JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars receiver Jerry Porter practiced for the first time in nearly three months Monday, calling it a "small step in the big scheme of things."

Porter, who signed a six-year, $30 million contract in February to be the team's go-to receiver, had surgery to repair a torn hamstring in July. He missed all of training camp and the preseason, and coach Jack Del Rio said he wanted him to have two weeks of practice before playing in a game.

So it's unlikely he will play in Sunday's season opener at Tennessee. But Del Rio could bring back Porter against Buffalo the following week.

"He said 'Aim at Buffalo,"' Porter said. "If you have a hamstring pull, tear, whatever, and guys come back too soon, it sets them back for twice as long. He said he'd rather be a little precautious and make sure everything's ready.

"It's a smart attitude. You just had a major surgery to open your leg up and they did some fixing and some twiddling around in there. You've just got to be smart."

The Jaguars kept six receivers on the active roster, one more than in recent years, in anticipation of not having Porter back before the opener.

Without him in the lineup, former first-round draft picks Matt Jones and Reggie Williams likely will start against the Titans. Jones had his best training camp despite facing a felony drug charge in Arkansas. Williams missed much of the preseason after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Dennis Northcutt, Mike Walker and Troy Williamson are the team's other receivers.

Porter said he felt fine following practice and wants to play in the opener. But he also knows the decision is out of his hands.

"There's no football player that's going to say he doesn't want to play this week, especially opening week," Porter said. "But I've got to be smart. I've got to do what coach says. Today was a small step in the big scheme of things. But it's all coach's decision."