Jaguars HC Doug Pederson: WR Christian Kirk day-to-day and other updates

Day 17 of the Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 Training Camp continues on Thursday morning, with Head Coach Doug Pederson heading to the podium before the team hits the practice fields for Day 2 of joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here are a few takeaways from his media availability, as the team prepares for Saturday’s 7:30 P.M. Week Two preseason matchup.

Full Media Availability

Injury Updates

Early into today’s media availability, Coach Pederson provided the following injury updates

• WR Christian Kirk has a “mild calf situation,” per coach Pederson. As such, the team held him out in yesterdays and today’s practice. For the moment, he is day to day.

"We'll get through this game, get to next week. We break camp after this game and get into more of a normal, kind of an in-season type schedule, so with more rest on it, we'll see where he is for Atlanta."

• DT Arik Armstead is unable to practice due to the PUP list acclimation period, however Pederson noted that he doesn’t want him to go in either case
• LG Ezra Cleveland will have his reps limited today, as they were yesterday while he continues to work his way back from his ankle/heel injury. He’s continuing to battle through it, however.

"You know, he battled through it yesterday. You probably saw him kind of hobble a little bit. But he's fine. It's just sore, you know, and, you know, it's different, you know, than a game. But, you know, we just got to fight through it. But he's okay.......We're just going to be, you know, it's precautionary, kind of limit his reps. You know, throughout the course of the week and, you know, see where he's at, you know, for the game."

• S Daniel Thomas has a foot/heel issue where the team is holding him out in today’s practice

OL Performance

Pederson was asked about the performance of the offensive line in yesterday’s practice, where he quickly noted the line’s positive play in 1-on-1s while reminding the media that the 3-4 scheme should also be taken into consideration. While he noted that Buccaneers NT Vita Vea is “a handful,” he also indicated that the scheme may have given the front a few issues yesterday, being one that is rarely seen or schemed for.

"I thought they did some good things. You watched the one-on-one pass rush, I thought we did good there. Vita Vea, is a big, strong, powerful human being, but that's good for us. It's good for Mitch and the guys to go against, and I thought we did some good things.

Now it's a unique scheme. We haven't seen it for a year, obviously. It's the same one that we had here, so some of the pressure, and again, we're not game planning or scheming anything. It's just what we're going against and kind of using our rules, but I thought overall they did some good things."

He continued:

"It’s a versatile defense in the sense that you can mix fronts. You can play with more linebackers, less D-linemen, and vice versa. Pressures, you know, disguises, you know, he does a great job of that. I just go back to our game last year and some of the things that he did, and that’s what makes it a challenge, because what he shows you maybe the week before is not necessarily what you’re going to see in your game, you know, and he does a great job at that."

He also indicated that guard Cooper Hodges could get an opportunity to see increased reps with the starters with his recent positive camp and game performances, and Ezra potentially being limited.

Brian Thomas Jr

Brian Thomas Jr, flashed again in yesterday’s practice, bringing in an 80-yard bomb from QB Trevor Lawrence. Coach Pederson commended the recent accension of the rookie WR throughout camp.

"He’s been doing a really nice job, you know, and it showed up a couple plays in the game last week. And then this week in practice, he continues to grow. Just he and Trevor keep talking and working, and that’s what it’s going to take. Not going to be a finished product right away, but if he continues to improve and just, you know, learn with the offense, grow with the offense, but he’s been doing a really good job."

S Josh Proctor

The rookie UDFA safety has recently been playing some linebacker in addition to his safety role. Coach Pederson noted that they are looking to see if his body can take on the impact of the role, in an attempt to potentially be used in a few different ways. This versatility, if successful may also help the rookie in his pursuit to make the active roster.

"Josh Proctor's kind of moving around a little bit, but, you know, you still got to try to keep, you know, a 90-man roster healthy through training camp, and that's a challenge."

When asked about the move, he circled back to this comment later:

"It’s just something we’re going to look at, he’s a bigger body, he’s a physical kid, you know, and so we’re just experimenting, you know, with just kind of seeing if he can handle that load in there, you know, as well as, you know, playing the back end."

DB competition

Christian Braswell and Montaric Brown have both shown significant growth in their second NFL offseason. Pederson discussed Browns’ second year growth, while detailing Braswell’s 2023 injury recovery prior to getting to be the improved player that we see today.

"You know, Montaric, I think last year playing gave him confidence going into this year, and he's competed well. Christian, you know, he battled through some injury last year, IR kind of most of the season, if not all of it. I think, and really kind of came out this year. I think something to prove, and he's done that, and he's done a nice job this year. So those two have really taken the steps you want to see."

Roster cuts looming

Doug later continued to identify a few units on the team that may have legitimate completions, that may make his coming depth chart and roster cuts decisions extremely difficult.

"I mean, I can think of a couple of positions. I think there’s some really good battles going on in the defensive line, offensive line as well, you know, with some of the young guys that are emerging. And it’s not, again, you want them to make your 53, but you also would love to get them back on practice squad if possible. So there’s always that fine line. I think the secondary, as we mentioned, is another one, another spot."

QB competition

QB Mac Jones and CJ Beathard have both had some highlight plays throughout this camp and Saturday’s preseason game. Pederson noted that hasn’t decided which QB will start Saturday night’s game, but his intent is for both QBs to play one half of the game, with Trevor Lawrence expected to sit out with the majority of starters.

"Right now, Trevor, with getting all the reps here, he won’t go, and so it’ll be Mac and CJ, they’ll split a half a piece."

He later continued:

"Yeah, I think it's been really close, honestly. The addition of Mack was great for that room. It was great for CJ. Both those guys have really embraced the challenge. We've been up front with both of them and explained exactly how camp was going to go. And, you know, really both of them, I think, are within three or four reps of having, you know, 50-50 split right down the middle. So it's been good.

It's been good competition. You know, and CJ's been a really positive influence on Mack, just learning the system, too. And that's something you don't see. When somebody's challenging for your spot, you know, and you see that other player coach him up a little bit, that's encouraging and that's positive."

Next Up:

The team is off on Friday, with the Week Two preseason matchup versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicking off at 7:30 P.M. on Saturday. At that time, all future training camp practices will be closed to the public. However, media will be present for coverage for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday practices next week (August 19th - 21st), with practice kicking off at 12:50 P.M. in preparation for the Atlanta Falcons Week 3 matchup.