EAGAN, Minn. – The idea is to work.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone made clear Wednesday before the first of two dual practices with the Minnesota Vikings that nothing would get in the way of that idea.
That includes any potential extracurriculars between the teams.
"We don't want to talk across the ball," Marrone said during a 12-minute media availability before Wednesday afternoon's practice at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
"That's something we've talked about to our team before: 'We don't want to talk across the ball,' meaning we're just here to get better. We're here to compete, get better, get an evaluation and go out and get work."
The Jaguars also will practice against the Vikings Thursday afternoon, then the teams will play a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Saturday at 1 p.m.
Marrone said the spirit entering the dual practices is for the teams to "treat this like we're one team that's just trying to get better on both sides of it.''
"We had a players' meeting and I thought it went extremely well," Marrone said. "I think everyone understands the goal and what we're trying to get accomplished. Now, we're trying to go out there and work against each other. I look forward to it."
Marrone said there were no live goal-line periods planned for the practices, though he said he and Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer easily could change those plans.
"Everything's up for discussion," Marrone said. "If we look at the schedule, 'Hey, if we want some of this, we can add it. We can take this out. We can do things.' Everything's been very flexible. If I wake up tomorrow and Coach Zim wakes up tomorrow and we want to get something in, it's not a problem for us to do that.''
Marrone said he reached out to Zimmer when the preseason schedule was released to plan the dual practices.
"I asked him if he would be interested in it," Marrone said. "Up to this point, everything's been great; it really has. … Coach Zim, I've known him for a while. I have a great deal of respect for what he does."
Also:
*Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell (calf), nose tackle Eli Ankou (knee) and defensive end Dawuane Smoot as expected will not participate in practice Wednesday. Marrone said Norwell will work on the side Wednesday while Ankou and Smoot did not make the trip. Marrone said rookie first-round defensive lineman Taven Bryan (abdominal) likely will work on the side Wednesday.
*Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. did not practice and did not make the trip. Both are serving a one-week suspension and are expected to return to the team Monday.
*Marrone before during his availability was asked about Ramsey's comments in an article published this week in Gentleman's Quarterly in which Ramsey discussed multiple players from other teams – including multiple quarterbacks. Marrone said he had not seen the comments. "My focus has been trying to make sure we're ready for this and doing all of this," Marrone said. "Right now, I haven't put much thought about it. For me, as a guy who had a cup of coffee in the league and played, I respect all of the players who are out there, but like I said, 'I haven't looked at the actual stuff …'' and my focus right now is not on that. My focus in on our team getting ready to practice.''
