JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars kicked off the next phase of their offseason program on Tuesday, going inside the Miller Electric Center and wrapping it up underneath the blistering sun.
Skirting the weather was a small inconvenience for head coach Liam Coen, but it’s far different than last year. Coen was a rookie head coach trying to put his version of the Jaguars in place. Everything was new, and everything was a bit chaotic.
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“Yeah, new year, new team, everything about the way we’re attacking this is fresh and there’s a lot of things that we can lean into from last season in terms of just scheduling, operation, things like that,” Coen said.
“But the entire message is we’re attacking this season with a relentless pursuit. And the way that we’re going to go about is, man, we’ll play any place, anytime, anywhere.”
The Jaguars surged to a 13-4 record and the AFC South title in Coen’s first season. Both coordinators are back after making the interview rounds for head coaching positions. The expectations are not only significant, but they are justifiably high.
Next step for Trevor
Trevor Lawrence had a career season under Coen in 2025, including a spot as an MVP finalist. The staff simplified things in the playbook and Lawrence responded with some of the best football of his career. The biggest growth for Lawrence this spring and summer will be building that rapport with his receivers even stronger.
“So, this year to have the system down, a bunch of guys that have played together, obviously there’s a few new pieces but majority of us really know it,” Lawrence said. “We can focus on talking about all the details of each route and how it’s going to adjust versus certain coverages and then also making tweaks to the concepts and to the plays that we already have in.”
Added Coen: “Working on that chemistry. It was nice to see a great start to that today live and in person. I think those two have worked at it this spring thus far throughout phase one, phase two and then showed up in a nice way today. Just getting to that page where, he, BT, Parker [Washington], Jakobi [WR Jakobi Meyers] specifically, they all really know what each other is doing, right?
Sights, notes and notables
- OTAs are voluntary and not mandatory. Only two players of merit weren’t spotted. Edge Josh Hines-Allen has typically skipped the voluntary portion of OTAs, electing to get in work on his own. Free agent signee running back Chris Rodriguez was not on the field for the OTA. “The injury report will come out at some point here,” Coen said. That sounded pretty ominous from the head coach.
- Eric Murray looked like the vet making plays. He took a beautiful angle for the interception in front of Brian Thomas Jr.
- Preston Hodge knows how to make a splash. Cornerback is a spot where an undrafted free agent has a chance to make the roster. Hodge, a University of Colorado product, made a nice interception on day one.
- Walker Little was back taking reps at left tackle with Cole Van Lanen not at practice.
- Linebacker Ventrell Miller, battling for a starting spot after Devin Lloyd’s departure, made two big plays in passing situations. Miller prevented Brenton Strange from making a catch and also had a diving pass breakup.
- The Jaguars announced that the June 10 mandatory minicamp will be open to fans. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and practice will be from 9:15 to 10:55 a.m. Fans can secure their tickets beginning May 27 at this link.
Coen happy with Hunter’s growth
Travis Hunter was on the field Tuesday but only watching during portions of OTAs. Hunter is still recovering from knee surgery and hasn’t been cleared to return. The Jaguars still expect Hunter to be available for work on both sides of the ball this year, but he’s likely to see more of a role at cornerback. Despite Hunter still limited in what he can physically do, Coen said that the former Heisman Trophy winner has been consistently working in team’s virtual room and getting constant reps there.
“I’ve been very pleased with Travis in that way he looks, his upper body, the way that looks,” Coen said. “He runs outside of my office in the mornings and he looks like he’s been in the weight room, so I’ve been very pleased.”
Three joint practices this year
Coen said that the Jaguars will take part in joint practices for all three preseason games this year. That includes the away game at the Saints (Aug. 15), and home games against the Panthers (Aug. 21) and Buccaneers (Aug. 28). That’s the most the Jacksonville will have taken part in joint practices.
Typically, teams hold joint practices during the week of preseason games to get in more structured work with their starters.
“Well, we didn’t have any of the luxury last year of picking those and having those opportunities. We only had the one opportunity presented to us based on the schedule and the teams that we were playing, it just didn’t work out,” Coen said.
“So yeah, year two from a schedule standpoint and the teams that we’re playing against, we were able to get on it earlier as well in terms of trying to set things up and communicate with some of those teams we may be playing in those preseason games, so I feel a lot better about it in year two.”