs to be,
but he's better than where he was, so it's good.''
A
fourth-round draft pick in 2013, Sanders caught 51 passes for 484 yards
and a touchdown as a rookie.
The former South Carolina standout had
been slated to start opposite Cecil Shorts III, but since Jacksonville
drafted receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in the second round in
May and with undrafted rookie Allen Hurns putting together an impressive
camp, it's unclear what role Sanders will have this season.
But Bradley made it clear that Sanders' roster spot is secure. FULL STORY
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