Day 19 of Jaguars training camp had the kind of mixed bag you usually get in a joint practice: a few players popping, a few getting swallowed up, and a whole lot of tape for both staffs to sort through later. Jacksonville had plenty to like against the Buccaneers, even if the day wasn’t clean across the board.
The biggest offensive beneficiary was Parker Washington. With Brian Thomas Jr. out for most of the day and Jakobi Meyers also sidelined, the passing game kept finding its way to Washington, and he kept answering.
There were a couple snaps where he and Trevor Lawrence were just off and couldn’t finish the throw, but Washington was consistently separating and creating chunk plays at every level of the field. Based on what he’s shown all camp, he looks like the Jaguars’ leading receiver.
Brenton Strange also stayed busy. The tight end was right there with Washington in terms of targets, and he made his presence felt with a few downfield grabs. His best moment, though, might have been a contested catch in the middle of the field between two defenders from Lawrence, the kind of play that makes him look like a dependable option when the offense absolutely has to have it.
Brian Thomas Jr. still managed to make the day’s most explosive play on the opening snap from scrimmage, hauling in a deep touchdown. But the moment turned quickly when he landed on his shoulder and was done after one more rep. The Jaguars are clearly being careful with him, and the way Tuesday started suggested there was more big production there if the injury hadn’t cut things short.
Trevor Lawrence had a solid day in his own right and never put the ball in danger. Still, the circumstances weren’t exactly kind to him.
After Thomas went down, he was working with two rookie receivers and backups like Tim Jones, Austin Trammell, and Brady Boyd for much of the afternoon. He also dealt with a handful of drops, and the offense faded on the final drive of the day with Lawrence taking some of the bad luck that came with it.
Up front, Emmanuel Pregnon continued to look like he belongs in the mix. The day wasn’t spotless for him or the offensive line, but the more he works with the first team, the more his upside shows up. He’s starting to look like the favorite to start at left guard in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
“I saw him on one play. Where I think he drove somebody down the field a good bit and finished.
That was the only real play that I guess I noticed him on. I have to go and watch this tape and see.
I didn't feel like out there it was too big for him," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said after practice. " I didn't feel like there was a physical mismatch or a mental ‘man, this is too fast for me.’
Obviously, have to go take a look. I've been pleased with his development thus far, and hopefully, he can continue to trend up.”
Josh Hines-Allen was the defensive headliner. If Tuesday had been a game, he might have finished with a career-high in sacks.
He was that disruptive. He also seemed to pull the rest of the Jaguars’ defensive line along with him, and the whole group fed off his energy.
Hines-Allen keeps looking like a nightmare for offensive lines, and this summer has only strengthened the sense that he’s heading for a special year.
Montaric Brown joined the party, too. The cornerback had what may have been his best practice of the summer, and he didn’t just stay solid - he made plays.
Brown picked off Baker Mayfield and spent the day around the football, which is exactly what the Jaguars want from one of the most dependable starters on the defense. Tuesday was a strong sign for a player who figures to matter a lot this season.
Ventrell Miller also earned a spot among the winners. Liam Coen already made it clear after last week’s preseason game against the Panthers that Miller and Branson Combs will both get defensive snaps this year no matter who starts.
Miller looked like the linebacker getting the most run next to Foyesade Oluokun, and he stood out against the run with the downhill style the Jaguars like. He looks like a real candidate to carve out a role in Anthony Campanile’s defense.
The Jaguars’ running backs kept stacking good work in joint practice. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. both had strong runs against Tampa Bay, with Tuten flashing big-play speed and Rodriguez grinding out extra yards on just about every touch. Tuten did put the ball on the ground early, but the Jaguars kept feeding him afterward.
Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, had a rough one. It wasn’t the kind of day he’ll want to remember from August practice, and he acknowledged after the session that Jacksonville had its way with Tampa Bay. He said the Jaguars more or less bullied the Buccaneers, and later described them as playing with “their hair on fire” and said had it been a game today; his team would not have been on the winning side.
The most surprising pressure came from Rueben Bain Jr. The Buccaneers pass-rusher showed up all afternoon and gave Jacksonville problems at a steady clip. He was a constant issue for the Jaguars, and it felt like he was able to get after multiple tackles not named Anton Harrison.
In Other News...
Jaguars May Have Found An Unexpected Piece Up Front
The Jaguars interior defensive line has quietly gained a familiar name in Matt Dickerson, who is now positioned as a primary backup to Arik Armstead on the teams unofficial depth chart. It is a notable rise for a player who arrived in Jacksonville last offseason after a long journey through the league, one that began when he went undrafted in 2018 and took him through several stops before he settled into a regular role up front.
Liam Coen has taken notice of the way Dickerson has carved out that spot, pointing to his consistency, his style of play and the strength of his hands. For a defense that will need dependable rotation help inside, Dickersons path from practice squad depth to a more trusted presence gives the Jaguars a useful layer behind Armstead, even if the full scope of his role is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Thomas Jr. Sends A Clear Message About Jaguars Weapons
The Jaguars receiver room has become one of the more interesting parts of camp, and Brian Thomas Jr. helped explain why. With Thomas, Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and Travis Hunter all in the mix, Jacksonville has the kind of wideout group that can stress defenses in different ways, and Thomas said the way production gets spread around actually fits what the offense wants to be. It is less about forcing touches and more about letting the matchup decide who gets fed.
Under Liam Coen, that approach has been tied to a broader players over plays philosophy, and it has given the Jaguars a more unselfish feel on offense. For a team trying to maximize one of the strongest receiver rooms in the league, the challenge is not finding enough weapons. It is keeping everyone involved in a way that preserves balance, and Thomas comments made it clear that is very much the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Unveiled A New Look Fans Will Definitely Debate
The Jaguars added a fresh wrinkle to their look this week, unveiling an alternate uniform that is built around a cream-toned base as part of the Nike/NFL Rivalries campaign. The design leans into a different feel than the teams usual home look, with gold accents, a new script wordmark and a black jaguar print pattern across the numbers and pants.
What will get the most attention, though, is the first teal helmet in franchise history, a detail that instantly makes this more than just another uniform rollout. Jacksonville plans to wear the set in Week 8 at EverBank Stadium against the Colts, and as with any bold rebrand, the real conversation will start once fans see it under the lights. [Read more 🡒]