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First Off the Field: Bortles work paying off

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JACKSONVILLE – So far, so good.

That's Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley's assessment of 2015 Training Camp after two days, and it's also his assessment of the Jaguars' biggest preseason storyline.

That big storyline is Blake Bortles, the second-year quarterback who spent the offseason honing fundamentals and footwork and whose development is critical to a young offense and a developing franchise. And?

So far, so good.

"His accuracy is good – for this early, especially," Bradley said early Saturday afternoon after the Jaguars worked for about two hours, 20 minutes in 84-degree temperatures under cloudy, overcast skies at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness practice fields.

"I like his mechanics, his poise. His big thing is he wants to own the offense so he can play at a higher level without thinking a lot. That's what he's doing. You can tell he put in his time over the summer with his knowledge of the offense."

Saturday's practice was the first open to the general public after Friday's first day was open to season-ticket members.

Bradley said the Jaguars focused more on situations Saturday than Friday, and Saturday also featured a one-one-one pass-rushing drill in unpadded work. Bradley said the Jaguars will work in shoulder pads and helmets Sunday.

"I think the challenge is for us to stay focused every play," Bradley said. "I really like this group in that they want to be challenged. The one thing that we kind of picked up in OTAs and minicamp and that's picked up here is they want to be coached hard. They want to be challenged in every situation we have.

"It's always a challenge in camp to keep that energy."

Bradley said the Jaguars took care of the ball better offensively than Friday.

"The mental errors, I know we'll have some, but they're getting them corrected right away," Bradley said.

Saturday also featured the first post-play scuffle of 2015 Training Camp, with offensive tackle Brennan Williams and a player initially believed to be defensive end Ikponmwosa Igbinosun scrapping for several seconds before being separated by teammates midway through practice. Ignibosun said later he was not involved in the fight, and Williams later laughed off what he described as a minor skirmish.

Williams also said he didn't remember his opponent in the "skirmish."

"You know how camp is," Williams said, smiling. "Everybody's all up in each other; it's hot, sweaty and tired. It happens. It's all in good fun."

The Jaguars will hold a walkthrough practice later Saturday afternoon, and will hold another practice at 9:55 a.m. Sunday. Sunday's practice is free and open to the public.

Also on Saturday, rookie first-round selection Dante Fowler Jr. rehabilitated with trainers on the sideline early in practice. The No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft sustained a torn anterior cruciate during the first practice of rookie minicamp and is expected to be placed on injured reserve shortly before the regular season.

INJURY WATCH

The Jaguars through two unpadded practices appeared relatively injury free. Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller (knee) was limited as training camp practice began, but Bradley said Friday Miller appeared to be working close to full. Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks (knee) and safety James Sample (arm) remained as expected on the Physically Unable to Perform list with running back Storm Johnson on the active non-football illness list and defensive and Cap Capi on the active non-football injury list. Defensive end Chris Clemons remained on the active non-football injury list.

PLAY OF THE DAY

This came from wide receiver Allen Robinson. The second-year veteran was impressive in the offseason on-field work and after a couple of drops, had multiple big catche on crossing patterns Friday. He showed his athleticism late in Saturday's practice, going up over cornerback Davon House and making a bobbling catch on a pass from Bortles that appeared to be tipped at the line of scrimmage.

HIGHLIGHTS

*This may not be exactly a highlight, but defensive lineman Tyson Alualu is sporting a significantly different look in camp this season. Gone are the long locks he has worn throughout his five previous NFL seasons with the Jaguars. Alualu said it's the shortest his hair has been since high school. …

*End Jared Odrick, end Ryan Davis and tackle Roy Miller all had impressive pass rushes in one-on-one pass-rush work toward the end of practice, with offensive tackle Jermey Parnell looking good in protection early in the drill. …

*House, signed as an unrestricted free agent from Green Bay this past offseason, had a nice pass breakup early in practice. …

*Bradley also said Otto linebacker Dan Skuta has caught coaches attention early as a possible factor in pass-rushing situations. …

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