JACKSONVILLE – The pads popped, and the sun shone.
There was a real opponent, too – and a new team meant a different feel at Jaguars 2024 Training Camp Wednesday. This was Day 16 of '24 camp, but Day 1 of joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That meant an added, real intensity.
"Advantage is just hitting somebody else, just something new," Ryan Nielsen said.
Nielsen, in his first season as the Jaguars' defensive coordinator, spoke shortly before the two-hour-plus practice in temperatures in the high-80s at the Miller Electric Center. The teams hit in full pads, with one-on-one pass rush and teamwork emphasized.
Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead, activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday after missing the start of camp with a knee issue, did not participate full Wednesday. He spoke to the media after practice, calling joint practices "good" to "break up the monotony of camp and go against some different guys."
"Being a part of this for a lot of years, guys get tired of going against each other," Armstead said. "It's good from a schematic standpoint, going against different offenses and different defenses and we approach things a little differently.
"It's a good opportunity for us to get better and work on what we're trying to accomplish."
The teams practiced without incident Wednesday. Multiple joint practices around the NFL in recent weeks have featured skirmishes.
Nielsen, who also on Wednesday discussed the defense's performance in a 26-13 Preseason Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, called Wednesday's practice about "us doing our job, going out and playing our fundamentals."
"We're not scouting these guys or game-planning them," he said. "We're just playing our game today and just seeing what our guys can do. So, it is a good evaluation."
Nielsen added, "It's about the individual player at the position. It's always been about us. It'll always be about us. Every single day, we don't focus on the opponent. We focus on our fundamentals, our technique, our scheme, execution.
"We haven't changed a lot in what we do in terms of the installation and kept everything pretty much the same for the guys. That's what we evaluate, what we do every day, how we act, think, energy, effort, all those type of things.
"If we keep it like that, then the guys can continue to get better and instead of focusing on too many other things."
Nielsen's media availability Wednesday was his first since Saturday's preseason opener. The Jaguars' starting defense held the Chiefs' first-team offense – featuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes – to a field goal on its lone drive and forced the second-team Kansas City offense on the ensuring drive.
The Jaguars' defense registered five sacks Saturday, holding the defending Super Bowl champions to 264 total yards and one touchdown.
"The guys did a good job pass-rushing," Nielsen said. "I thought our coverage was really good, too. The combination of the coverage and the rush together, the guys played together, they played hard. Obviously, there's a lot of things we need to clean up, but overall, it was a good first start."
PLAY OF THE DAY
Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. continued a strong recent camp with two touchdown receptions Wednesday. Thomas, the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft from Louisiana State University, got behind Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac for about a 50-yard touchdown reception. Lawrence also found Thomas for a red-zone touchdown reception in seven-on-seven work.
STANDING OUT
- Lawrence had a strong day with four touchdown passes, with running back Tank Bigsby appearing to continue a strong recent camp with three short-yardage touchdown runs. Lawrence also had a touchdown pass to running back Travis Etienne Jr. Second-year wide receiver Elijah Cooks also caught a touchdown pass Wednesday.
- The Buccaneers' strong defensive front – considered one of the NFL's best defensive fronts -- appeared to have a strong day, with defensive tackle Vita Vea having a strong practice against the Jaguars' interior offensive line. …
- Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell had a pass defensed covering Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, and second-year Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell also had a pass breakup. …
- Jaguars offensive tackles Anton Harrison and Cam Robinson were both strong in one-on-one pass rush drills. …
INJURY WATCH
Four Jaguars players missed practice Wednesday: Running back running back Keilan Robinson (toe), tight end Patrick Murtagh (ankle), safety Andrew Wingard (knee) and wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Armstead did not practice while returning from PUP and newly signed safety Tashaun Gipson did not practice while still in the five-day acclimation period after rejoining team.
