JACKSONVILLE – This was about controlled work and quality repetitions.

Doug Pederson said he liked what he saw this week in that environment – and the Jaguars' head coach said that thought extended to multiple areas.

"I thought it went well," he said.

Pederson, in his third season as the Jaguars' head coach, spoke to the media Thursday morning before the second of two practices in two days against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Miller Electric Center. The teams, after working in full pads in a contact environment Wednesday, worked for less than two hours Thursday in shells and helmets with minimal contact.

"It's a really cool opportunity," Jaguars reserve quarterback Mac Jones said. "It's good because you're practicing against another team. It brings a little bit more juice out."

Both sessions featured no skirmishes between the teams, with multiple dual practices around the NFL this preseason marred by fights.

"It was a clean practice both days, which is sometimes hard to do," Jones said. "I really thought that both teams did a good job, and it's a lot of fun. You compete. You see different looks. You can try different throws that maybe you wouldn't try."

Pederson places high value on dual practices because of the extended specific situational work for both teams.

"It was good competition out there," he said. "It's a lot of plays. I think we had 90-plus reps for both sides [in Wednesday's practice]. You're playing maybe a game and a half of practice, but it was good. It's great competition.

"It was good to go against another opponent. [Buccaneers Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] does a great job of coaching these players, obviously, and it was it was good."

The Jaguars and Buccaneers will play a Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium Saturday. Pederson historically has held many starters out of preseason games if the teams practiced against one another during the week, and he said Thursday starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence won't play Saturday.

"We'll be cautious with some guys right now that might be banged up," Pederson said of Saturday snaps for plays. "We'll probably finalize that [Friday] or maybe Saturday."

Pederson said he liked how the offensive line played in Wednesday's full-padded practice.

"I thought they did some good things," Pederson said. "You watch the one-on-one pass rush [drill]. I thought we did good there. [Buccaneers defensive tackle] Vita Vea is a big, strong powerful human being, but that's good for us. It's good for [center] Mitch [Morse] and the guys to go against.

"We're not game-planning or scheming anything. Overall, they did some good things."

PLAY OF THE DAY

Thursday was significantly less intense than Wednesday because the teams worked in shells and helmets rather than full pads, with Lawrence turning in another strong practice. The Jaguars' "Play of the Day" Thursday therefore could have been one of several Lawrence passes, but among the highlights was a well-thrown pass to tight end Evan Engram for a touchdown on a seam route between two Buccaneers defenders. Multiple veteran observers considered it perhaps Lawrence's best throw of '24 camp to date.

STANDING OUT

• Veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis continued a recent strong stretch of practices with multiple impressive, physical receptions. …
• Lawrence continued to stand out with a second strong practice in as many days. …
• Jaguars cornerback Erick Hallett II registered two interceptions Thursday, with safety Andre Cisco registering one for a potential touchdown return. One of Hallett's interceptions came off a pass deflected by linebacker Devin Lloyd. …
• Second-year tight end Brenton Strange got open deep behind the Buccaneers defense for a long reception. …
• Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, continued a recent strong string of practices with a long touchdown reception on a pass from Lawrence. Thomas also had two 20-plus-yard receptions Thursday. …

INJURY WATCH

Eight Jaguars players missed practice Thursday: Running back running back Keilan Robinson (toe), tight end Patrick Murtagh (ankle), safety Daniel Thomas (heel), safety Andrew Wingard (knee), wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf), safety Tashaun Gipson and defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee). Pederson called Kirk's injury "mild" and Thomas' absence "precautionary." Armstead was activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. Gipson is still in the five-day acclimation period after signing Sunday.