
LONDON – Like the rest of the Jaguars,
Tuesday was certainly time for an experience, but it wasn’t a time for rest.
Not quite yet.
Bradfield, a third-year offensive tackle, and several other Jaguars players got just that Tuesday afternoon. That’s when six players, several members of the Roar, team staff members and Jaxson de Ville participated in an NFL Play 60 event at the Westway Sports Centre in West London.
The event was held hours after the Jaguars landed at London’s Gatwick Airport.
“The trip wasn’t too bad,” Bradfield said. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I really haven’t gotten to sleep, but I feel pretty fine right now. It hasn’t hit me yet.”
The team set up its headquarters at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa upon arrival Tuesday morning, and the Jaguars will practice there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. As the team set up operations, players and staff members traveled into London for the Play 60 event.
Defensive end
Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley is expected to join the team later in the week. He returned to Minnesota following the death of his father, Roy James Bradley, Sunday night, with secondary coach DeWayne Walker serving as interim head coach.
“It’s great to be over here,” Meester, a 14-year veteran center and the Jaguars’ most-tenured player said at the event. “Obviously, it’s a long trip, long flight and bus ride. We’re actually getting a chance to spend some time with the kids. It’s definitely worth it. When you see the excitement they have, it’s definitely worth it to be over here.”
Said Williams, “It’s fun – it’s my first trip. It’s been a very long day, but so far it’s exactly what I’ve seen on TV. One of my favorite movies is Love Actually. I’m kind of getting that vibe and I’m fired up to see what else we can do.”
The Jaguars (0-7) will play the San Francisco 49ers (5-2) at historic Wembley Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern. The Jaguars are scheduled to play a home game at Wembley each season from 2013-2016.
“We were able to take the trip over here, but obviously when it comes to tomorrow, it’s going to be a normal game week for us,” Meester said. “We’re going to treat this like normal. Meetings will be normal, practices will be normal.
“We’re going to make it normal and make it a normal game week for us.”
Bradfield, like many of the Jaguars players and staff members attending the event, slept only a few hours on the seven-and-a-half-hour flight. With practice scheduled for Wednesday at 1:15 London time, many were trying to stay awake until later Tuesday to return to a more normal sleep pattern.
“I don’t want to go to sleep,” Bradfield said. “I want to make sure I stay up until the end of the night and get a good night’s rest.”