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Jaguars WR Shorts returns, could play at Lions

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts III was back on the field but out of form Sunday.

Shorts returned to practice for the first time since July 25 and could play in Friday’s preseason game at Detroit.

Shorts worked with the first-team offense Sunday, a little more than three weeks after straining his right hamstring in the team’s opening training camp practice. He even caught a pass on the first play of 11-on-11 drills.

“It felt good,” he said. “After that, it was just downhill. Rusty, rusty, rusty. But I’ll be fine. … I’m definitely rusty, so I’ve got to come out here, continue to work, not get frustrated and understand this is really my first practice since April or something like that.”

He made it through the session without any setbacks, a positive sign for a receiver who hasn’t been able to stay on the field in 2014.

He missed most of organized team activities with a calf injury and hasn’t made it through a full season since college. He missed six games with a hamstring injury in 2011, missed two games because of a concussion in 2012 and sat out the final three games in 2013 with a groin injury that slowed him all season.

“You can’t think about getting injured when you’re playing ball,” Shorts said. “You’ve just got to go out there and just play. I did my best to get back as fast as I could. I’m learning to how to take care of my body; I know how to take care of my body. I have to continue to do that process, add a few new things in there and you can’t worry about getting hurt. Just play ball.”

Coach Gus Bradley said Shorts will get some repetitions against the Lions, but “we’ll make sure that it’s not extended play.”

The goal, Shorts said, is to be healthy and in shape for the Sept. 7 season opener at Philadelphia.

“I’ve got some work to do,” Shorts said. “It’s different in pads, in a helmet, running around against a defense. But as time goes on and I get more reps and more reps, I should be fine. The goal is to be able to be 100 percent — everything’s fine — by Week 1.”

Issues at receiver have been a recurring theme for the Jaguars in camp. Second-round draft pick Allen Robinson (hamstring), Tandon Doss (ankle) and Ace Sanders (leave of absence) remain sidelined, and the team has been down as many as seven at the positon. Robinson and Doss are close to returning to practice, and Bradley said Sunday that Sanders might play in the preseason finale against Atlanta.

Jacksonville’s defense is getting closer to full strength, too. Linebacker Paul Posluszny returned to practice Sunday after missing Thursday’s preseason game at Chicago with a bruised biceps, and fellow linebacker Dekoda Watson was activated from the physically unable to perform list.

Watson practiced for the first time since groin surgery this summer.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Watson said. “I’ve been out for about six months and just ready to be back and just contribute to the team and just looking towards a great year. Just taking it step by step, day by day, waiting to see the outcome of it.”

Much like Shorts, the Jaguars eased Watson into practice. And much like Shorts, the team plans to get Watson a few repetitions against Detroit.

“I would love to (play),” Watson said. “I would love to. But at the same time, just be smart about it. If I’m able to play, I’ll play. If not, there’s plenty of football left. Just being patient.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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