The Jacksonville Jaguars now have their first week of training camp in the books and several players who stood out, while others have struggled. For their next week of training camp, they’ll be heading up north to test themselves against the Baltimore Ravens, who are coming off a 2018 season in which they went to the postseason. Here’s a stock report on six players heading into that process:
Stock up – QB Nick Foles
Simply put, Foles has injected life into the Jags’ offense during training camp. Not only does it show in how the team rallies around him, but fans can tell that he’s an upgrade at the quarterback position, too. Since being signed, the receivers have especially adapted to his consistency at the position and they’ve looked like the best group in training camp so far.
(Check out more from Chris Thornton’s training camp takes at LockedonJaguars.com)
Up next for the veteran will be the tall task of practicing against the Ravens’ elite defense, who were first in total defense, fifth against the pass and fourth against the rush. And while Foles may see just one series against the Ravens in their preseason game meeting, he’ll get ample opportunities to test his skills against their defense in joint practices.
Stock down – Cedric Ogbuehi
Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo praised Ogbuehi during organized team activities, but now that the pads have gone on he hasn’t stood out. Most fans in attendance have been calling to see Jawaan Taylor with the starters more with Ogbuehi having a lackluster showing so far.
With Taylor being a second-round selection most tend to believe that the starting right tackle job is his to lose, and we couldn’t agree more. However, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Ogbuehi get a good look with the starters this week being that the Ravens are a team he’s familiar with dating back to his time in Cincinnati. Regardless as to how Ogbuehi performs, Taylor will probably get some time with the starters later in the preseason and the coaches will evaluate how both fared and go from there.
Stock up – The receivers
As mentioned with Foles, the veteran’s consistency has seemingly helped the receivers tremendously. That especially has been the case for Dede Westbrook, DJ Chark and Chris Conley in camp, while Keelan Cole and Terrelle Pryor have also shined occasionally.
Of the group, Westbrook clearly looks like he’s ready to pick up where he left off last season when he had a career-high in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He’s been Foles’ favorite target while Chark has probably been his second favorite target and Conley has been his third. That’s an encouraging sign when considering Marqise Lee hasn’t been cleared to practice. It’s also an encouraging sign when considering the Jags’ passing game struggled mightily in 2018.
Stock down – RB Thomas Rawls
We expected things to get competitive behind Leonard Fournette as the team will likely carry three to four running backs behind him on the final roster. That said, Rawls has gotten off to a slow start to begin training camp as a hamstring injury has sidelined him. The reason that’s worth mentioning is because he didn’t have the strongest chance to make the roster to begin with, and will need to gain ground on Benny Cunningham, Alfred Blue and Ryquell Armstead in the coming weeks.
With Rawls missing time, Armstead has especially turned some heads behind Fournette and will likely get a lot of play time this preseason. For that reason, Rawls has to get healthy as soon as possible to even give himself the slightest chance to make the final 53.
Stock up – DE Josh Allen
Allen missed most of OTAs and minicamp, but man has he made up for it since training camp began. While there are a wide variety of things he needs to work on in terms of technique, he’s impressed with his raw abilities and unreal size.
Unfortunately, with the praise Allen has received it’s also worth noting that the competition for Allen hasn’t been the strongest. As most are aware, the Jags’ have alternated in between a group consisting of Ogbuehi, Josh Wells, and Leonard Wester at the top of the depth chart with Cam Robinson currently rehabbing from an ACL tear he sustained in 2018. That will change next week though, as the Jags’ edge rushers will be taking on one of the league’s best young tackles in Ronnie Stanley and mammoth right tackle Orlando Brown Jr., both of whom were solid in pass protection last season. Both should give Allen a significantly better test, which is what he’ll need to be ready for the regular season.
Stock down – QB Tanner Lee
According to those in attendance Lee has been sporadic at best. Though he’s occasionally made some plays, it would seem the bad has outweighed the good as he threw multiple picks Tuesday and ended the week with a lackluster showing at the Jags’ scrimmage on Friday.
Most in attendance seem to believe the Jags’ No. 2 quarterback spot will come down to Alex McGough or Gardner Minshew based off Lee’s struggles. Luckily, Lee will have an opportunity to show if he’s grown from his rookie season against the Ravens and get his name back in the mix to be Foles’ backup.
