JACKSONVILLE – Friday was about maintaining.
It was also a day for heavy hitting at Jaguars 2020 Training Camp, with a contact-oriented practice for the part of the roster that worked at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex.
All Jaguars players didn't participate in the one-hour, 45-minute session that took place under some overcast skies in 82-degree temperatures. Eighteen players, mostly established veterans with past injury issues, worked inside during practice.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone had said Thursday the "maintenance day" was planned. Marrone said Saturday morning's practice will feature scrimmage periods and live hitting.
Starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II was among the players participating Friday, but the practice mostly featured reserves and younger players trying to make the roster.
The Jaguars, working in full pads, conducted multiple team sessions during the practice and held a one-on-one pass-rush session. Players tackled to the ground in an early 9-on-7 drill and in a late-practice team drill; NFL teams rarely tackle to the ground in practice in an effort to prevent injuries.
Minshew spoke to the media immediately following practice, saying he was pleased with the progress of the offense thus far in camp; the offense had one of its better practices in recent memory Thursday. Quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo spoke to the media before practice Friday, the first time the former New York Giants head coach has spoken to the media since being hired this past offseason.
Coverage of those availabilities can be found on jaguars.com and on Jaguars media channels later Friday.
Here's a look at Friday's practice:
PLAY OF THE DAY
While Thursday was a huge day for the passing offense, with Minshew throwing multiple red-zone touchdowns and wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. performing spectacularly, Friday was less about show and more about the run game. Rookie wide receiver Collin Johnson had a nice diving reception on one-on-one drills and wide receiver Terry Godwin had a sliding catch that likely would have been ruled a touchdown on a pass from Minshew late in practice. …
STANDING OUT
*Running backs Devine Ozigbo and James Robinson both had nice runs off tackle in 9-on-7 run work early in practice; Robinson closed practice with a two-yard run for a touchdown. …
*Rookie defensive end/linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson had a couple of nice spin moves rushing against offensive tackle Will Richardson in one-on-one pass rush. …
*Defensive end Dawuane Smoot got past right tackle Jawaan Taylor on one-on-one pass rush repetition and Taylor handled Smoot on another. …
*Guard A.J. Cann looked good in one-on-one pass rush, blocking tackle Caraun Reid. …
*Rookie nose tackle DaVon Hamilton beat rookie Ben Bartch in one-on-one pass rush. …
*Linebackers Joe Giles-Harris and Dakota Allen each had nice tackles in a late team drill, with Allen forcing a fumble in the drill. …
*Running back Ry_q_uell Armstead had a run up the middle that could have been ruled a touchdown in a late team drill. …
INJURY WATCH
Safety Ronnie Harrison returned to practice Friday after a day in the concussion protocol; Marrone said Harrison reported concussion symptoms earlier in the week. Linebacker Quincy Williams remained out after successful surgery Monday on a core muscle injury.
NOTABLE
Players missing practice for maintenance reasons were: rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., Chark, wide receiver Chris Conley, rookie cornerback CJ Henderson, cornerback D.J. Hayden, running back Leonard Fournette, running back Chris Thompson, defensive end Josh Allen, middle linebacker Joe Schobert, center Brandon Linder, guard Andrew Norwell, left tackle Cam Robinson, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, tight end Tyler Eifert, defensive tackle Taven Bryan, defensive tackle Abry Jones, defensive end Adam Gotsis and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan.
*Offensive lineman Ryan Pope remains the lone Jaguars player on reserve/COVID-19, a new reserve category created by the NFL for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. …
*Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue remains away from the team, not having signed the franchise tag the team placed on him this past offseason. Having not signed the tag means Ngakoue is not under contract and his absence therefore does not violate NFL rules. Ngakoue can either sign the tag and play for the Jaguars on a one-year deal or not play in the NFL this season. …
