Against the New York Giants in the first preseason game of the 2012 NFL season the Jacksonville Jaguars starters played roughly 25 plays, but against the New Orleans Saints on Friday the plan is for the starting unit to play at least the first half of the game, including first-round pick Justin Blackmon.

"I think he will work with the first unit again. We’re going to talk tomorrow night about participation but we’re going to try a minimum of a half," head coach Mike Mularkey said on Tuesday after practice. "Again, if I see any indications that he’s not in top shape I’m not going to put him out there. That exposes him to injury. That exposes us to failure on offense. So as long as he’s playing at a high level than he will stay in there."

Blackmon had been getting extra work in practice this week and was noted to have "faded" a bit late in practice while trying to play catchup.