JACKSONVILLE – The defense had its day.
The Jaguars practiced a little more than two hours Tuesday morning on Day 6 of 2026 Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center – a practice that featured plenty of plays from Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile's unit on the second day of padded work.
"I thought today, for us defensively, was a little bit better than yesterday," Campanile said after practice on Tuesday.
Tuesday featured short-yardage and red-zone work, and the defense made several key stops to prevent first downs or touchdowns over the course of practice. With the pads on for a second consecutive day, it was a chance for both units to test themselves before an off day Wednesday.
"I think that's every day: We're going to try to push each other, compete with and against each other," second-year linebacker Branson Combs said, with Campanile adding, "That's what you're trying to do."
"You're trying to build a callous – entering blocks the right way, entering tackles the right way, all the fundamental things that are important to winning and playing good football, certainly playing good defense," Campanile said.
"We have a great look at it because I think our offensive line coaches do a great job. Those guys are really firm in the front. They play with great pad level. Our backs run with great pad level. I know [running backs coach] Chad [Morton] is all over them about that every day.
"More of that will continue to make us better."
Tuesday's biggest plays came from the secondary and linebackers, with safety Eric Murray and cornerback Jarrian Jones intercepting backup quarterback Nick Mullens. Safety Antonio Johnson registered his first interception of camp on a pass from starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
An intense linebacker competition continued as Combs made some standout plays in coverage, including a pass breakup during red-zone drills and an impressive coverage rep downfield against Parker Washington.
"That's a heated competition in that room," Campanile said. "Competition brings competitors."
Combs following practice said competitive days such as Tuesday helps make he and the rest of the linebacker room – and the defense – better overall.
"I love all those guys in the room," Combs said. "We're a pretty close group. But when it gets on the field, it's competing whether we're on the same side of the ball, whether we're doing drills against each other. Whatever it is, it's always competition, and you know that's just what's going to make each other better."
PLAY OF THE DAY
While the defense made the bulk of big plays Tuesday practice, the play of the day came from rookie wide receiver CJ Williams. He scored one of the offense's few touchdowns with a diving catch in the front corner of the end zone, barely getting two feet in despite fully extending his body for the pass. It was a close call, and the official at the goal line gave him the nod and the six points.
STANDING OUT
- Veteran running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a scheduled day of maintenance, which meant more work for the rest of the running back room in team drills. Bhayshul Tuten and Ameer Abdullah both broke long runs.
- Jalen Huskey and Caleb Ransaw impressed in one-on-one work against the tight ends, with the young safeties each recording a pass defensed.
QUOTABLE
Campanile on emphasizing physicality in padded practice training camp: "We want that to be the culture of the room. When we get together and meet, we're going to call that out when we don't see it. Just going to be honest. If it isn't up to the standard and we're not doing that and we're not performing physically and we're not violently finishing, trying to whoop the other guy's ass on every play, it's going to get called out. And if you are, it's going to get celebrated. And I just think that's a good culture to have and hopefully we're trending that way, but our players believe in that. They're great guys to coach, honestly, because of that. We have great, great dudes here."
INJURY WATCH
Linebacker Jared Bartlett, who signed with the Jaguars Sunday, sustained a leg injury early in Tuesday's practice and left the field on a cart. Second-year linebacker Jack Kiser remained out of practice after sustaining a knee injury in Day 1 training camp practice. Left tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) and offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio (foot) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp, with guard Patrick Mekari and cornerback Christian Braswell remaining out of team drills. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead missed practice with a veteran day and Rodriguez did not participate as the team manages his return from offseason knee surgery.
