USA TODAY Sports Weekly

Jacksonvil­le Jaguars

-

The Jaguars have made no secret about QB Blake Bortles’ most reliable targets.

WR Allen Robinson has caught seven passes for 114 yards in limited action during the first two preseason games, and Allen

Hurns stepped into the mix last weekend with two catches for 29 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bortles also found RB T.J. Yeldon on the Jaguars’ opening drive for a 14yard touchdown pass.

Bortles is 14-for-18 for 190 yards and two touchdowns in two games as he looks to take a big leap in his third NFL season.

Rookie watch: CB Jalen Ramsey, the fifth overall pick, notched three tackles, including one for a 6-yard loss, and forced two incompleti­ons while covering Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans. If Ramsey can make big plays and shut down sizable receivers, Jacksonvil­le’s defense could be in for a quick turnaround in 2016. … Second-round pick LB Myles Jack worked primarily with the second-team unit but has drawn positive reviews in camp. … Sixthround QB Brandon Allen was 0-for-3 and threw an intercepti­on for a second consecutiv­e week, while Max Wittek was 1-for-8 and also threw an intercepti­on as they battle for the third-string job.

Noteworthy: RB Chris Ivory is the clear-cut starter over Yeldon, picking up six carries for 25 yards against the Bucs, although Yeldon has shown more consistenc­y as a pass catcher, a developmen­t that could be crucial in splitting time between the two. … TE Julius Thomas was quiet for a second consecutiv­e week and has missed a few practices in recent weeks with minor injuries. … After a hot start against the New York Jets, the Jacksonvil­le pass rush was far less ferocious against Tampa Bay.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States