Jason Babin injury: Jaguars DE optimistic about return

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin had surgery earlier in the week for an injury he suffered during the OTA sessions. The expectation is that Babin will be ready to return in July when training camp opens, but there is some uncertainty surrounding when exactly he'll be available to get back into the swing of things.

"I'll take it one day at a time and do my rehab as I'm supposed to do," Babin told the Florida Times-Union.

Currently Babin is slated to start for the Jaguars at the LEO defensive end position, essentially the team's primary pass rushing role. In his absence, it will give second-year defensive end Andre Branch some valuable work with the first team defense at the position, but Babin is someone the Jaguars are going to want back in at least the rotation as we get closer to the NFL season.

"It was one of those things, it just wasn't getting better," Babin told reporters. "The specialist saw it and said, ‘This is what we need to do,' so whatever it takes is what we do."

He thinks he'll be ready when he's needed, however.

"It's a short turnaround, they told me," Babin told reporters about his recovery. "It's one of those surgeries with high, high results and nothing else is affected. It's a low-risk surgery and I should recover."

Babin, 33, was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars last season when he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. Babin is due $4.2 million in salary for the 2013 season and can opt out of his deal after the season if he desires, but his salary ramps up to $6 million in 2014.

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