The Jacksonville Jaguars
continue preparing for their 23rd season today when veterans report for training camp. However, a host of issues facing the team remains.
JACKSONVILLE — The Jaguars continue preparing for their 23rd season today when veterans report for training camp. The first practice is Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Thirty-nine of the 89 players under contract are new (34.8 percent) and Doug Marrone takes over as the fifth coach in franchise history.
Here is a primer for the next month:
1. Get Healthy
Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey (abdominal) and Aaron Colvin (foot) and fullback Marquez Williams (undisclosed) are on the physically unable to perform list. It is possible all three could be removed from the PUP list in time for Thursday’s practice. Unknown are the statuses of strong safety Barry Church, free safety Tashaun Gipson and tailback T.J. Yeldon, all of whom missed the entire off-season program.
2. Create A Buzz
Befitting an organization that has not been to the playoffs in a decade, there is very little chatter locally about the Jaguars. Fans and ticket buyers are clearly in Show Us Mode – show us you’re competitive and then we’ll start paying attention. Can that be done in training camp? Maybe with some individual performances. A buzz could be created by not having anything bad happen.
3. Catching Up Westbrook
Fourth-round receiver/ return man Dede Westbrook was shelved for most of the off-season workouts and will basically be starting over when practice begins. Westbrook’s terrific Oklahoma game tape suggests he can help the Jaguars right away. It is important to carve out a role for him.
4. Keeping Bortles Ready
Blake Bortles will never win an award for Best Practice Quarterback, but a foundation can be built during the month of August. Exiting camp with his adjusted throwing motion and fine-tuned mechanics as second nature to him will equal a successful camp.
5. Defensive Contiunity
In last year’s Week 1, the Jaguars’ defense had four new starters. This year, the defense could have as many as five new starters (defensive end Calais Campbell, nose tackle Abry Jones, middle linebacker Myles Jack, cornerback A.J. Bouye and Church). Going through team drills as a group of 11 will be important.
Jaguars sign Jean-Baptiste
The Jaguars reached their 90-man roster limit Tuesday by signing cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste.
The Jaguars looked to add cornerback depth because Ramsey (abdominal) and Colvin (foot) are on the physically unable to perform list and their status for the start of practice Thursday is unknown.
Jean-Baptiste, 27, has not appeared in an NFL regular season game since 2014, when he played four games for New Orleans as a rookie. He was a second-round draft pick (No. 58 overall) by the Saints, who gave up on him after the 2015 preseason.
The Miami native was on Detroit’s practice squad for three months in 2015, missed all of last year with Seattle because of a shoulder injury and spent six weeks with Kansas City earlier this off-season.
At the 2014 Scouting Combine, Jean-Baptiste’s vertical jump of 41 1⁄2 inches was tops among the tested defensive backs.