JACKSONVILLE – This one had a real feel – sort of real, anyway.
The reality of the Florida Blue Family Night practice held by the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field Friday is that although it's sometimes called a "scrimmage," it's more of what Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone called a "situational practice" – albeit one with a festive feel.
That was the mood Friday as the Jaguars practiced for two hours in front of 15,245 fans on a night that capped five consecutive days of padded practices.
"I think it went well," Pro Bowl defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. "We had a lot of great fans come out to show support and give us energy. The twos and threes (second- and third-team units) showed and showed what they can do."
Marrone was asked how the team had responded to the week.
"Pushing," he said shortly before practice. "We were lucky with the weather, meaning we had some pretty good days. The first day was probably the toughest one.
"The weather gave us a break, and I think the players have been pushing themselves competing. I think we've seen we still have a long way to go."
It was in a sense the longest week of this year's training camp, with the Jaguars scheduled to play host to the New Orleans Saints in the '18 preseason opener at TIAA Bank Field Thursday.
Here's a look at the Florida Blue Family Night practice:
STANDING OUT
*Veteran wide receiver Marqise Lee had one of the night's highlight plays, reaching over cornerback Jalen Ramsey for a 17-yard reception from quarterback Blake Bortles. Ramsey broke up a pass from Bortles to wide receiver Keelan Cole on the ensuing series, and Lee beat Ramsey to the inside for an 11-yard gain shortly thereafter. Bortles also had perhaps his best throw of the night to Lee – an 18-yard gain across the middle in late-practice red-zone work. ...
*The first-team offense put together one its better drives of the practice on the series that featured Lee's 11-yard reception. Bortles also had an 11-yard run and an 8-yard pass to running back Leonard Fournette on the drive, which ended with a 14-yard touchdown run by Bortles. …
*Reserve running back T.J. Yeldon had a productive practice, rushing five times for 30 yards on two early series. Linebacker Telvin Smith had the hit of the night, leveling Yeldon late in practice on a short pass reception. …
*Running back Corey Grant had runs of 13 and 12 yards on one series working with the second-team offense late in 11-on-11 work. Grant continued to show impressive, game-breaking speed. …
*Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. continued a strong early camp, standing out Friday with four receptions for 39 yards while working with the second team in a late two-minute drill. …
*Rookie punter Logan Cooke had a big night in his first appearance inside TIAA Bank Field. His first punt Friday was a 67-yarder downed at the 1-yard line. His second punt was a 34-yarder that wide receiver Donte Moncrief downed at the 4, and Cooke also had later punts of 62 and 61 yards and a 46-yarder that went out of bounds at the 4.
*Veteran nickel back D.J. Hayden had a memorable night, defensing a pass from Bortles to Cole to end an early series. He later had a pass defensed down the sideline on a pass intended for Chark from backup quarterback Cody Kessler and also had a blitz for a sack. …
*Safety Barry Church intercepted Bortles on a deep pass to Lee to end a drive in late two-minute work. …
*Defensive tackle Michael Bennett defensed a pass from Kessler early in practice. …
*Cornerback Sammy Seamster intercepted a pass from reserve quarterback Tanner Lee at the 6-yard line and returned it for what would have been a touchdown.
*Defensive tackle Abry Jones had a pass deflection in a late drill with the offense operating close to its own end zone, and rookie linebacker Leon Jacobs stopped starting running back Leonard Fournette for a loss of a yard on the ensuing play. …
*Kicker Josh Lambo connected from 34, 40, 42 and 39 yards on field goals and converted an extra point following Bortles' touchdown. …
PLAY OF THE NIGHT
This came late in practice with second-year wide receiver Dede Westbrook capping the evening with an acrobatic catch on the night's final play. Westbrook twisted his body in the end zone to make an over-the-shoulder reception on a 25-yard pass from Bortles, making the touchdown reception with All-Pro cornerback A.J. Bouye in coverage. The play continued an impressive camp for Westbrook, who consistently has made plays in the first eight days to draw praise from Bortles and other offensive teammates.
QUOTABLE
"There's something special about playing on an NFL game field. We have a lot of young guys where it's their first time, their first opportunity. I always think it's special when you get onto an NFL field."
--Marrone
INJURY WATCH
Moncrief practiced Friday, marking his return after missing this past week with an ankle injury sustained in practice last Friday.
Four Jaguars players were ruled out before Friday's practice: defensive end Calais Campbell, nose tackle Eli Ankou, linebacker Brooks Ellis and wide receiver DeAndre Smelter.
Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (shoulder) remained on the physically unable to perform list, where he has been since the start of training camp. …
NOTABLE
*Westbrook took the night's first punt return. The punt return role is expected to be a competition including Westbrook, Jaydon Mickens, Shane Wynn and Rashad Greene. Wynn had 25-yard return four series into Friday's practice. …
*The Jaguars met this week with an officiating crew that included NFL referee John Parry. NFL teams meet each preseason with an officiating crew to become more familiar with rules changes for the coming season. Focuses this season include changes to the NFL's catch rule, as well as a new rule expanding the league's rule prohibiting players from initiating contact with the crown of the helmet. "I thought they did an outstanding job," Marrone said of Parry's crew. "Anytime there's something new, sometimes you have to take a step back and get the officials in here. I thought John and the guys did an unbelievable job of communicating." …
