The pads are on, and for the Jacksonville Jaguars, that means the training camp answers are getting a lot harder to fake.
Head coach Liam Coen made the point plainly after Monday’s work at the Miller Electric Center: “It's always a little bit more realistic when you get the pads on. I mean, the whole thing is, like, pass pro sucks with no pads on. It just does,”
After two padded practices, a few names have already separated themselves, and a few others have found out the hard way that the real work starts now.
Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker keep doing what established edge rushers are supposed to do: wreck things. Both have been disruptive through the first two days in pads, with Hines-Allen standing out against the run and Walker showing noticeable growth as a pass-rusher.
That progression from Walker has caught the eye of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
“Even you watch him in the individual work, doing the run game stuff and trying to be super intentional about everything he does. I see that stuff showing up in the practice," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said on Tuesday.
"And then in the pass rush, he's looked really, really good this camp. So, I think he's improved a bunch even from where we were here last spring.”
On the other side of the line, Anton Harrison has kept building momentum at left tackle. He has gotten reps there before, but this is the longest stretch he has stayed at the spot in any training camp of his career. Even with every NFL start he’s made coming at right tackle, Harrison has looked comfortable and has been the Jaguars’ best offensive lineman in camp.
That matters. Jacksonville already picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season, and if Harrison keeps flashing at left tackle, his value only climbs from here. The Jaguars have time to work out a deal, but every strong practice at a premium spot adds another layer to that conversation.
The rookie receivers have been making noise, too. Josh Cameron and CJ Williams have turned this camp into a steady stream of plays, with at least one of them seemingly showing up in just about every practice since the offseason program. The comparison that keeps coming up is Parker Washington as a rookie in 2023, and the pattern has continued now that the pads are on.
Williams had a few notable moments in the red zone during an otherwise rough offensive stretch on Tuesday, while Cameron’s ability to win as a pass-catcher showed up multiple times. Both are giving the Jaguars plenty to think about.
Jarrian Jones has also stayed in the middle of the action. No one on the team has intercepted more passes in camp, and he’s been especially active near the goal line. On Tuesday, he denied Parker Washington a touchdown by forcing him out of bounds after a strong coverage rep.
Jourdan Lewis didn’t hold back when talking about Jones this week.
“Just the mental aspect of it. Being able to continue to perform like that because he has all the physical tools and the techniques to be a great player, which he is.
He's already a great player, but it's just that next step," Lewis said after Monday's practice. "Mentally locking in and just being consistent, not worrying about anybody else's process or anything else to mess up his process.
Just keep his process, his process, and take it day-by-day. I think he's going to be one of the most dominant corners in all of football.
I really think he's that good.”
Not everything has been clean, though. The passing game had a rougher Tuesday after a few strong days earlier in camp, and the timing of that dip matters: the offense has already logged six practices in seven days against a defense that can make life miserable. Still, the Jaguars hurt themselves with three turnovers on Tuesday, and they also had a fumbled snap on Monday.
That’s the difference between simply losing a practice and beating yourself.
The run game and backfield rotations have been a little more muddled. Rookie J’Mari Taylor did rip off a solid run straight through the middle on Tuesday, but he still looks like a long shot for the No. 4 running back role, if that role even turns into much.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is expected to see more work in run periods going forward, while Bhayshul Tuten and, to a lesser extent, LeQuint Allen have handled the first-team reps in his absence. Ameer Abdullah and DeeJay Dallas also appear to be getting more run than Taylor through the first few padded days, so a larger sample may have to wait until preseason games begin in a week-and-a-half.
Wyatt Milum’s camp has also taken a turn. He was one of the early winners after moving in for Patrick Mekari at right guard in team drills, but the first two padded practices were tougher.
Milum had issues in pass protection both days and still looks like a young lineman who needs a lot more reps. His one-on-one work has left something to be desired, even if the expectation is that he’ll improve with more time against the top group.
The good news for Milum is that the next stretch should give him plenty of chances. Jacksonville practices from Thursday through Sunday in what should be one of the hardest runs of camp, and the top defensive linemen already got the better of him early in pads. There will be more chances to answer back soon.
In Other News...
Jaguars Camp Battles Are Heating Up At Three Key Positions
Six practices into training camp, the Jaguars are already getting a clearer picture of where the roster stands before the joint-work portion of summer begins. Jacksonville will soon test itself against the Saints, Panthers and Buccaneers in consecutive stretches of practice, a useful stretch for a team still sorting out who fits where as the regular season approaches. A recent depth chart projection tried to map out the current pecking order across the roster, from quarterback and wide receiver to the offensive line and the back end of the defense.
What makes this stage interesting is how many spots still feel very much up for grabs, even with camp underway. The projected lineup touched on key battles at running back, cornerback, safety and along the defensive line, the kinds of positions where one strong week can change how coaches view the rotation. Once the Jaguars start facing outside competition in those joint practices, those internal competitions should get a lot sharper, and a few of them may not be settled as quickly as the calendar suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookies Are Already Revealing Who Could Earn Early Roles
Five training camp practices in, the Jaguars are already getting a clearer picture of how their rookie class fits. Some first-year players have started to separate themselves in the early depth chart picture, with a few carving out immediate backup roles while others are still working to climb past veteran competition. For a team trying to sort out its roster early in camp, those first indications matter because they hint at which rookies are ready to factor in sooner rather than later.
Albert Regis has settled in as the backup to DaVon Hamilton at defensive tackle, and he is not the only newcomer drawing attention. Jalen Huskey, Wesley Williams, Zach Durfee, Josh Cameron, CJ Williams, Tanner Koziol and Parker Hughes are all working from different spots on the board, most of them behind more experienced players or in direct competition for a place on the roster. The early list does not settle much, but it does show which names have already put themselves in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Camp Concern That Could Shape The Roster
Training camp has barely gotten moving, and the Jaguars are already dealing with a roster issue that can change how the whole month is evaluated. Injuries at linebacker have thinned one spot, and the bigger concern for depth right now is along the offensive line, where Cole Van Lanens placement on the Active/PUP list has left Jacksonville light at tackle.
That is why the Jaguars are looking at veteran help to keep camp reps competitive and protect themselves against more wear and tear. Joe Noteboom, Liam Eichenberg and D.J. Humphries are among the names in the mix, giving the front office a few different ways to add experience and competition while the team sorts out what it really has in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]