Jaguars could be without CB Rashean Mathis at Titans because of broken finger

Jaguars could be without Mathis against Titans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Rashean Mathis wore pink cleats, pink gloves and pink wristbands as part of the NFL’s drive to support breast cancer awareness month.

Now, he’s got a pink cast to match.

Jacksonville’s best defensive back has a broken index finger on his left hand and could miss Sunday’s game at Tennessee.

Wearing a pink and black cast, Mathis said Tuesday he still has a screw in his finger and several stitches. Although they will be removed later this week, he doesn’t expect to practice and isn’t sure whether he will play in Nashville, Tenn.

“I don’t know how it’s going to do yet,” said Mathis, who has 18 tackles and two interceptions this season. “It’s still questionable. I’m going to see. Hopefully I can go.”

If he can’t play, Scott Starks or Tyrone Brackenridge probably would start opposite rookie Derek Cox.

Mathis has missed six games the last two years for the Jaguars (3-3). He sat out two games in 2007 because of a groin injury and missed the final four games last season after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Against St. Louis on Oct. 18, Mathis broke a bone on the back of his finger batting away a pass late in the fourth against. He had surgery during the team’s bye week.

“This is a finger,” Mathis said. “I still have my legs. I can still move my arms. I’m still in great health. I can still run around and tackle. A knee is totally different than a finger.”

When Mathis does return, he expects to wear a smaller cast. He has played with casts and splints before, so he doesn’t foresee any problems tackling, covering or knocking down passes.

“I’m sure there’s somebody on every team with a cast on their hand,” he said. “Fingers are small parts of the body that get banged up. It’s just a finger. It’s not my whole hand. It’s not too big of a deal.”