JACKSONVILLE – Calvin Ridley is smiling, and why not?

He is where he wants to be – on and off the field – which makes these good days for the veteran wide receiver who has been the standout player through two days of Jaguars 2023 Training Camp. And make no mistake:

Ridely feels very good about where is early in camp.

"I'm him; I'm Calvin Ridley," he said.

Ridley spoke Thursday after Day 2 practice at '23 training camp at the Miller Electric Center, a 90-minute non-padded practice held in temperatures in the mid-80s. Ridley had been asked if he felt "rust" early in camp considering he hasn't played an NFL game since October 2021.

Ridley said he is "still getting better," adding "I haven't lost a step."

"You can ask anyone that's around here," he said.

That was the consensus on Day One of camp Wednesday. Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen called Ridley "a dog" after three athletic receptions and quarterback Trevor Lawrence praised Ridley's route-running and quickness.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor on Thursday discussed Ridley, who was acquired by the Jaguars in a late November trade with the Atlanta Falcons – and who missed all last season while serving an NFL suspension for gambling.

"He's very serious about his craft," Taylor said. "In walkthrough, he's grabbing [wide receivers coach] Chad Hall the whole time. They're sitting over there going through the install. He's hungry and wants to prove to everybody what he's gone through, where he is and what type of player he is in this league.

"He just wants to prove he belongs at the top of this group of receivers across the league. I think that's important to him."

Ridley, as he has been since he began practicing with the Jaguars in mid-April, was at ease and confident speaking to the media Thursday – a brief session in which he discussed why he chose to wear "0" after the NFL ruled players could do so beginning this season.

"It's not a zero," he said. "It's an 'O' to my middle name. My name is Calvin Orin Ridley: C-O-R. My mom called us the COR boys when we were little because all of us have the same initials, but I'm original. They call me original where I'm from. I'm the first one."

Ridley, too, said he wanted to be the first to wear the number for his new team.

"For sure," he said. "When it came out, I said, 'All right, y'all. Get it out now so they know that I was the first one to do it.'"

Ridley, who caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns during his last full season in 2020, also on Thursday discussed the possibility that after nearly two seasons away from the NFL opposing defenses might "fall asleep" when defending him or game-planning against him.

"Of course," he said. "Yeah, please."

He was asked if he really thought that would happen.

"No," he said, laughing. "I have to maybe drop some passes, or just look real bad and maybe they'll give me some room. Of course I want them to forget me. I want them to forget for sure."

Here's a look at Thursday's practice:

PLAY OF THE DAY

• Thursday's practice was about 10 minutes longer than Wednesday and featured a more extensive 11-on-11 period. A highlight came early, with Lawrence connecting with running back Travis Etienne Jr. on a deep pass down the right sideline for a 30-to-35-yard gain.

STANDING OUT

• Veteran running back D'Ernest Johnson, signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, had an explosive run for a would-be touchdown in 11-on-11 drills…
• Rookie wide receiver Parker Washington had a nice gain on a quick screen from quarterback Nathan Rourke in 11-on-11…
• Rookie wide receiver Elijah Cooks had a nice reception staying just in bounds on a long pass from Rourke late in practice...
• Rookie tight end Brenton Strange had a nice run after a short reception near the left sideline in 11-on-11…
• Veteran Running back JaMycal Hasty had a quick run up the middle for an eight-to-10 yard gain in 11-on-11…
• First-year tight end Gerrit Prince had a 10-yard gain on a reception in 11-on-11…
• Second-year tight end Sammis Reyes ran over rookie cornerback Erick Hallett II after a short reception late in practice…

INJURY WATCH

• Left guard Ben Bartch (knee) and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot (Achilles) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start training camp.