Jaguars training camp notebook: Some good, some bad in practices with the Bucs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “Guys showed up locked in.”

Joint practice back in Jacksonville for the first time since 2017. Last time it was the Bucs and this time it is the Bucs again. Good omen? Maybe. That might be a stretch, but it was a good day of work for the Jaguars. The Jaguars offense and defense both had made some plays but so did the Bucs.

The good:

• Trevor Lawrence and the Jags passing game sliced and diced the Bucs defense.
• The Jags defense had tight coverage and gave the Bucs offense some fits.

The bad:

• The offensive line. Yep. Kind of nuff said it was a rough day in the trenches.

The bad stuff is a reason for concern, but Tampa does have a good defensive line and there were moments where they line opened up some space. Maybe Thursday will be a better day.

Overall, Evan Engram seemed pleased with what the Jaguars were able to do on Wednesday.

“There is always going to be stuff to clean up,” he said.

That is kind of the point of training camp, to locate these places that need work and figure out how to clean them up before the games start.

The competition that joint practices bring to the field gives the coaches and the players a different look at where the team is at.

“The defense, I know they brought it over there, they have been bringing it all camp,” said Engram.

So far through camp, it has been Jaguars vs. Jaguars, and they have been competing.

“I tell the defense all the time they are making us so much better,” said Engram.

But competing against a different team adds another layer it adds some extra fire. The practice never got too heated but both sides were working hard.

Engram has done joint practices before, but this is the first time he has done them at home. For rookie Brian Thomas Jr., this is all new to him, but he liked it.

“It is exciting to go up against a different team a different color jersey,” he said.

BTJ has been working his way through training camp and making steady steps in the right direction. After a quiet start to camp, he has been flashing every day for the last couple weeks. On Wednesday, he was open deep down the field twice. Lawrence missed him the first time but then the pair connected later in practice and the crowd erupted. Jags fans already love BTJ.

During the first preseason game against the Chiefs, he made the big catch that Jacksonville wanted to see. It was BTJ’s first catch in the NFL.

“It was an amazing moment,” he said.

The fans aren’t the only ones who are excited to see BTJ make plays. When he made that catch during the game, the sideline erupted with his teammates jumping up and down to celebrate with him.

“Funny thing, is Cam [Robinson] tried to hit me on the back of the helmet and end up hitting Gabe [Davis] in the mouth,” said Thomas.

His teammates may love him, but he is still a rookie. During his postgame press conference, Davis jumped in with Thomas to share that the rookie is single.

That clip has made the rounds on the internet leading to BTJ’s DM’s being full.

“They have been getting flooded a little bit,” he said.

Engram shared some advice that might help Thomas right now.

You can tell even though it is early in camp that this team is close and they are loose and having fun. It will be interesting to see if that carries over to the field this season.

📓Notebook 📓

No Christian Kirk. He was on the sidelines in just his jersey but no pads. Kirk was held out of practice.

Kelian Robinson missed practice again. Robinson is in a walking boot.

Arik Armstead was activated from the PUP list but did not participate in practice. Armstead only did walkthroughs with the team on Wednesday.

Jags wide receivers coach Chad Hall was not on the field for practice.

Mac Jones has looked good all through camp. If Jones is not ultimately the Jags backup QB this season I would be really surprised.

Parker Washington continues to impress. Washington had a drop early in practice but bounced back and turned in a nice day. Press Taylor mentioned that the Jags have liked what they have seen from Washington lining up outside so far during camp. That is good news for the Parker hype train since he was limited to only the slot last season.

Play of the Day: For me, it goes to Elijah Cooks. During team drills, Cooks went up over Bucs corner Josh Hayes and made a great catch for about a 40-yard gain. Cooks has had a really good camp. So far, he is looking like a lock for the Jags roster.

I hung out mostly by the field where the Jags offense was on Wednesday. Thursday, I’m going to watch the Jags defense more closely.