JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks was hard to recognize on the practice field on Friday.

He was wearing a helmet.

It had been nearly seven months since he last had one on. That was the Jaguars’ 22-20 victory over Baltimore on Nov. 15, during which Marks suffered a torn right triceps and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve. He had been working off to the side during offseason conditioning and the Jaguars’ previous organized team activities.

Injuries have kept Sen'Derrick Marks on the sideline too much for his taste, but he hopes it has saved some wear and tear on his body. Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

"I actually thought I was going to return next week for minicamp but it was good to get out today, actually get a feeling and get back in the groove and basically see what I can do," Marks said. "… It felt good just getting back and just trusting the process and being able to go out and have no hiccups."

Marks wasn’t a full participant on Friday -- he was medically cleared for individual work only -- but it is the first step for him to be fully cleared for training camp late next month. That’s when he’ll find out just where he fits into a revamped and significantly more talented defense.

Marks was the Jaguars’ best defensive player in 2014, leading the team with 8.5 sacks (second among defensive tackles), 15 tackles for loss and 16 QB hurries to go along with 44 tackles and a fumble recovery. He suffered a torn right ACL in the season finale and wasn’t able to return to the field until Week 5 of the 2015 season.

He played just four games before his arm injury put him on injured reserve. Since then, the Jaguars signed Malik Jackson to a six-year, $86.1 million contract and drafted Sheldon Day in the fourth round. They both play the same three-technique position as Marks, and so does Michael Bennett, whom the team drafted in the sixth round in 2015.

So how, exactly, does Marks fit? Jackson probably is going to be the starter, but defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Marks will be a major part of the rotation on first and second down. It’s likely Marks will pair inside with Jackson in the Jaguars’ third-down package, too. Still it sounds like Marks isn’t going to average 43 snaps per game the way he did in 2014.

"We have three or four guys that can play three-technique," Wash said. "Some are going to have to play nose also. It’s going to be a great battle once we get into training camp because we really do have some really good football players.

"He [Marks] will be a pass rusher. He will be in the rotation on first and second down. We’re just going to make sure guys are fresh when we get in there on third down. Last year, we weren’t fresh and it showed on our ability to get to the quarterback."

For now, Marks is more concerned with making sure he works on his technique and fundamentals since he has played only 140 snaps since his knee injury on Dec. 28, 2014.

"I tell myself all the time I can wake up and kick ass any day so I don’t think I have to go out and work on that," he said. "But for me personally I think I need to go out and make sure I get my steps down pat, get my hands back right, just understand what’s asked of me from the defense.

"I think my job is to make sure … I get back to a level of game that I was playing before I got hurt."

That was a pretty good level, and Marks said the injuries he has suffered over the past 18 months may actually allow him to sustain that level over a longer period of time. Playing in only four games last season was frustrating, but it did save a lot of wear and tear on the 29-year-old’s body.

"I think that was the only thing that kind of kept me sane last year with the back-to-back injuries, was that maybe it added a couple years to my career," Marks said. "I don’t have to take all the pounding. By adding extra guys this year I don’t have to take all the run reps. So I think it adds a little bit to my body, but for me I feel great."