JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars on Thursday practiced at the Miller Electric Center.
The Jaguars (6-4) will play the Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday in a 2025 Week 12 game. A look at Thursday around the Jaguars – with Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinski and Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile speaking to the media before practice:
The key to maximizing efficiency remains minimizing mistakes.
The Jaguars in recent weeks have turned in some of their most productive offense of the season, with one factor being a dramatic reduction in penalties.
"The first key to it is we're playing clean football," Udinski said.
The Jaguars in a 30-29 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10 scored on their final six possessions, committing no offensive penalties during that span. They scored touchdowns on four of five possessions over the second and third quarters of a 35-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday, also committing no offensive penalties during that span.
"We're trying to stay out of our own harm's way," Udinski said. "When we're able to stay on schedule, we don't have penalties, we don't have turnovers, we don't have missed assignments, the guys are able to execute at a high level.
"We have talented guys who can execute the system. When they're able to do that, things work and then they get into a rhythm, and you see those things start to snowball. When you get behind the chains, you're naturally going to lose some of that momentum."
His job has been to be ready, and Christian Braswell has done his job.
That has helped Jaguars coaches remain confident in the third-year cornerback, who figures to remain key in a beat-up Jaguars secondary moving forward.
"Everybody on our team loves Bras," Campanile said. "He doesn't say too much. He just goes to work. He works hard. He's competitive. He's a great competitor, so really excited about his performance the other day."
Braswell, a sixth-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2023 NFL Draft, played solely on special teams during an injury-shortened rookie season – then played just 42 snaps in his second season.
With cornerback Jourdan Lewis (neck) out and rookie cornerback Travis Hunter on injured reserve, Braswell was the fourth cornerback Sunday. With starting cornerback Greg Newsome II sustaining an ankle injury, Braswell played a career-high 40 snaps and registered a pass defensed and four tackles.
"Sometimes you don't know if you're going to play on Sundays, but when your name is called it's, 'Now it's time to go,'" Braswell said. "'This is the time you've been praying for, wishing for. It's time to go.' It was good to get out there and actually help the team.
"Sometimes you're just out there doing your job, but when you're out there making plays it's a different ballgame. It felt good."
Added Braswell, "Football's football at the end of the day. I just needed to get the opportunity. It's the same thing from little league to now. It just feels comfortable when you get out there. You feel natural."
Cole Van Lanen could make a fourth start in as many weeks Sunday, with Udinski on Thursday calling the manner in which he made his last two starts "wildly impressive."
Van Lanen, after starting Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders as a sixth offensive linemen, started Week 10 against the Houston Texans at left guard before starting against the Chargers at right tackle.
"Even to do it at a practice is impressive, let alone to do it and actually do it from a Sunday to the next Sunday," Udinski said. "Not only has he gone outside to inside, tackle to guard, guard to tackle, he also has been taking center reps. Playing all five spots on the line is unbelievably unique.
"For him to go out there and do it at that level that he did against a really good opponent, it just speaks volumes to the type of player he is, the way he works, the way he prepares and all those things."
The Jaguars on Thursday released the second of three injury reports for the week, with starting defensive end Travon Walker (knee) and linebacker Yasir Abdullah (finger) missing practice for a second consecutive day.
The Jaguars also on Thursday listed the following 12 players as practicing limited for a second consecutive day:
Starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder), running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle), starting wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle), starting tight end Brenton Strange (hip), tight end Hunter Long (hip/knee), starting right tackle Anton Harrison (knee/ankle), starting right guard Patrick Mekari (knee), rookie guard Wyatt Milum (knee), linebacker Dennis Gardeck (chest), cornerback Jarrian Jones (quadriceps), Lewis and starting cornerback Greg Newsome II (ankle).
Starting safety Andrew Wingard (back) and starting defensive tackle Arik Armstead (illness) practiced full Thursday after practicing limited Wednesday.
