JACKSONVILLE – The week ahead matters. A lot.

But while Doug Pederson focused on the coming days when speaking to the media Monday, he also took time to discuss a positive from this past Saturday's preseason opener. Maybe the most encouraging aspect?

The depth of a roster that appears to be developing young talent.

"It was pleasing to see," Pederson said.

Pederson, entering his third season as the Jaguars' head coach, spoke to the media shortly before Day 14 2024 Training Camp practice at the Miller Electric Center Monday. It was a comparatively light practice – in shorts and helmets – with the Jaguars scheduled to practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wednesday and Thursday before the teams' Preseason Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium Saturday.

"We want to continue to work, to evaluate and make progress," he said of the dual practices. "It's just an opportunity to get some good quality work against another opponent besides ourselves."

Pederson said Wednesday and Thursday practices could have as much value this week as Saturday's game.

"The situations and scenarios are very controlled," Pederson said. "There's no live tackling or anything like that. They're physical practices. You can get quite a bit out of them. You do these with guys you know and teams that are respected. They're going to play hard, practice hard. We've had great success with them the last couple of years."

Pederson, as he did after a 26-13 Preseason Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs this past Saturday, lauded the team's second- and third-team's performance in that game.

"It just goes back to our young players, the free agents we brought in here, the draft picks – just developing the entire roster," Pederson said. "You want everybody to have an opportunity to play. I was pleased the other night that there wasn't that drop off you normally see late in games. Our guys, especially the young guys, played well.

"It makes it harder when it comes to cutdowns to make sure you're keeping the right guy."

Pederson, too, said he liked elements of the run game against the Chiefs. Starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for three yards on four carries while playing two series with the starting offense, with the Jaguars as a team rushing 25 times for 102 yards.

"I thought we came off the ball extremely fast, came off the ball physical," Pederson said. "We still have to time up some things with the running back and the offensive line. There were some opportunities there that we missed. Now we're game speed and things are a little bit different. Kansas City does a nice job of attacking the line of scrimmage with their second-level defenders. We have to be able to come off on some blocks there.

"I thought overall there were some good things up front. It's still a work in progress, but pleased how we started."

Also Monday: Pederson addressed the team signing veteran Tashaun Gipson, who spent 2016-2018 with the Jaguars. Gipson if he is on the roster will miss the first six games of the regular season serving an NFL-mandated suspension.

Pederson on Monday said veteran safety Andrew Wingard may miss about the same time with a knee injury sustained early in '24 camp.

"It's a veteran player that we're familiar with," Pederson said of Gipson. "He gives us more depth. He just gives you gives you another veteran body and some competition."

JAGUARS INJURY WATCH

• Three Jaguars players missed practice Monday: Linebacker Foye Oluokun (hamstring), tight end Patrick Murtagh (ankle) and Wingard.
• Two players practiced limited: Guard Ezra Cleveland (heel) and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo (shoulder).
• Right tackle Anton Harrison practiced full after missing Saturday after being in concussion protocol, and Pederson said linebacker Ventrell Miller (hand) was fine after playing with a protective wrap on his hand Saturday.
• Cornerback Tyson Campbell also practiced Monday after missing Saturday.
• Defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform list to start camp and Pederson said he isn't expected to play until Preseason Week 3 at Atlanta.