JACKSONVILLE – It has been a whirlwind week for Jessie Bates III, and that's a good thing.

A few days ago, Bates was on an eight-hour flight from Madrid, Spain. Not long after, the Jaguars acquired him from the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft and a 2028 fifth-round selection.

A new city, a new team and a new defense to learn.

"It has been a blessing," Bates said Thursday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (6-2) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (1-7) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday.

"It's a great problem to have, for sure."

Bates has spent most of his time at the Miller Electric Center since arriving in Jacksonville Monday night, meeting with the defensive staff and getting what he estimated on Thursday to be five hours of sleep since joining the Jaguars.

"I don't know if he has left here since he has been here," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Thursday. "He's part of the coaching staff, I think.

"I walk around; I see him everywhere."

Bates said his focus this week has been "just getting caught up to speed on installs and everything."

"Once you learn coverages conceptually, you can understand what they are doing over here," Bates said. "It's just different terminology. It's a challenge, but what a great challenge to have."

Bates, a second-round round selection (No. 54 overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft, played with the Bengals from 2018-2022 and with the Falcons from 2023-2026. A three-time All-Pro selection, he has been one of the NFL's premiere players at his position in large part because of an approach to preparation that has been evident around the Jaguars this week.

"He's up there doing ball all day," Campanile said. "He loves football and he is one of the guys I got a ton of messages about. Some other friends I have in the profession who have been around him and even ex-players who reached out to me are like, 'Man, you are going to love this guy.'''

Bates, a nine-year NFL veteran, joins a relatively young position group that got younger when the Jaguars placed veteran Eric Murray on injured reserve last week. Other active Jaguars safeties: fourth-year veteran Antonio Johnson, rookie Jalen Huskey, second-year veteran Rayuan Lane III and fourth-year veteran Kaevon Merriweather.

"He has been meshing really well with the group," Johnson said of Bates. "It has been real cool. He's a real chill guy. We have been talking a lot of ball lately, more so getting him caught up with the playbook, having fun, talking to him, getting to know him a little bit, learning his personality."

The Jaguars this week also acquired defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles for a first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft and a 2029 second-round selection, as well as defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints for a conditional sixth-round selection.

"Nobody cares if you are a new guy or not, you have to make sure that you are up to speed and ready to execute at a high level," Bates said. "It's nice when you have two big guys that they are in the same process. You can ask questions about how they are dealing with stuff like that, and where we are going to stay and all those good things. So, I am not the only one.

"There are plenty of guys who got traded before the [NFL's Tuesday trade] deadline. I look at it as a blessing and being able to learn a whole new defense and learn a whole different philosophy. It just helps me continue to grow, not only as a player, but as a person as well."

NOTABLE

Bates and Davis did not practice for a second consecutive day Thursday. Their designation on Thursday's second of three injury reports for the week was veteran/rest, with running back Bhayshul Tuten missing practice for a second consecutive day with a foot/ankle issue. Tuten played through the injury in the Jaguars' victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday. Seven Jaguars players were listed as practicing limited Thursday: Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hand), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle), guard Ezra Cleveland (knee/ankle), center Robert Hainsey (concussion), defensive end Travon Walker (rib), linebacker Branson Combs (shoulder) and safety Johnson (ankle). Second-year defensive end B.J. Green (forearm), whose window to return from injured reserve was opened by the Jaguars Wednesday, practiced full for a second consecutive day Thursday.