JACKSONVILLE – This was a day for the run.
The Jaguars worked in full pads for a second consecutive day at 2020 Training Camp Tuesday, primarily focusing on run offense and defense. The team worked for about 90 minutes in temperatures that reached 87 degrees at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex.
The Jaguars went through multiple team sessions Tuesday, also conducting a one-on-one pass rush drill for a second consecutive day.
News also broke late Tuesday morning that the Tennessee Titans won't allow fans at the Titans-Jaguars home game on September 20 because of COVID-19. That's the Jaguars' first road game of the season, with the team scheduled to open the regular season at home against the Indianapolis Colts September 13.
"There's no question it's going to affect things," Jaguars tight end James O'Shaughnessy said of not having fans attending. "It's going to make the game-day experience not as lavish, not as grand. The game-day feeling is a special feeling. You work every day, week after week and month after month, to get to that game and showcase what you can in front of all these fans in person and millions of fans on television.
"But at the end of the day, it doesn't change our job. We still have to come in and win – whether it's home game, road game, fans at 20 percent, no fans. It stinks for the fans who love this game and want to see it in person, but it's the world we live in right now. We've got to handle it.
"Us as players, we have to rise up to the challenge. And it will be a challenge because it's a new thing. Once the pads get on and you start rolling, you might not hear the crowd noise as much, but you're still focusing on your job."
O'Shaughnessy, tight ends coach Ron Middleton and tight end Tyler Eifert spoke to the media via videoconference Tuesday. Coverage of those availabilities can be seen on jaguars.com and Jaguars media channels throughout Tuesday.
Here's a look at Tuesday's practice:
PLAY OF THE DAY
With practice emphasizing the run, this wasn't a day for big plays. But second-year starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II continued to show good touch and accuracy on deep passes. He found first-year reserve wide receiver Terry Godwin down the left sideline for a 35-yard gain in a team period later in practice. Minshew has hit multiple such plays thus far in his first training camp as the starter – including a 50-yarder to wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. on Monday.
STANDING OUT
*Guard A.J. Cann appeared to handle defensive end Dawuane Smoot well during two repetitions in one-on-one pass rush. …
*Defensive end Josh Allen beat offensive lineman Garrett McGhin in one-on-one pass rush, and second-year offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor did a nice job on Allen in an early rep in the period; Allen also appeared to beat Taylor on a spin move in the period. …
*Rookie offensive guard Ben Bartch looked good in one-on-one pass rush for a second consecutive day, blocking defensive tackle Taven Bryan on an early repetition. …
*Center Brandon Linder handled defensive tackle Abry Jones well on a repetition in one-on-one pass rush. …
*Eifert caught an intermediate pass from Minshew during a late team drill. …
*Middle linebacker Joe Schobert intercepted Minshew during a mid-practice passing drill. …
*Rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. had a 20-yard reception from Minshew in a team drill. …
*Rookie quarterback Jake Luton continued to throw well early in camp, completing a 20-yard back-shoulder pass to wide receiver Marvelle Ross in a team period. …
*Rookie cornerback Chris Claybrooks had good defense on an incomplete pass from reserve quarterback Mike Glennon to wide receiver Keelan Cole in a team period. …
*Running backs Leonard Fournette, Devine Ozigbo and James Robinson all had strong runs in a late team period. …
INJURY WATCH
Second-year tight end Josh Oliver as expected missed practice with a broken bone in his foot; he was expected to undergo surgery Tuesday. Linebacker Quincy Williams remained out after successful surgery Monday on a core muscle injury. Rookie linebacker/defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson continues to work on the side with limited practice action because of a minor hamstring issue; Head Coach Doug Marrone said Monday the hope is Chaisson will be back by the end of the week.
NOTABLE
*Weak-side linebacker Myles Jack missed a second consecutive practice Tuesday after becoming ill Sunday night; Marrone said Monday the illness does not appear to be COVID-19 related. …
*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. …
*Three players remain on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list: running back Ryquell Armstead, offensive lineman Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms and offensive lineman Ryan Pope. Reserve/COVID-19 is 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. …
