JACKSONVILLE – With Arik Armstead, the focus is on the big picture.
Head Coach Liam Coen on Tuesday discussed the veteran defensive tackle, who is considered a key part of the defensive line and who remains out of 2025 Training Camp with a back issue.
Coen said there's no panic on this front. Because it's still early.
"The key is just making sure he's healthy and ready to go for the first game," Coen said following a two-and-a-half hour practice in helmets and pads at the Miller Electric Center Tuesday.
Armstead, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent before the 2024 NFL season, was listed as the starting defensive tackle on the unofficial depth chart this week after playing mostly at defensive end last season.
He has practiced sparingly thus far in camp and is considered day-to-day with a back injury.
"He's a veteran," Coen said. "He'll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope. Ultimately it's a long season, as we know. Not to say that early ones aren't as important as late ones, but it is a long season and we're really just trying to get him as healthy as possible."
Coen was asked if he expected Armstead, an 11-year veteran who was named the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year, to play against the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 regular-season opener at EverBank Stadium on September 7.
"I would think so," Coen said. "It's hard to say."
With second-year defensive tackle Maason Smith remaining on the physically unable to perform list to start camp, the Jaguars on Monday signed veteran defensive lineman Austin Johnson – a 10-year veteran who has played with the Tennessee Titans (2016-2019), New York Giants (2020-2021), Los Angeles Chargers (2022-2023) and Buffalo Bills (2024).
"He made a nice play already in team run [Tuesday]," Coen said. "We brought in some depth and competition. We'll continue to get those guys some great reps. I felt the D-Line a little more today, whether in the run game or in the protection stuff.
"I felt more of a presence in the rush. That was encouraging, but we absolutely need to continue to improve."
It is officially preseason game week. 😍 Swipe through top sights at the Miller Electric Center for Day 10 of 2025 Training Camp. 📸
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) and quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Rayuan Lane III (25) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39), wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7), wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) and wide receiver Dyami Brown (5) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jon Gruden (left) and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen (right) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dorian Singer (13) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Seth Henigan (19) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (80) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum (78) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive back position group during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Quintin Morris (45) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars secondary coach Ron Milus during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (80) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) during training camp at the Miller Electric Center on August 5, 2025.
👀 Here's a look at Tuesday's practice:
PLAY OF THE DAY
- This came midway through practice in team drills, and featured yet another play from a veteran who has had perhaps the best camp of any Jaguars defensive player. Veteran cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who signed with the Jaguars from the Dallas Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent in March, made a diving interception off a short, hard pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This came days after Lewis made a diving interception off backup quarterback Nick Mullens in the 2025 Stadium Scrimmage inside EverBank Stadium Friday night. "Every day, it's something," Coen said of Lewis, a nine-year NFL veteran. "It's every day making a play. There's only so much within a scheme that you can teach and coach. Ultimately they have to go out and make plays. He just continues to be a steady, consistent professional who communicates at a high level. He brings a calmness to our back end. He brings a playmaker to our back end and a great leader for our guys to listen to back there."
STANDING OUT
- First-year wide receiver Joshua Cephus continued to make plays consistently in camp, getting behind the defense for a 40-yard reception from reserve quarterback John Wolford in an early 11-on-11 period.
- Veteran wide receiver Parker Washington got behind the defense for a 25-yard pass from Nick Mullens in an early 11-on-11 period.
- Rookie running back LeQuint Allen Jr. continued a strong camp with a strong run in an early 11-on-11 period, with rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten also turning in a long run later in 11-on-11 work.
- Defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen had strong rushes in one-on-one pass rush, as did defensive tackles Tyler Lacy and DaVon Hamilton.
- Running back Tank Bigsby had a long reception down the sideline on a well-timed, accurate pass from Lawrence in an early 11-on-11 period.
INJURY WATCH
- Veteran guard Patrick Mekari returned to practice after being out much of training camp with a back issue, working at multiple positions across the offensive line; Mekari was listed on the Preseason Week 1 unofficial depth chart as a "co-starter" at right guard along with Chuma Edoga.
- Remaining out of practice:
- Rookie linebacker Jalen McLeod (lower body)
- Reserve offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (shoulder)
- Rookie safety Caleb Ransaw (lower body)
- Cornerback Montaric Brown (lower leg)
- Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead (back)
- Maason Smith remains on the physically unable to perform list to start camp, with his injury undisclosed.
