JACKSONVILLE – The pads stayed on, and the contact was full and real.

As full and real as it gets in training camp anyway.

The Jaguars on Friday morning practiced for the eighth time in 2024 Training Camp at the Miller Electric Center, a session that featured a "live" tackle-to-the-ground segment that marked the hardest-hitting section of '24 camp to date.

The day also featured what appeared to be '24 camp's most serious injury when tight end Patrick Murtaghsustained an ankle injury in a live goal-line drill. Murtagh's ankle twisted in ugly fashion, and he was carted from the field with practice resuming after a short delay.

Left tackle Cam Robinson left practice late with a shoulder injury.

"It was a good day – tragic events, but it's part of the game," Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker said after the session – which took place in 90-degree temperatures and featured full-field 11-on-11 work along with goal-line, one-on-one pass rush and seven-on-seven work.

It was a two-hour, 30-minute practice in full pads. The full-contact nature of the day meant an increased focus on the running game.

"I just feel like you get in those tight spaces – short-yardage and goal-line – the best way to do it is come off the ball and play live; you tackle," Head Coach Doug Pederson said before practice. "There are rules of engagement, too. We still protect each other. All that means is defensive guys can tackle ball carriers.

"Other than that, we still protect, stay up, play fast – all that stuff."

Pederson said Friday was one of two goal-line, short-yardage days scheduled for '24 camp and called the work an opportunity to see the offensive line's "ability to come off the ball."

"This is an area we've talked about, short-yardage," Pederson said. "It's the first time we get to see it in this situation with the pads on. We're not scheming. We're just putting in the short-yardage, goal-line type menu we want to use during preseason.

"But we definitely want to see the physicality coming off the ball and see if we can move the pile."

Pederson on Friday morning also discussed his approach to coaching quarterbacks during training camp. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw multiple interceptions in Week 1 before throwing eight touchdowns with no interceptions Monday through Wednesday of this week.

"I challenge him and all the quarterbacks," Pederson said, "because this is how I was challenged in camp (as a player). 'See what you can get away with now. See what type of throws you can make. Can I make that tight-window throw?' If it gets knocked down, if it gets picked, 'OK, great. That's fine. Good for the defense.'

"It just reinforces certain things from a quarterback's perspective – maintaining aggressiveness with the ball in your hand, trying to make those types of throws. Not careless, not poor decisions, not throwing late down the middle – none of that kind of stuff – but on-time, rhythm throws. Let's see what he can do.

"So, we put him in those situations. There are a lot of things that go into it. With camp right now, these are the times really to kind of experiment a little bit with that kind of stuff. At the same time, you just don't wanna be reckless or careless with the ball."

Here's a look at Friday's practice:

PLAY OF THE DAY

Despite Friday's run-heavy focus, Lawrence turned in perhaps the day's most memorable play when he passed deep down the right side of the field and hit rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in stride for a 50-yard touchdown. The day continued a strong week for Lawrence and the offense.

STANDING OUT

• Reserve quarterback C.J. Beathard has a strong start to practice, completing deep passes to wide receivers Austin Trammell, Joshua Cephus and Elijah Cooks. …
• Lawrence also had multiple intermediate completions to wide receiver Christian Kirk. …
• Running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigbsy both had touchdown runs in goal-line drills, with Bigsby also having a nice touchdown run around right end later in practice. Etienne had a 25-yard run in 11-on-11 work later in practice. …
• Backup quarterback Mac Jones had a play-action touchdown pass to veteran tight end Josiah Deguara in goal-line drills. …
• Linebacker Devin Lloyd had a strong tackle on running back D'Ernest Johnson in 11-on-11 work, and defensive end Josh Hines-Allen had a strong tackle on Etienne in a mid-practice 11-on-11 drill. Second-year linebacker Ventrell Miller also had a strong tackle on Johnson in the mid-practice 11-on-11 drill. …

INJURY WATCH

Four players missed Day 8 Jaguars '24 camp practice:

• Right tackle Anton Harrison (concussion)
• Offensive lineman Cooper Hodges (back)
• Rookie offensive lineman Steven Jones (calf)
• Safety Andrew Wingard (knee).

Three players returned to Day 8 Jaguars '24 camp practice:

• Running back Keilan Robinson (toe, individual drills)
• Defensive lineman Adam Gotsis (stinger, no contact),
• Rookie defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson (ankle, individual drills)

Defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform list to start camp.