JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Game info:
Date: Saturday, August 20th
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
TV: Channel 4
Radio: WJXL 1010-AM/92.5-FM
The Jacksonville Jaguars joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lacked the drama that many expected. Both teams kept things professional and focused on making each other better. During both Wednesday and Thursday’s joint sessions there was a higher level of intensity than a normal training camp practice. Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley was happy with what the Jaguars got out of the past two days and now he’s taking a different approach to Saturday’s game against the Buccaneers.
“Yeah, we have taken a look at that,” said Bradley. “We are going to do that tomorrow [Friday] as far as playing time, but it will have an impact. I do not think we will treat it like a normal second preseason game because of the work we have done in the last two days.”
Limited repetitions in practice and preseason game are nothing new for several of the Jaguars players. Wide receiver Allen Hurns sat out practice on Wednesday. When he returned to practice on Thursday, fellow receiver Allen Robinson was given the day off. Neither of Blake Bortles’ top targets is dealing with an injury, the team just gave them days off to rest their bodies.
Routinely scheduled days off for both Hurns and Robinson will likely continue into the regular season and that’s just fine with Bortles.
“If you let it eat at you, nothing good comes out of getting frustrated over it,” said Bortles. “ARob’s [Allen Robinson] a guy that as much as you would love to have him out here practicing today, you want him on Sundays and that’s what everybody understands and is the goal. Gus does a good job of returning how an important a practice is and we get that, but there’s also times where it’s good to take care of the team and take care of individuals and their body. It’s a challenge and it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and go make some plays.”
When either Hurns or Robinson have the day off, that means more repetitions for Marqise Lee. Since returning from a hamstring injury Lee has been able to develop chemistry with Bortles.
“I think Marqise has been awesome,” said Bortles. “I think he’s shown that when he’s healthy he’s got an unbelievable ability to make plays. Now it’s just trying to keep him healthy and it’s really kind of back to him really taking care of his body and doing all that. He’s a professional and understands that and knows what to do in order to stay on the field. He’s kind of done that and been able to do it and looks really good.”