JACKSONVILLE – Jalen Ramsey returned, and he wasn't alone.
That was part of the news Thursday around EverBank Field on Day 2 of Jaguars 2017 organized team activities, a day when multiple other players – including linebacker Telvin Smith – also practiced for the first time in '17 OTAS.
Ramsey, the Jaguars' starting cornerback who missed OTA Day 1 Tuesday, attended Thursday's session and practiced full. Smith also practiced Thursday; he missed Tuesday's practice after being with the team at the facility that morning.
OTAs will continue at EverBank through June 9. The Jaguars will hold a three-day mandatory minicamp June 13-15. OTA sessions are voluntary and closed to the public.
Also notable Thursday:
*Myles Jack spoke to the media for the first time since being moved to middle linebacker. He said the transition is going well, and that he is leaning heavily on former middle linebacker Paul Posluszny during this period. More on Jack's media session can be read later on jaguars.com. …
*Wide receiver Allen Hurns also spoke to the media for the first time during the three-week OTA period. More on Hurns' conversation with the media can be found below and here. …
*Hurns said he sees improvement in quarterback Blake Bortles, whose mechanics and fundamentals – and his effort to solidify those areas – have been a major offseason storyline around the Jaguars. "We saw some differences in how the ball's coming out and just the timing of things," Hurns said. "Coming out of your break, the ball's there. You can see this offseason: it's the same as me and [wide receiver] Allen Robinson's situation. We didn't have the year we wanted [last season], but we're going to go out and work and come back ready to roll." …
*Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone did not speak to the media Thursday, but he is scheduled to speak Friday following the week's final OTA practice. That practice will be the lone practice of the week in which media will be present the entire time. …
*In addition to Ramsey and Smith, rookie defensive end Dawuane Smoot also practiced Thursday after not practicing Tuesday.
*Also not practicing Thursday: running back T.J. Yeldon, cornerback A.J. Bouye, cornerback Aaron Colvin, safety Barry Church, safety Tashaun Gipson, tight end Neal Sterling and wide receiver Rashad Greene. …
*Running back Tim Cook and wide receiver Kenneth Walker are not in attendance because of NCAA rules prohibiting players from participating in offseason programs until their schools finish spring classes. Cook played at Oregon State and Walker played at UCLA. This is the same rule that prevented Jack from participating in OTAs last offseason. …
*Left tackle Branden Albert did not attend OTA practice after also not attending Tuesday. He has not participated in the offseason program since being acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in March. All offseason work until the June minicamp is voluntary. …
HURNS MOTIVATED
Hurns, who followed a breakout 2015 season with an injury-shortened 2016, sounded like a motivated player when he spoke with the media Thursday.
"We both know it wasn't a year we wanted or anything like that," Hurns said of him and Robinson, whose production also dropped from 2015 to 2016. "We just use that as motivation. We've been through ups and downs in our career and now we want to stay consistent.
"We always tell each other, 'It doesn't matter what you did last year or the year before. Each year you have something to prove.'"
Hurns, a fourth-year veteran who originally signed with the Jaguars as a free agent following the 2014 NFL Draft, had 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving in 2015 before catching 35 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. He missed the final five games with a hamstring injury.
"Last year wasn't my standard at all, how I played," he said. "I had drops and I wasn't available the last six games. I just have to control what I can, be available and make plays. When it comes my way, I have to make plays."
Hurns said he added weight and reduced body fat while training in Arizona following the season.
"Things went well," he said.
Hurns also said he is enjoying working with Jaguars wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell, who took over in the role from Jerry Sullivan following last season. McCardell played 17 NFL seasons, including 1996-2001 with the Jaguars.
"It's been great; he's a guy who played the game for a long time," Hurns said. "He knows different things, and it's always good learning different things. He's a really good coach."
