Jaguars Training Camp: Stock Report on Tank Bigsby, Calvin Ridley and More After First Week
The first week of Jacksonville Jaguars training camp is in the rearview mirror and we are moving onto Week 2. After four tough practices, the Jaguars will continue to up the intensity on Monday.
"Biggest takeaways, I think just where we left off as a unit, as a team both offensively and defensively, and special teams. The guys came back in the right frame of mind, ready to go to work," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said.
"Those are all things in the last couple of days that kind of stood out to me. The leadership is really shown itself within the team and those are all things that really show. Next week, we put the pads on so we’ll take another step in that direction, but I’m pleased where everybody is right now.”
But which Jaguars stood out the most during the first phase of camp? We break it down below.
Stock up
Calvin Ridley
There is no question who the biggest star of the first week of training camp was. Calvin Ridley showed day in and day out that any presumed rust was a work of fiction. He looked like arguably the most explosive player on the entire field during the first week of camp and made several noteworthy practices, even earning some high praise from Pederson.
"Just the way he practices is just a different speed and a different level. It’s encouraging to me as a coach because it feeds to the rest of the guys, particularly the young guys. He’s one that’s really stood out there," Pederson said.
Tank Bigsby
The most exciting rookie through the first week of camp was third-round running back Tank Bigsby. It still looks like Travis Etienne's backfield, but Bigsby has gotten plenty of key reps and has broken off a number of long runs. He has continued to show the strong hands that flashed throughout the offseason, too.
"I’ve seen a lot out of Tank. I just love his grind; I love his grit. I feel like he’s very hungry. That’s what I love about him," Jaguars running back Travis Etienne said.
"Just seeing his willingness to get better each and every day. He’s a rookie, he’s new in the scheme. I’ve been there, so I’m seeing where he’s going and where he’s coming and just his willingness to come in every day and learn. I feel like I love that about him and that’s why you’re going to see a lot of growth from him early.”
Gerrit Prince
One of the highlights of the first week of camp was Gerrit Prince's three-touchdown efforts over a two-day span. Prince caught two touchdown passes from Trevor Lawrence on Friday before catching another from C.J. Beathard on Saturday to close out the week. He got a ton of hype over the course of the offseason and, so far, has lived up to it. He looks like a lock to make the roster at this point.
Kevin Austin Jr.
Another second-year undrafted free agent who has stood out has been Notre Dame product Kevin Austin Jr., who has made arguably bigger strides from Year 1 to Year 2 than any other player. Austin Jr. struggled with drops issues as a rookie but has caught seemingly everything thrown his way through the first week, including one of the best plays of camp on a touchdown from Trevor Lawrence.
Gregory Junior
Second-year sixth-round cornerback Gregory Junior has been able to stand out during the first week of camp, even earning some reps with the first-team unit as the nickel cornerback here and there. It still appears to be Tre Herndon's job, but Junior could be playing himself into a roster spot and as a potential backup for Herndon after some impressive flashes last week.
“I think the position that he came in last year, throughout all last year, he worked on the practice squad some and got elevated up. You could see him, to me, it looked like his body changed from when he first got here to the end of the season," Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said.
"His body changed and the techniques he kept working on it and working on it, now it’s his opportunity to go out there and compete.”
Brandon McManus
The Jaguars had plenty of kicker issues last training camp, but it has all gone away through the first week of this year's camp. Brandon McManus has been everything he was advertised as thus farm booming several kicks from 57+ yards out, including a handful of kicks from 60 yards out.
Stock Down
Snoop Conner
In a week where a number of running backs have stood out and made big plays, including Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson, there weren't quite as many highlights from Snoop Conner. Conner hasn't done anything negatively, but he also hasn't done much to stand out among a crowded running back room.
C.J. Beathard
There are plenty of reasons why an offense might struggle early on in training camp; normally, defenses have the advantage as offenses adjust to timing and chemistry. C.J. Beathard, though, has had some accuracy issues during the first week of camp and hasn't exactly lit up the defense with the second-team offense.
