JACKSONVILLE – Josh Hines-Allen's goals remain consistent.

They're lofty and motivating, as usual – and early Thursday morning, a cool reminder of one such goal came via text from former Jaguars teammate and longtime friend, Calais Campbell: "I love you Josh. You're going to lead the sacks this year."

Memorable stuff – and significant stuff to the eighth-year veteran.

"It's just even more validation that I'm on the right path mentally," Hines-Allen said.

Hines-Allen spoke to the media Thursday morning following Day 2 2026 Jaguars Training Camp practice at the Miller Electric Center, with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile speaking after practice of Hines-Allen's importance leading a young, improving defense.

"I really value that," Campanile said. "He's such a big part of what we do because he drives the message, not only in that room, but in the unit room every day."

That's Hines-Allen as '26 camp opens – an All-Pro, Pro Bowl player in his prime, a front-line pass rusher, a leader on a defense that was among the NFL's best at times last season and that aspires to be better this season.

Hines-Allen aspires to be the best, too, which is why his goals – as they have been in most if not all recent seasons – include NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Associated Press All-Pro, Super Bowl and, yes, leading the NFL in sacks.

"Why not shoot for the top every year?" Hines-Allen said. "For me, it's not, 'I didn't get it this year.' I didn't get it yet. So that's kind of my mentality until I'm done playing football."

Hines-Allen, the Jaguars' all-time career sacks leader with 61, is not only the defense's most-tenured player, he's also entering his eighth season after one of his best NFL seasons. He finished fourth in the league in 2025 with 80 pressures – with his 430 pressures since 2019 second in the NFL in that span to Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett.

Hines-Allen led the Jaguars with eight sacks last season, 12 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits – and was No. 48 on the NFL's Top 2026 Top 100 rankings as voted by players.

"It is what it is," he said. "I'm appreciative, but I play the game to be the best in the world, so it's just a step closer, I would say. But it's motivating and I just have to keep it up. The guys watch the film, and they see what they see.

"For me, I'm just trying to be an inspiration to myself, an inspiration to guys behind me and keep going in this thing until I get No. 1."

Hines-Allen said he's continuing to work to improve as camp opens – "getting off the ball faster or working my hands better on the top of the rush or if they get jump sets, being able to beat a blocker; that's kind of what I'm focusing on right now and it's a good start so far" – and said motivation continues to be strong whether it's a text form a former teammate or from within.

"I got peers around me that see the same thing," he said. "I got a guy that I looked up to my whole career text me out of the blue when I'm thinking about it naturally. So, for me, it's just to keep pushing and keep finding things to get better in and maximize off every opportunity that I can."

NOTABLE

• Linebacker Ventrell Miller, competing for a starting position alongside Foyesade Oluokun, registered an interception early in practice Thursday – and drew praise afterward from Campanile. "He's had a good first two days," Campanile said. "He showed up today, made some plays again today, and it's important to Ventrell." Miller is competing with second-year veteran Branson Combs for the position left vacant when second team Associated Press All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Carolina Panthers. "He has a great opportunity ahead of him," Campanile said of Miller, who started 11 games the past three seasons after missing his 2023 rookie season with an Achilles injury. "The guys in there are all competing. He loves football, and he's got a lot of great leadership qualities too. He's a physical guy. You can usually hear that when a guy's physical, at the point of attack. And Ventrell's one of those guys; it sounds physical when he makes contact with somebody, so he's doing a good job at this point."

QUOTABLE

• Hines-Allen on Jaguars nose tackle DaVon Hamilton: "You have to watch the film. When you turn on the tape and watch DaVon Hamilton, he's the best nose in the game. I've never seen him get driven off the ball. He's always playing with consistent knock back. Nobody runs in his gap. He's working on the things that he needs to improve on from last year. We're still working on that. We've got a whole bunch of guys like that. We play for each other, man. That's the gist of us."