Jaguars Attitude Hitting Mid-Season: Ten Toes Down And Pushing Forward

Oct 24, 2024 at 05:52 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – They're coming back, sooner rather than later.

That's significant for the Jaguars' defense, in part because of what safety Andrew Wingard and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun mean on the field – and in part for a lot of other stuff.

The other stuff is confidence and energy, and that was evident this week.

"We're going to ball out, for sure," Wingard said.

Wingard, who has been out since the preseason with a knee injury, was cleared to return practice this week with his 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened. Oluokun, out since a Week 3 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a foot injury, also was cleared to practice this week under the same conditions.

"We're excited," Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said. "We're fired up to have those guys back in the mix of what we're doing. Just getting our full defense back together again has been good."

Wingard and Oluokun both worked limited in practice the last two days.

"I feel great," Oluokun said this week. "I feel happy to be back out with the boys. I'm starting to get back in the swing of things. I'm just really happy to be playing ball with the team again."

Oluokun, who before this season's injury started his first 37 games after joining the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the 2022 offseason, said missing games "is not something I'd say I'm used to doing."

"You feel a love for the game," he said. "Being out, watching, hoping the best for everybody, staying in it, telling your boys stuff that might help them … that's the feeling you get away from it."

Wingard, one of the team's top special teams players since joining the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft, is expected to play a significant role defensively upon his return.

"I'm just going to do what I do – bring my leadership, bring my energy, bring my want-to, my will, my not-going-to-take-no-for-an-answer-they-wake-up-and-pray-to-the-same-God-I-pray-to mentality," he said. "It's true. That's how you have to approach these things.

"I can't control results. I can control running around with my hair on fire and playing as hard as I can to get dubs. Motivation's not going to be an issue."

Wingard on Thursday also discussed the Jaguars’ situation in the standings, trailing the Houston Texans (5-2) in the AFC South. The Jaguars were four games behind the Tennessee Titans with seven games remaining in 2022 before winning their final five regular-season games to win the AFC South title.

"Nothing changed that year," he said. "We just kept chipping away and started getting dubs (victories). When we get into these early November games, I think that's when we get dangerous. That's when we can jump on teams and that's what we did late in '22.

"We have such a talented team. This team is seriously so good. You have to go make plays. We didn't make plays earlier. Things are going to flip. As long as we stay ten toes down and push our chips into the middle, we're going to be fine."

Said Oluokun, "It's game to game. When we made that run, we blocked out the outside noise and focused on one week at a time and winning plays instead of winning the whole game. When you worry about the end result during the middle of the game, you're not playing at your best."

QUOTABLE

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor on a Packers defense that ranks seventh in the NFL with 20 sacks and first in the NFL with 17 takeaways through seven games: "It feels like the defensive line is just a whole new wave every single play – just a lot of high energy, a lot of really good players, just a wave of pass-rushers rolling through, and everybody firing off the ball. It's a very high-energy group. They seem to have a lot of fun doing what they're doing. They seem to really know what they're being asked to do within the scheme, and they're playing really good football right now."

NOTABLE

Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson practiced limited Thursday after not practicing Thursday; he remains in the concussion protocol after sustaining the injury in a victory over the New England Patriots this past Sunday. Jaguars players practicing limited for a second consecutive day Thursday were defensive lineman Arik Armstead (shoulder), wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo (calf). Tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) practiced full Thursday after practicing limited Wednesday.

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Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on October 23, 2024.