JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -The Jacksonville Jaguars believe the key to their season is keeping quarterback Byron Leftwich healthy - something they haven't done in two years.

Leftwich missed seven of the last 25 games because of injuries and was knocked out of two more. Now, he is trying to do his part to prevent it from becoming a trend. He's making quicker reads, speeding up his delivery and vowing to take fewer hits from defensive players.

``I really do believe I have to stay healthy,'' Leftwich said Monday, six days before the Jags open the season against the Dallas Cowboys. ``It's too hard in this league to win when you've got all your players. It's even harder to win when one or some of your guys are down and you don't have your full deck of cards.''

Leftwich has proven to be tough in three seasons. He has completed passes with defenders in his face, on his back and around his legs. He has rebounded from hard hits, staying in games despite aches and pains. He has been sacked 67 times in 39 starts and has been tossed to the ground way more often.

With all the twists and turns and throw-downs, can Leftwich stay healthy for an entire season?

``We've got to keep No. 7 on the field,'' left tackle Khalif Barnes said. ``He's our starting quarterback. We've got to protect him like he's our parent back there.''

The Jaguars tried to beef up their offensive line during the offseason by signing former first-round draft picks Mike Williams and Stockar McDougle. But Williams reinjured his back early in training camp and was placed on injured reserve. McDougle provided little competition and was relegated to a backup role.

Leftwich's protection may have other problems, too. Not only did five-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Smith retire, leaving Leftwich with an inexperienced group of receivers, but starting fullback Greg Jones tore a knee ligament in the preseason and is out for the year.

And Kyle Brady, once considered to be the best run-blocking tight end in the league, is nearly 35 years old and could lose playing time to George Wrighster and first-round draft pick Marcedes Lewis.

``We take a lot of pride in protecting our quarterback,'' center Brad Meester said. ``That's one of the things we talk about all the time. The last thing any of us want to see is him getting hit or laying on the ground. We take it personally. If he does get hit or knocked down, we hold each other accountable up front and make sure it doesn't happen again.''

Leftwich missed two games in 2004 with a sprained left knee and wasn't the same the rest of the season.

He missed the final five games last year with a broken left ankle. Although he returned for the postseason - a somewhat controversial move because backup David Garrard was 4-1 in his place - Leftwich was clearly rusty in a 28-3 loss at New England. He was 18-of-31 for 179 yards with an interception and was sacked four times.

Jacksonville's line didn't fare much better this preseason, allowing Leftwich to be sacked seven times in three games.

``That was just the preseason,'' Leftwich said. ``There's no preparation. You don't know the guy on the other side. You don't know his moves, you've never seen him play and you don't even have a game plan for those guys. You just show up. It's the unknown. This isn't pickup basketball. You have to be prepared to play to be successful. You're never prepared during the preseason.''

Leftwich has improved each year, throwing 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2003, improving to 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2004, then tossing 15 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.

But he also has increased the number of games missed each season.

``As you become older, you become a smarter football player,'' Leftwich said. ``The only way to really learn is to go through it. Unfortunately for me, the injuries I had weren't preventable. A guy almost tore my knee off and a guy almost pulled my ankle off. There was nothing I could really do.

``The key now for me is to make sure I play 16 games and be here for the team 16 games in a row.''

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