The Jaguars’ offensive line picture got a little clearer this week, and Anton Harrison is making the move that could shape the start of the season.
Jacksonville asked its right tackle from the past three NFL seasons if he was willing to slide over to left tackle in camp. Harrison’s answer was short and simple: “Let’s do it.”
He was back at left tackle again on Aug. 6, working there for the sixth straight practice and strengthening the expectation that he’ll open the season on the left side against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13. Harrison said the transition feels natural because it’s a return to familiar territory.
“Really comfortable,” Harrison said of the switch. “It’s like riding a bike getting back over there. It’s what I did in college so getting back to doing it every day, it’s not really a big change.”
Harrison started 23 games at left tackle for Oklahoma, and he said he’s open to the role change.
“I feel I can play left tackle so I’m definitely not against it,” he said.
The adjustment hasn’t been as complicated as it might look from the outside.
“Surprisingly so,” he said. “It’s really flipping everything in your head playbook-wise and trying to be fast off the ball and not thinking, ‘You’re not on the right side anymore.’”
As for the added pressure of protecting Trevor Lawrence’s blindside, Harrison said his mindset doesn’t change based on which side he’s on.
“I wouldn’t say that because I don’t want to lose any reps, right side or left side,” Harrison said. “I always have the same mindset of, ‘Dominate, don’t lose any reps and protect Trevor at all costs.’”
The Jaguars came back for their seventh practice after an off day on Aug. 6, and Lawrence looked much cleaner after a rougher Aug. 4 session. He completed seven of his eight throws and connected on one of the better plays of the day, a deep strike to Parker Washington on a downfield over route that may have come after a sack opportunity.
Washington wasn’t the only receiver who made a splash. Josh Cameron continued his strong camp with a leaping catch in traffic, and Brian Thomas Jr. was on the receiving end of a precise throw from Lawrence during the quarterback’s second team period.
The defense had its moments, too. Ventrell Miller punched the ball out of Ameer Abdullah’s hands and recovered the fumble in one motion early in team work.
Antonio Johnson added two pass break-ups. Preston Hodge picked off Joey Aguilar, while Jalen Huskey dropped what would have been an interception against Nick Mullens.
The Jaguars are also dealing with a linebacker shortage that’s starting to show up in camp. Jack Kiser missed his sixth straight practice, Jared Bartlett sat out for the first time with a leg injury, and Foye Oluokun’s snaps are being managed. That leaves Jacksonville with six full-time healthy linebackers, a thin group for a team already juggling injuries elsewhere.
The injury list continued to grow in other spots, too. Cole Van Lanen and Garrett DiGiorgio remained on the physically unable to perform list with knee and foot issues, respectively.
Patrick Mekari is still not practicing because of a back injury, though he was wearing a helmet. Christian Braswell stayed limited to individual work for the seventh straight practice.
Emmanuel Pregnon was injured during team work and did not return.
There were a few returns as well. Chris Rodriguez Jr. was back after dealing with a left foot issue, and Arik Armstead returned after resting on Aug. 4.
The day also featured plenty of offensive line shuffling. Wyatt Milum worked at second-team right guard, second-team left guard and first-team right tackle. Chuma Edoga took first-team right tackle reps, Walker Little split time between first-team right guard and first-team right tackle, and Pregnon worked at first-team right guard before getting hurt.
Jacksonville worked in spiders for the second time in camp, using lighter upper-body pads. The team ran 42 plays of 11-on-11 and skipped 7-on-7 periods entirely.
The second team period began at the 1-yard line. Lawrence went 4-for-4 over two drives, Mullens was 1-for-3, and Aguilar and Carter Bradley each got one snap, with Aguilar completing his throw.
The final period started in the middle of the field, where Mullens was pressured, had a throw broken up by Antonio Johnson, and then lost control of the ball as he threw on the next play. Lawrence finished that stretch 2-for-3, Bradley was 1-for-2, and Aguilar went 1-for-3, with Hodge’s interception coming on one of those attempts.
Aguilar later closed with a clean out route to Trebor Pena.
The Jaguars will be back on Aug. 7 for their “Teal And White Mock Game,” set for 8:30 a.m. and open to fans.
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Washington also knows what kind of market the position has become, even if he says his focus stays on playing well. For the Jaguars, that creates an obvious next question as the season moves along: whether this late rise is enough to make him part of the long-term plan, or whether they will be forced to make a tougher call once the year is over. [Read more 🡒]