JACKSONVILLE – He has flashed at times, showing glimpses of real promise.

Maason Smith by all accounts has turned in a solid Jaguars 2024 Training Camp and '24 preseason, which gives the rookie defensive lineman a measure of confidence as the regular season approaches.

"I feel like I'm ready to perform," he said. "I have no doubt in my capabilities on the field, so just being able to continue to grow and continue to get better."

Smith, a second-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2024 NFL Draft, spoke to the media Monday following a practice at the Miller Electric Center. He discussed multiple topics as the Jaguars prepared for Friday's preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, including how teammate/Pro Bowl defensive end Josh Allen has helped him adapt to the NFL.

"He's always told me really, 'Just don't wait; you've got to go attack him now,'' Smith said.

Smith said Allen has constantly reminded him to "know that you're that guy, and continue to grow and push."

"It's there for me now," he said. "So just being able to go and fully commit to doing everything that I'm supposed to be doing."

Smith, a physically impressive interior lineman with uncommon length and athleticism, was considered the nation's top defensive lineman prospect entering Louisiana State. He impressed as a true freshman in 2021, then sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a sophomore and spent his 2023 redshirt sophomore season of junior season rehabilitating toward full health before entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

He said Monday he continues to improve physically, and continues to move in the right direction as his rookie season approaches.

"I definitely feel like I'm in the best shape of my life right now, post-injury," Smith said. "The last couple of games of my college career, I feel like it was pretty good. So just coming into this next level, I just wanted to continue to go in the right direction. But health-wise, I feel great.

"I'm a little bit heavy right now, I've got to lose a couple of pounds. But I feel great and like I said, it's the best I've felt since having my knee injured."

NOTABLE MOMENTS FROM JAGUARS TRAINING CAMP

• Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson on Monday discussed a new rule this season that will allow teams to designate two players to return from injured reserve prior to reducing rosters to 53 players for the regular season. Teams previously had to declare injured players on the initial 53 before placing them on injured reserve. "It helps you," Pederson said. "It does give you flexibility, but then you're going to have to make a move down the road. But, for us to do that with a couple of players does make it a little bit easier to manage your roster." Teams must reduce their rosters to 53 this season by August 27 at 4 p.m.
• Pederson on Monday again lauded second-year wide receiver Parker Washington, who has been a standout in the first two preseason games and throughout '24 camp. Washington caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mac Jones for the first touchdown in a 20-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2024 Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium Saturday. "If you look at the last five games last year that [starting wide receiver] Christian [Kirk] missed, I think he got all the work there," Pederson said of Washington, who caught 16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the last six games of the 2023 regular season. "I think he got a lot of confidence and gained confidence. He's stronger this year. He looks faster, quicker, all of that. He's just making the most of his opportunities and doing a nice job in the return game as well. A we've said, he has been one o the bright spots here."
• Pederson on veteran defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris: "Roy's been doing a really good job [in preseason and training camp]. He missed a lot of springtime with his injury. It takes some time learning the techniques and learning the details of the defense, but he has been doing a great job. He's going to be an impact player for us. He's one of the mainstays on that interior line."