Out

Wait a minute. Doug Martin says he needs the preseason work but he won’t play tonight, per a Rick Stroud report.

The Tampa Bay Times beat writer Twittered today that Martin will sit tonight’s game in Jacksonville with bruised ribs.

Joe just talked to Martin this week in Jacksonville about how so many fans want to put him in bubble wrap for the preseason to keep him healthy.

Martin was dead set against that line of thinking.

“Practice reps and live reps are completely different,” he said. “It’s a way to measure yourself on where you stand in the game after the offseason. Do you need more conditioning? Do you need to get in the weight room a little more? Stuff like that.

“Don’t worry. I’ve been playing the game since my freshman year in high school, and I know preseason reps help me. They do.”

Joe hopes Martin returns for the preseason game against the Browns next week, only because Martin believes he needs the reps.

If it’s in his head that he needs them, then so be it, even if Joe would prefer Martin enjoy the bench, heal up and stay safe. But that’s not for every player.