THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier is making gradual improvement from gunshot wounds but is "not out of the woods yet," his agent told a newspaper Thursday.

Collier remained in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, but agent Jeff Jankovich told the Florida Times-Union he was encouraged by what limited knowledge he has of Collier's condition.

"(The family) seems pretty upbeat he's going to make it," Jankovich told the paper. "He's awake at times. He's still in intensive care, but he's stable. Every time they've talked to the doctors, it seems like it's a little bit better. It's still precarious. There may be more surgery needed, but it seems encouraging at this point."

Jankovich did not immediately return a phone call or an e-mail from The Associated Press.

Collier, a six-foot-seven, 345-pound backup, was shot several times while sitting in his Cadillac Escalade early Tuesday morning. Collier and former teammate Kenneth Pettway were waiting outside an apartment complex for two women when the attack occurred.

Police have no suspects in the case, and Collier's family has requested privacy from the hospital and the Jaguars regarding his medical condition.

Jankovich emphasized the need for caution because Collier's progress has been gradual, though the family remains hopeful that his recovery will continue moving in a positive direction. The agent didn't give any specifics about where or how many times Collier was shot or what type of surgery he had.

"We've been told the first 10 days (of recovery) are touch-and-go," Jankovich told the newspaper. "Things are looking good so far, but you don't know how the next week and a half will go. There's further testing to be done, perhaps more surgery. No doctor has come up to me and said he's out of the woods. They weren't sure he was going to make it through that first night."