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          NFL Nation

          Andre Branch hoping to return Sunday

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterNov 26, 2014, 05:00 PM ET
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              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
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          JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive end Andre Branch was back on the practice field on Wednesday for the first time in more than five weeks, and it appears he’s on track to make his return in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

          Branch hasn’t practiced since he suffered a groin injury in the Jaguars’ 24-6 victory over Cleveland on Oct. 19.

          "I’ve been working my tail off to be back," Branch said. "I’m pretty excited to get back out there with my brothers. I felt good, felt good sprinting. They took me through all the right protocol to get back but you can’t even correlate what it’s like going up against another person, pushing off on it."

          Branch had played well before his injury (three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups), and defensive coordinator Bob Babich said he’s eager to see how Branch handles practice on Thursday and Friday because that will determine how much the Jaguars will use him against the Giants.

          "We need to see where he’s going and we need to make sure that we don’t rush him," Babich said. "Hopefully he has his burst which I assume; a lot of times when a guy comes off an injury because he hasn’t been running quite as much his legs feel fresher and he does have a little different burst. So we’re excited to see that."

          Branch, who practiced on a limited basis, said he’s not going to hold back when he does get on the field.

          "You can't be [tentative]," he said. "I'm going to be smart, but not tentative. Concerned is way different than being tentative. You've got to be smart on it, take your time and don't rush it. But at the same time there should be no drop-off."

          Defenisve ends Ryan Davis and Chris Smith got increased playing time during Branch's absence and contributed five sacks and three forced fumbles in the four games that Branch missed.

          In addition to Branch, rookie linebacker Jeremiah George (ankle) practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday. Linebacker LaRoy Reynolds (neck) and receiver Cecil Shorts (illness) did not practice.

          Coach Gus Bradley said Shorts was battling the flu and was seeing a doctor for treatment.