ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - On Aug. 13, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced that defensive end Arik Armstead was removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. 

The Pleasant Grove High alum had dealt with a meniscus injury he sustained while with the San Francisco 49ers last season. 

This injury caused Armstead to miss the last five regular season games, but he played through the injury during the 49ers playoff push to the Super Bowl where they would fall to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Following knee surgery during the offseason, Armstead spoke to Jacksonville media and said, “Knee is feeling good; surgery went great. I’ll be back very soon; I’m excited about that. I’m on a very good road to recovery, so I plan on being back to football full time very soon when my team needs me.”

With Armstead off the PUP list, he can now work his way back to the field to make his debut with his new team. 

“I’m just going with the process that they have for me,” Armstead told Jaguars senior writer John Oehser. “I’m going to continue with the plan and get myself ready in a position to be out there to help my team win. So that’s what I’m doing currently.”

Head coach of the Jaguars Doug Pederson said on Aug. 19 that Armstead will be incorporated into practice this week but can’t comment yet on any pre-season activity against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 23. 

Armstead’s goal is to play the regular-season opener in Miami against the Dolphins on Sept. 8. 

“I’m going to continue to take it day by day and continue with the plan that they have for me. I’m feeling good; everything is trending very positively,” Armstead said.

In two pre-season games, the Jaguars are 2-0 with wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, with their last preseason game coming against the Atlanta Falcons.