Big Cat Country
The Jaguars’ free agent pickup may have a larger role than we originally thought.
Here are our top highlights and observations from Day 7 of Jacksonville Jaguars training camp.
Notes from practice
According to ESPN’s Mike DiRocco, Hunter played 20 defensive snaps during 11-v-11. He’s totalled 72 offensive snaps and 67 defensive snaps through seven days of training camp.
The two-way phenom allowed a long touchdown from Trevor Lawrence to Parker Washington. However, on the final two snaps of the day, Hunter nearly made an OBJ-like interception to force a pass breakup over J.J. Jones before flying across the field for another PBU against Seth Henigan.
With two big pass breakups today and two touchdown catches on Tuesday, Hunter is trending up. He’s expected to play on both sides of the ball (for the first time in camp) at the Jaguars’ scrimmage on Friday, August 1.
Dyami Brown had a huge outing. He caught four balls from Trevor Lawrence: two intermediate crossers, a comeback against Tyson Campbell, and a wide-open touchdown down the right sideline. The free agent pickup continues to stack impressive practices and has emerged as an every-level threat for the Jaguars’ offense.
I was surprised by the “Tank Bigbsy is the Jaguars’ RB1” storylines earlier in the week, but perhaps I shouldn’t have been. Bigsby saw the bulk of carries with the first-team unit today and reportedly has been for much of camp. That said, Travis Etienne is almost always on the field on 3rd downs and getting designed touches in the passing game.
Rookie linebacker Jack Kiser flashed with a forceful PBU, a near-sack of Nick Mullens, and several run stops. He’s making the most of his reps.
Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker continued to make their presence felt at the line of scrimmage, combining for 1 tipped pass and at least 3 sacks.
DB Caleb Ransaw (lower body) is week-to-week, OL Cole Van Lanen (shoulder) is out for training camp, and LB Dennis Gardeck (ACL) was activated from the PUP list.
Notes from pressers
Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski spoke to media today.
“I think that’s kind of what you saw a little bit from him last year,” Udinski said of Dyami Brown. “He has that ability. I think the improvement in some of the stuff that he’s shown in the run game, and even with the different routes that we’ve asked him to run, will only hopefully expand his ability to create explosives. Last year, whether it was running go balls or vertical routes or with the ball in hand on screens in different plays, I think that’s something that’s in his wheelhouse.”
He said of the running back room: “I would say the thing that really stands out about the guys is their effort and embrace, how much they’ve embraced the...
