JACKSONVILLE – It felt like real football – pretty close to real football, anyway.
That was the case throughout much of Day 9 of Jaguars 2021 Training Camp Saturday – a day marked by clear skies, warm temperatures and significant number of periods relatively close to real-game conditions at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex.
The Jaguars worked in shoulder pads and shorts Saturday with contact, working the last 90 minutes of practice in what was essentially a controlled scrimmage.
"I come out here to work," Jaguars veteran defensive lineman Malcom Brown said following Saturday's practice. "I just go out there and see how I can get better that day."
Brown, acquired in a trade from the New Orleans Saints this past offseason, said linemen were able to do get as much done in a shoulder pads/shorts practice as they would have been working in full pads.
"We can basically do everything we do," Brown said. "For the trenches, it's basically the same for us."
The last 90 minutes of practice Saturday was essentially the closest thing to a live-contact scrimmage as NFL teams do these days. Players rarely tackled to the ground, but it was live action with "thud" rules – meaning defenders were to make contact with the ball carrier without violent collisions.
Quarterbacks Gardner Minshew II and Trevor Lawrence both flashed during practice, with Lawrence drawing praise afterward from veteran receiver Laquon Treadwell.
"He looks great," Treadwell said of Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. "They're throwing everything they can at him. They're putting a lot of zero blitzes on him. They're getting him ready for everything.
"It has been fun out there with him. It's been fun to see him growing."
Saturday was the second of three consecutive practices open to fans, with a scrimmage to be held inside TIAA Bank Field Sunday at 9:45 a.m. that also is open to the fans. That will be the last open practice of '21 camp.
Passing-game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spoke to the media Saturday following practice, as did Treadwell and Brown. Coverage of those availabilities can be seen on Jaguars Media channels and jaguars.com later Saturday.
Also Saturday, cornerback CJ Henderson practiced for the first time in '21 camp. Henderson, the No. 9 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, spent the early days of camp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Here's a look at Saturday's practice:
PLAY OF THE DAY
This was a tossup, so we'll mention two. Lawrence early in practice threw deep to second-year wide receiver Collin Johnson, who caught the pass around the five-yard line as safety Rudy Ford barely missed defensing the pass; Johnson stepped into the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown. Minshew shortly thereafter dropped a nice, long pass into the arms of wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who beat cornerback Tre Herndon for a 35-yard touchdown.
STANDING OUT
*Lawrence finished practice strong, throwing a nice 20-yard seam pass to wide receiver Josh Hammond then completing touchdown passes to wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and tight end Chris Manhertz in the same drill. Lawrence then closed practice with a big-time throw down the middle seam that Johnson caught for a touchdown. Lawrence also connected with Johnson to set up a field goal early in practice.…
*Minshew had a long touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalen Camp early in practice, and Herndon intercepted Minshew in the end zone late in practice. …
*Rookie running back Travis Etienne Jr. continued to stand out with his speed and quickness, turning in a highlight run for a 15-yard touchdown over the right side of the line late in practice. …
*Lawrence also found tight end James O'Shaughnessy for a 20-yard gain early in practice. …
*Herndon and safety Rayshawn Jenkins had passes defensed early in practice, with defensive end/linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson registering a pass defensed. Chaisson had a sack and a downfield pass defensed in an earlier drill. …
*Defensive end Dawuane Smoot drew cheers from teammates for a tackle on running back Nathan Cottrell early in practice, and linebacker Joe Schobert had a late pass defensed. …
*Cornerback Shaquill Griffin defensed a pass from quarterback CJ Beathard late in practice, and rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell had a pass defensed shortly thereafter. …
*Cooper had a nice touchdown reception late in practice, adjusting in the end zone for a pass thrown by Beathard. …
*Wide receiver/punt returner Jamal Agnew had two long punt returns early in practice. …
*Kicker Josh Lambo went 5-for-6 on field goals of 42-to-52 yards. …
NOTABLE
*Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. and guard Andrew Norwell missed a second consecutive practice with minor injuries, and tight end Tim Tebow missed a second consecutive practice with an illness. …
*Wide receivers Phillip Dorsett, Tim Jones and Josh Imatorbhebhe remained out of practice, and receiver Marvin Jones Jr. missed a second consecutive practice for personal reasons. …
*Defensive tackle Taven Bryan and safety Daniel Thomas remained on the COVID-19 list. …
*Rookie linebacker Dylan Moses remained on the active non-football injury list. …
