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As Florida Times-Union staffer Bart Hubbuch framed it this morning: "Acknowledging their concerns about Fred Taylor's availability this season, the Jaguars are close to completing a long-discussed trade for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry. ..."

Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said Thursday in a statement released by the team that a deal for Henry, a Pro Bowl selection in 2003, could be completed "in the next few days or week."

"The fact that we have an opportunity to acquire a running back of this kind of talent is something we have to look at so we're looking at it," Del Rio said in the statement. "This may or may not happen, but we're protecting our interests, and any time we think we can acquire somebody who can help us, we're going to do that."

The Jaguars are pursuing Henry, who at 26 is nearly three years younger than Taylor, despite what Del Rio described as an encouraging workout by Taylor earlier this week.

In case you missed it, when spring practices ended on June 22, Del Rio told reporters he would observe Taylor in July before the start of training camp to determine what Taylor's availability would be for camp.

According to Jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman, Del Rio put together a plan for Taylor's training camp participation after watching the veteran halfback go through his paces on Monday.

"My thought is he'll be on the field for the first shorts practice. We'll open camp with Fred but we'll practice him once a day and it'll be in shorts. We'll monitor him during that first week. We want to see his strength continue to improve. The big thing for Fred is to continue to increase the strength in that leg. He won't take part in the scrimmage but, leading up to the (preseason) game against Miami, we'd like to work him into the padded practices," Del Rio explained.

"(Assistant trainer) Joe Sheehan has done a great job with the rehab and Fred has worked his butt off. I was very encouraged with where he is three weeks before camp; actually, two weeks now," the coach added.

Asked by Ketchman if his expectations are for Taylor to be in uniform for the regular-season opener, Del Rio replied affirmatively.

Taylor has been sidelined all offseason by surgery in January to repair two ligaments in his left knee that were damaged in the Jaguars' Dec. 19 victory at Green Bay, an injury that caused him to miss the final two games.

He then underwent knee surgery in late January that was more serious than the Jaguars initially reported. The Jaguars said Taylor had a minor arthroscopic procedure, but Taylor admitted on a Jacksonville radio station that he had full cut surgery.

Hubbuch reminded readers that Taylor shrugged off questions about his status in an interview last week.

"I'm going to be fine," he said. "You just wait and see. I'm going to be just fine."

The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Henry, has rushed for 3,849 yards (with a 4.0-yard average) and 27 touchdowns in four seasons. He is being shopped by the Bills after losing his starting job to Willis McGahee last season.

Henry demanded a trade because he didn't want to be McGahee's backup.

Buffalo News beat man Allen Wilson reminded readers this morning, Henry also has dealt with some physical ailments, but missed just four games in three years as a full-time starter.

Henry indicated earlier this year that he wanted to go play where he can be the starter and according to Wilson, "It doesn't appear likely the Jaguars would be pursuing him if they weren't going to give him an opportunity to be the number one back."

Of course,the Jaguars have discussed a trade for Henry for much of the offseason, showing interest in him along with Tennessee and Seattle. The stumbling blocks to a deal have been compensation to the Bills and the necessity of signing Henry to a contract extension.

The Bills are holding out for at least a third-round draft pick, and Henry can become a free agent next winter without an extension because he is in the final year of his contract at a cost of $1.25 million. Neither the Bills nor the Jaguars would comment Thursday on possible compensation for Henry, although a Buffalo radio station reported it could be a third-round pick that improves to a second-round choice if Henry reaches certain statistical benchmarks.

Tennessee and Seattle are still in contention, but Henry's agent told Hubbuch on Thursday that he is further along with the Jaguars on an extension than with any other team.

"We've had really positive dialogue with Jacksonville in the past week," agent Hadley Engelhard said. "Considering he's from that part of Florida, Travis is very excited about the prospect of coming to Jacksonville."

According to Ketchman, working against the Jaguars is the probability Buffalo would prefer to deal Henry to a team that would make the trade risk-free. If that's the case, Seattle would be that team, since the Seahawks are in the NFC.

By trading Henry within the AFC to the Titans or Jaguars, the Bills would be risking the possibility of strengthening teams against whom the Bills would have to compete for a wild-card spot.

The Jaguars, it's thought, might represent the greatest threat to the Bills. ...

For the record, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli advised readers this morning that -- despite the positive reports out of J-ville -- the Titans have made the more attractive trade proposal to the Bills and are the front-runner in the chase for the disgruntled tailback.

Stay tuned. ... I'll obviously have more on this story as developments warrant. ...

Meanwhile, I think it's worth noting that Jacksonville will have a crowded offensive backfield if Henry arrives.

Del Rio said the Henry trade discussions are not a reflection on the team's feelings about backup running backs LaBrandon Toefield, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala or rookie Alvin Pearman.

"We like all of our guys," Del Rio said in the team's statement. "We think LaBrandon Toefield can be a very good player. The thing that makes Henry attractive is he's proved he can do it.

"We think LaBrandon can step in. If we don't land Travis, LaBrandon will be asked to do that. And Fu. And the forgotten guy is Greg Jones. He's the hammer. We feel like that's a good group, but any time you have a chance to add somebody at a modest price, you have to look at it. ..."

Taylor said last week that he would welcome Henry's arrival as long as Henry realizes the Jaguars "are my team."

"I'm all for bringing him in, because that's just going to make us better," Taylor said. "But this is my team."

We'll find that soon enough.