JACKSONVILLE – Practice No. 1 came and went, and Gus Bradley liked what he saw.
The Jaguars held their first 2013 Training Camp practice Friday morning at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields, working about two hours and finishing around noon in 88 degreee temperatures in downtown Jacksonville.
It was the first training camp practice under first-year Head Coach Gus Bradley.
"You could see it was great to get the guys back on the field," Bradley said shortly after practice. "We're back to football."
The two-hour workout was held without pads, with players working in helmets. Quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne worked with the first team, and were inconsistent at times and solid at others, with Mike Kakfa and rookie free agent Matt Scott working mostly with the reserves.
Bradley said he liked the work ethic and the tempo of the first official training camp work.
The Jaguars are scheduled to hold a walkthrough Friday afternoon that is closed to the public, and will hold an open practice at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness practice fields Saturday at 9:55 a.m.
The heat was a factor late in practice, with wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, wide receiver Jamal Miles and safety Josh Evans dealing with cramps.
**
INJURY WATCH**
Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny limped off the field under his own power midway through practice, but returned full. Posluszny said he bumped into someone shook it off, and was fine.
As expected, safety Johnathan Cyprien (hamstring) began camp in the reserve non-football injury list, with wide receiver Justin Blackmon (groin), wide receiver Taylor Price (foot) and safety Steven Terrell on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Defensive Jason Babin (groin) appeared to start practice limited while running back Maurice Jones-Drew appeared to work full returning from a foot injury.
"He's right where we thought he'd be," Bradley said of Jones-Drew. "We'll bring him along."
* *
PLAY OF THE DAY
Rookie Ace Sanders provided the highlight on Day 1 – along with Gabbert.
Sanders, a fourth-round wide receiver from South Carolina who has worked his way into the front-line rotation at the slot, went deep during 7-on-7 drills late in practice. Gabbert, who had been consistent at times and inconsistent at others early, found him along the left sideline and hit him in stride for a 40-yard gain close to the goal line.
It's the sort of play Sanders turned in late in minicamp, and one that has many believing his speed can help him make an impact out of the slot as a rookie.
HIGHLIGHTS
1.Cornerback Mike Harris intercepted Gabbert early in team drills and returned the pass intended for tight end Marcedes Lewis for a touchdown.
2.Cornerback Alan Ball intercepted Henne early in 7 on 7. Ball also had a pass deflection later in practice.
3.Sanders and Gabbert hooked up later in practice, and the two appear to be developing some early chemistry.
4.Running back Justin Forsett showed good quickness, and had several quick, long runs up the middle in team drills.
5.Ball and wide receiver Jeremy Ebert collided on a long pass late in practice, with Ball getting up slowly and Ebert having to be helped from the field.
6.Defensive end Pannel Egboh batted down a pass early in practice.
LOOKING ON . . .
*Rookie quarterback Matt Scott, like all Jaguars quarterbacks, struggled at times with consistency on Friday, but he continued to show big-time arm strength. It would be a surprise if he pushes Henne or Gabbert for the starting job, but he could play his way into a future in the next few weeks.
*It appears Jones-Drew was right all along. He insisted throughout the offseason that he would be healthy and in shape in time for training camp. He worked with the first team throughout and appeared to have no aftereffects from the foot injury that ended his season last season. He also looked close to playing weight, though as he said earlier this week he probably will still lose a few more pounds.
*Tight end Allen Reisner is going to be a player to watch in camp. Reisner moved up the depth chart in the offseason and worked with the starters early in practice Friday. He has a chance to be a "move" tight end opposite starter Marcedes Lewis.
