We’ve officially hit training camp week for the Jacksonville Jaguars, which means it’s now time to see if all their work during the offseason will pay off. After going 5-11, the front office made some tough decisions in free-agency and also had some good luck in the draft. Now, with all that behind us here are eight storylines to watch when the Jags kickoff training camp Thursday:
Will Yannick Ngakoue be there?
This is arguably the biggest question on everyone’s mind as the young pass rusher missed most of organized team activities and all of minicamp in efforts to get a new contract. As most are aware, he’s on the last year of his rookie contract and has outplayed the deal (with 29.5 sacks in three years), which will pay him just over $2 million.
During OTAs, Ngakoue told the media he was more focused on leading the Jags than getting a new contract, but understood what he was worth. Not too long after, he left OTAs and hasn’t been to a team workout since.
Thanks to Myles Jack’s Instagram account, it was revealed that Ngakoue was in town last week as he worked out with the young linebacker at the Jags’ facility. Maybe that was a good sign he’ll be with the team this week, but ultimately time will tell.
Is Nick Foles the baller we saw in OTAs, minicamp and with the Eagles?
Foles, who was the Jags’ biggest acquisition of the offseason, balled out in OTAs and minicamp, but that was without the pads being on. That said, after signing a four-year, $88 million deal in March, he’ll need to continue his success from earlier.
Foles, in particular, had a strong connection with former Kansas City Chiefs teammate Chris Conley, DJ Chark and Keelan Cole before this point, and it appears the receivers have taken well to his consistency and improved ball placement from the quarterback spot. There was even a well-respected member of the defense in A.J. Bouye, who even admitted defending the pass was harder with Foles behind center, which is something fans shouldn’t take lightly.
The playing field will be a little more even now that the pads will be going on, which will allow tighter coverage. That will give fans an even better assessment of Foles as he takes on the league’s best cornerback tandem in Bouye and Jalen Ramsey.
When will Cam Robinson and Marqise Lee return to the field?
Coach Doug Marrone said both starters will return to practice at some point during training camp, but the specific time seems to be unknown at the moment. Receivers coach Keenan McCardell told the media he believes Lee will be back roughly two weeks into camp, but the veteran’s knee surgery was so extensive, it’s hard to tell.
Robinson, who tore his ACL a few weeks after Lee against the New England Patriots, is a player the Jags could maybe use a little more than Lee because the reserves at the left tackle position are questionable options at best. At the moment, swing tackle Josh Wells looks to be the No. 1 left tackle, but he also struggled to stay healthy in 2018.
How will Lee’s pending return effect the receiver depth chart?
With the specifics to Lee’s return being unknown, it’s unclear as to how much time he’ll have to get up to speed before the regular season. Additionally, he’ll be getting a feel for a new playbook and new quarterback, which won’t be easy. For those reasons, we could see the veteran start 2019 on injured reserve, but time will tell.
With or without Lee, Dede Westbrook, DJ Chark, Chris Conley and Keelan Cole are locks to make the roster. With Lee that would put them at five receivers and four without him. That said, there could be one to two receiver slots available depending on his status.
A name to watch as a back-end receiver is veteran Terrelle Pryor, who the Jags signed in early June. Two others to watch are recently added Supplemental Draft prospect Marcus Simms and undrafted receiver Tyre Brady, both of whom looked like draftable players in college.
Will Jawaan Taylor beat out Cedric Ogbuehi to start at right tackle?
Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo praised Ogbuehi during minicamp, and it appears the veteran will have some momentum heading into training camp after taking first-team snaps. However, as most are aware, offensive tackle is a position in which it’s better to evaluate when the pads go on.
With Taylor being a second-round pick, it’s clear the starting right tackle job is technically his to lose. Coming into the draft, pundits labeled him a first-round talent and it’s easy to see why when watching his tape. That said, it’s probably just a matter of time before fans see his true talent, which should result in him being named a starter, but Ogbuehi can’t be overlooked.
Do the Jags have enough at the TE position for Foles and the offense to flourish?
The Jags couldn’t get a marquee name at the tight end position this offseason, but did land Geoff Swaim in free-agency and Josh Oliver in the draft. As a result, fans expressed their concern at the position, but both players had strong showings in OTAs and minicamp.
By now, fans should be well aware of how important the tight end position is to John DeFilippo’s offense and to Foles based off his past. That said, Oliver and Swaim will need to once again have strong showings when the pads go on to erase the doubts of fans.
Who will win the starting weak-side LB job and take over for Telvin Smith?
As most are aware, Smith abruptly announced that he’d be stepping away from football in May, and the Jags will need to find a replacement in training camp. The Jags seemingly knew something was up with Smith and drafted Quincy Williams in the third round of April’s draft, and it appears he has a solid chance to crack the starting lineup after flashing in OTAs and minicamp.
The Jags also brought in a couple of veterans in Najee Goode and Ramik Wilson after Smith’s announcement, and it appears they’ll be in a competition with Williams for Smith’s position. With eight and five years of experience, respectively, to their names, Goode and Wilson certainly won’t make it easy on Williams, but in the end, his agility may give him the edge.
How will Jarrod Wilson fare in the starting lineup
The Jaguars had to part ways with several veterans this offseason, including starting Tashaun Gipson. Taking his place will be veteran safety Jarrod Wilson, who the Jags retained from becoming an exclusive rights free-agent in January.
In OTAs and minicamp, his performance was iffy according to some media members, so fans should keep a close eye on him during training camp. He’s proven to be capable over the past two years when filling in for Gipson occasionally, however, becoming a full-time starter is a big jump and being the “quarterback” of the secondary isn’t an easy task. Still, fans shouldn’t doubt the veteran as he’s made significant strides since going undrafted in 2016.
