National Football League

Kampman returning with caution from knee injury

Published Jul. 30, 2010 6:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

Aaron Kampman walked by rows of Jacksonville Jaguars fans clamoring for his autograph Friday, promising to sign after the night practice.

His debut was on hold, too.

Kampman, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end and the team's top offseason acquisition, is taking a cautious approach to his return from knee surgery. Kampman sat out minicamp in May and organized team activities this summer. He also skipped team drills Friday as Jacksonville opened training camp.

''Two-a-days they don't want me to do,'' said Kampman, who was scheduled to make his debut during Friday night's session. ''That's a decision they made.''

The Jaguars have reason to be careful. Kampman had surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in early December, leaving him with less recovery time than most football players the same injury. He also signed a four-year contract worth $26 million in March to be the cornerstone of the team's revamped defense.

Jacksonville parted ways with linebacker Clint Ingram and defensive linemen John Henderson, Reggie Hayward, Quentin Groves and Rob Meier. The Jaguars also traded for veteran linebacker Kirk Morrison and used their first four draft picks to fortify the D-line.

No one really knows whether Tyson Alualu (first round), D'Anthony Smith (third), Larry Hart (fifth) and Austen Lane (fifth) will help right away, but the Jaguars are confident Kampman can boost a unit that ranked last in the NFL with a franchise-worst 14 sacks in 2009. It was the fifth-lowest total in NFL history, an embarrassing effort that led coach Jack Del Rio to fire defensive line coach Ted Monachino.

''There are a lot of things we have to do better,'' Del Rio said. ''A lot of them have been regurgitated so many times this offseason that I'm frankly getting tired of looking at them, but it is what it is because it's what it was. But what was is not what we will be going forward.''

Jacksonville has plenty of other issues to settle during training camp:

-Can they sell enough tickets over the next six weeks to avoid more blackouts and cease speculation about relocation?

-Who will be the No. 2 receiver opposite Mike Sims-Walker? Troy Williamson? Mike Thomas? Jarett Dillard?

-How will the interior offensive line, part of a unit that allowed 42 sacks last season, sort itself out with the addition of veteran guard Justin Smiley?

-Is quarterback David Garrard the answer? Owner Wayne Weaver and Del Rio challenge Garrard during the offseason, saying he needed to do more on and off the field. Garrard responded by insisting he's more dedicated and determined than ever.

The defensive overhaul, though, probably will be the biggest story line.

It starts with Kampman, who spent the last eight seasons in Green Bay and emerged as one of the NFL's elite pass rushers. He had 37 sacks between 2006 and 2008.

His productivity dipped last season because he didn't make a smooth transition to Green Bay's 3-4 defensive scheme that called for him to play outside linebacker. He had just 3 1/2 sacks before missing a game in mid-November because of a concussion. He returned the following week, but injured his knee. He had surgery Dec. 4, making Jacksonville's signing a somewhat risking move since he's a 30-year-old defender coming off major knee surgery.

But the Jaguars also believe Kampman's work ethic and relentless effort could lead to a rapid recovery and an instant boost on defense.

Even though he's practicing in a limited capacity, Kampman feels full speed and ready to go.

''What knee?'' he said. ''That's my mindset. You don't think about it. It's literally something I haven't been thinking about. That will continue to be my mindset and we'll keep just charging ahead.''