JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Justin Blackmon made a one-handed a catch in the end zone Wednesday, a positive sign for the leagues worst offence. Blackmon returned to practice for the first time since late August. He dropped one pass, but also wowed teammates and coaches with a touchdown grab. "He looked great," quarterback Blaine Gabbert said. "Hes in the best shape Ive seen him in. Hes really worked hard with our strength staff and the trainers to get his body where he wants it to be so he can come in and play right away." Blackmon, the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, was allowed to be in meetings during his suspension for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy, but wasnt allowed to practice. He actually returned to the field Tuesday and caught passes from Gabbert for an hour. "It was very frustrating just sitting there watching the team play," Blackmon said. "Im probably more excited than anybody. Im just ready to get it going." The Jaguars (0-4) certainly could use some help. They rank last in the league in total offence, averaging 224 yards a game, and have scored a league-low 31 points. Opponents have stacked the line of scrimmage to take away running back Maurice Jones-Drew and have rolled coverage over top of leading receiver Cecil Shorts III. Shorts has been targeted a league-high 51 times, but has just 26 catches for 337 yards. Blackmon caught 64 passes for 865 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. The Jaguars traded up to select Blackmon last year, but the former Oklahoma State star was arrested three months later and is now one failed test from missing an entire season. Bradley has been impressed with how Blackmon has handled himself since the suspension. "Hes been awesome," said Bradley, adding that the receiver has done everything asked of him in the weight room and in the community. "All of the things that happened for Justin, hes heading in the right direction, so we are optimistic." Jacksonville might have to rely on Blackmon to play considerable snaps Sunday at St. Louis (1-3). Shorts tweaked his groin during walkthrough Wednesday morning and did not practice in the afternoon as a precaution. The Jaguars also were without fellow receivers Mike Brown (back) and Stephen Burton (concussion). So Blackmon was one of just two healthy receivers -- rookie Ace Sanders was the other -- at practice Wednesday. Making matters worse, the team doesnt expect to have tight end Marcedes Lewis available against the Rams. So Blackmon has little choice but to get ready. "Hes a great player and he just adds another dimension to this offence," Gabbert said. "He had a great year last year and hes looking to build off that coming into this week." Nike Air Force 1 Billig . "This is my city," the Toronto native said upon his arrival Wednesday night. And the 35-year-old former league MVP says he is hoping to making 2014 a memorable year. Air Force 1 Norge . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. http://www.airforce1norge.com/air-force-...t-norge.html.ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net. Nike Air Force 1 Norge Prisjakt .com) - Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson lost an appeal to have his indefinite suspension overturned, the NFL announced Friday. Air Force 1 Hvit Norge .Y. - Alex Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence that could be used in the case involving the Biogenesis of America drug clinic, the Daily News reported Saturday.OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics are tired of squandering chances, especially in late September and on a night Sonny Gray more than earned a positive result. Gordon Beckham homered for the division champion Los Angeles Angels, who dropped the As into a tie for the top AL wild card with a 2-0 win Tuesday night. Grey fanned Mike Trout three times among his career-best 12 strikeouts, one month to the day after Jon Lester struck out the Angels slugger three times at the Coliseum. But Gray had nothing to show for it as Oakland was shut out for the seventh time since Aug. 1. "Its one of the major themes of the last month, month and a half," left fielder Sam Fuld said. "Weve had opportunities. Youve got to take advantage of those opportunities." Oakland and Kansas City are tied for the two wild-card spots at 86-71, three games ahead of Seattle with five to play. The Royals beat Cleveland 7-1 earlier Tuesday night and won the season series with the Athletics 5-2, giving Kansas City the tiebreaker. That means if the Royals and As win the wild cards and finish with identical records, Kansas City would host their one-game playoff next Tuesday. Wade LeBlanc (1-1) ran his scoreless stretch to 15 2-3 innings over his last six outings, allowing five hits in 5 1-3 innings for the AL West champions. LeBlanc is the second of three straight left-handers the Angels are throwing in this series. He is making his case to be on the post-season roster. "Any time players perform well, its going to help you to be stronger and help you make decisions," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We havent made any decisions yet but these are two strong starts from Wade." Gray (13-10) is 0-3 in his last six starts. The right-hander has one victory in 11 starts since a 5-0 July that earned him AL pitcher of the month honours. Of Trouts 13 games with three or more strikeouts, three are against the As. Gray struck out eight of the first 11 batters he faced. "That was terrific," manager Bob Melvin said. "He was up for it today. You could see when he came in the dugout there was a look in his eye he was going to get after it." The As had a chance to tie the game in the fifth after Josh Reddicks one-out double. Eric Sogard grounded out two batters later on an off-balance throw by second basemann Howie Kendrick that just beat Sogard, who slid headfirst.dddddddddddd Los Angeles went ahead in the second on an unearned run when Erick Aybar scored from third during a rundown. Efren Navarro was caught stealing at second on a 2-6-3-4 double play after Hank Conger struck out swinging. Beckham hit his ninth homer leading off the sixth. "We lost. Whatever I did wasnt good enough tonight. It doesnt matter," Gray said. The As loaded the bases in the eighth against Joe Smith, who retired Stephen Vogt on a shallow fly to right to escape unscathed. Huston Street finished the three-hit shutout for his 16th save with the Angels and 40th overall. "I left a small village of runners in scoring position," Vogt said. Oakland was shut down after scoring 16 runs over its previous two games. That outburst came after the As totalled only 19 runs in their previous 10 contests. "We had some opportunities, and one or two more hits and its a different game," Melvin said. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Jered Weaver (18-8) had the flu for a second straight day and left the ballpark. Scioscia said there is flexibility to push Weavers next start from Friday to Saturday if the right-hander needs an extra day. ... 3B David Freese was held out of the lineup after he experienced tightness in his upper back earlier in the day. ... OF Josh Hamilton hit off a tee for the second straight day. He missed his 18th game in 19 because of pain in his upper body. ... Scioscia said RHP Matt Shoemaker is "symptom-free" from a strained left oblique but wont pitch again in the regular season. He still needs to throw off a mound. "You dont want to jump over a step and risk setting yourself back," Scioscia said. Athletics: C Derek Norris was the DH for a second straight day after requiring an injection in his troublesome shoulder. He is slated to start Wednesdays series finale. UP NEXT Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (5-9, 3.98 ERA) has pitched two or fewer innings in each of his past two starts -- both losses -- after winning his previous three. He had no-decisions with a 1.00 ERA in his first three outings against Oakland this season. Athletics: Lester (16-10, 2.41) looks to improve on his 3-1 September record and beat the Angels for the first time in three starts this year. ' ' '