JACKSONVILLE – Quarterback talk continued Sunday.
Expect that to be the case throughout this week around the Jaguars, with Head Coach Doug Marrone declaring last Thursday that the position is "up for grabs" between Blake Bortles and Chad Henne.
Neither quarterback spoke to the media following the Jaguars' two-hour-plus practice in the Daily's Place Flex Field adjacent to EverBank Field Sunday. Marrone didn't speak to the media, either, and he is scheduled to speak Monday.
But the locker room was open Sunday – and when fourth-year wide receiver Allen Robinson spoke to reporters, the topic was what would be expected.
Robinson said a player's focus can't be on quarterback.
Even if that was the focus of most questions.
"At the end of the day, we're all one team," Robinson said. "We're all fighting for the same goal, and that's to win games. Each and every day, we line up, get in that huddle, listen to the play call and go do our jobs. There's only so much you can control in this league."
Robinson, a second-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, has started 40 career games in his first three NFL seasons. All but one of those starts has come with Bortles at quarterback, and all but six receptions for 81 yards of Robinson's career 201 receptions for 2,831 yards have come from Bortles.
It was noted to Robinson that this is the first time since the first three games of his rookie season that the Jaguars have faced uncertainty at quarterback.
"It's the first time, but for our sake – for the receivers and for where I'm at mentally – that's not my concern," Robinson said. "I know I have a job to do. My job is to go out and make plays and help this team win games. That's really my only concern." …
Notes and observations from Sunday around the Jaguars:
*Jaguars players not practicing Sunday included: tight end Mychal Rivera, running back Leonard Fournette, wide receiver Marqise Lee, running back T.J. Yeldon, cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive tackle Michael Bennett. Veteran offensive guard Earl Watford practiced for the first time since early in training camp. "I didn't do too much – just easing back into it," said Watford, who signed as an unrestricted free agent from Arizona in the offseason. "It feels good to actually be with the guys. It was very frustrating and I have a lot to prove to a lot of people. It sucks, but I have to get out there as soon as I can and do as much as I can." …
*We caught up with defensive tackle Malik Jackson Sunday, who agreed with veteran Calais Campbell that Thursday's 12-8 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't define the season. Jackson also talked about the progress during training camp of the defensive line, a group that added Campbell in the offseason in addition drafting end Dawuane Smoot in Round 3. "Calais is a big addition, and I think everybody on the defensive line is up to par," Jackson said. "We're all learning together and fitting together. We're still learning to play together as far as the ends and collectively, but I think we're on the right track." …
*Jackson said the offseason addition of defensive line coach Marion Hobby has been a positive for the group. "He's a great pass-rushing coach, and he's very much a stickler for details," Jackson said of Hobby. "He wants things done. He'll give you a bunch of options on how to play double teams, or how to rush the passer, then it's up to you to go through your Rolodex and use them." …
*Jackson, like several Jaguars teammates in recent days and weeks, had high praise for the progress made by third-year defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. during the offseason and training camp. "He's coming into himself," Jackson said. "He injured his knee [torn anterior cruciate ligament] in his first season and when I came in [last season] in his second year, he was still kind of timid. This year he's just letting it all out and being that first-round pick that he is. He's letting it loose and being who he can be." …
