Jaguars Training Camp, Day 1: 5 Observations on Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley and More
The first-ever practice at the newly minted Miller Electric Center is in the books and the Jacksonville Jaguars have officially kicked off the 2023 season.
Day 1 of training camp is always an eventful time in NFL circles, with new faces on and off the field taking center stage as each team gears up for hopeful postseason runs. Wednesday was no different, with fans packing the end-zone stands to cheer on the Jaguars' first practice of the season.
So, what did we see during the first training camp practice? We break it down below.
Calvin Ridley steals the show
The best player on the Jaguars' practice field on Wednesday was plainly and clearly Calvin Ridley. The Pro Bowl receiver and former first-round pick put on a clinic in his first training camp practice, making a number of highlight catches and not looking slowed down or rusty in any sense. Ridley had a terrific offseason for the Jaguars, but Wednesday was his best practice yet.
On one grab during 7-on-7 drills, Ridley fully extended while leaving his feet, bringing in a high pass that seemed destined to fall incomplete. He did this while being covered tightly by Chris Claybrooks, too. Then during team drills, Ridley made another tough catch outside of his frame against Claybrooks. He looked like an accuracy eraser who could, and would, bring in any pass thrown to his direction, while still showing off the speed and quickness that made him a big name in the NFL to begin with. It was a fantastic day for Ridley, who already looks like the most dangerous pass-catcher on a roster with several other high-quality talents.
"I mean, just watching him the way he runs, there's not many guys like that, especially in and out of his breaks and he is just really crafty, obviously great ball skills," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said after practice.
"And you haven't even seen it yet because we're not in pads and we're not full contact, but I think after the catch he's really, really good too. And in spring we were still working him in, so we didn't get a ton of reps. So now that we're camp, we're full go. I'm excited just to continue to build on that."
Trevor Lawrence still looks like Trevor Lawrence
While Trevor Lawrence didn't have his most crisp practice as a Jaguar on Wednesday, he still looked like the immensely talented, and now experienced, franchise passer that he is. Lawrence's command of the offense on Wednesday compared to any stretch of training camp from last season is night and day, with Lawrence looking like a tested veteran who could navigate the offense's other 10 players in his sleep.
From the adjustments he made with the tight ends, receivers and running backs after every single play to his notably skyrocketed confidence in between the whistles, Lawrence looks like a player in control. Lawrence did have one noteworthy play on the day, though, evading pressure from a blitzing Devin Lloyd to connect with a wide-open Tim Jones while moving up in the pocket. Lawrence is due for one jaw-dropping throw a practice, and he didn't disappoint on Wednesday.
The training camp matchup to watch
The best one-on-one matchup we saw during team drills and 7-on-7 was, by far, Tyson Campbell vs. Calvin Ridley. Last year was appointment viewing whenever Darious Williams and Christian Kirk lined up against each other, and this year it will be Campbell and Ridley who have become the must-watch battle each day. It was obvious on Campbell's first rep against Ridley that he wasn't completely prepared for the veteran wideout's elite explosiveness and quickness, but he was able to adjust well and eventually held his own against the standout receiver.
Campbell is already an ascending talent who has proven he can cover the NFL's best, so his contests against Ridley will be popcorn-worthy day in and day out. Iron sharpens iron in the NFL, and there will be no better test for Ridley than Campbell, and vice versa. The two will have some exciting reps against each other all camp long and they got off to a quick start on Day 1.
Josh Allen starts 2023 with a bang
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday that he is comfortable with his pass-rush group. That group will be headlined by fifth-year veteran and returning sack leader Josh Allen, who had a dominant practice on Wednesday. Allen normally has strong training camp practices, but the former first-round pick was on another level to kick off camp.
Lining up mostly against Anton Harrison, Allen was able to give the rookie fits on a few different occasions. Pads aren't on yet, but Allen would have recorded at least on sack and a handful of pressures during team drills, with the sack coming on a smartly-defended play against a play-action pass. Allen looked explosive, powerful, and like he had a clear chip on his shoulder. The Jaguars will need a career year for Allen, and Wednesday was a heck of a way to start the journey there.
Play of the day
Either of Calvin Ridley's fantastic catches could qualify here, but since we already talked about them we will go with Tyson Campbell's near interception of Trevor Lawrence in 7-on-7 drills. Lawrence attempted to fit a ball underneath to Luke Farrell, but Campbell broke off from his zone and drove on the ball to almost pick off Lawrence early in camp. Campbell did pushups after the pass breakup to punish himself for the drop, but it was a great play nonetheless.
Other notes
- Doug Pederson said left guard Ben Bartch is still a few weeks away from returning after a knee injury in Week 5 last year. Pederson said Bartch, who is on the PUP list, will likely be thrown into the mix toward the end of camp, similar to James Robinson from a year ago.
- Pederson also said that K'Lavon Chaisson is the Jaguars' current No. 3 pass-rusher behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker, confirming the reported confidence the Jaguars have in the former No. 20 pick. "When you're in base defense, he's a guy that's going to be a rotational guy. Depth chart wise he's probably three behind Josh and Travon right now and then KC," Pederson said. "But I see -- if he continues to improve and work the way he's been working in the off-season and hopefully this camp is a good camp for him, and you could see him in there a little more."
- Pederson said both Cam Robinson and Walker Little would get reps at left tackle during camp, though the majority will go to Little due to Robinson's suspension. Robinson worked as the second-team left tackle on Wednesday.
- Cornerback Chris Claybrooks practiced with the team after being arrested last week for misdemeanor domestic battery and felony false imprisonment. "Obviously we take these things very serious here and we want to make sure that Chris understands that number one," Pederson said. "But at the same time with things being kind of ongoing and waiting for any kind of official ruling with him, he's a part of the football team and getting himself ready to play."
- Josh Pederson, the son of Doug Pederson, went through his first practice with the team sporting No. 49.
- During special teams drills at the start of practice, running back Travis Etienne worked to the side with wide receivers coach Chad Hall and wide receivers Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Calvin Ridley.
