Big Cat Country
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense bounced back in a big way after one of their worst outings of camp on Tuesday, as Parker Washington, Dyami Brown, and a pair of tight ends took turns making big plays.
Here are our notes from Day 11 of Jacksonville Jaguars training camp.
For the second practice in a row, and the third time in a week counting Friday’s scrimmage, No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter played both offense and defense. Head coach Liam Coen told Rich Eisen that the plan for Hunter to play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL is “absolutely happening.”
In total, Hunter has played 129 offensive snaps and 115 defensive snaps during training camp, per Mike DiRocco. Today he recorded 1 catch on 11 offensive snaps to go with 18 defensive snaps.
The Jaguars have had Hunter focus more on his development as a receiver this offseason because he came in more advanced as a cornerback. Right now, it seems the former Heisman Winner is on track for the usage he desires, though Coen said Tuesday that Hunter has only practiced in 11 (three-receiver) personnel. “He’s still learning 12 personnel, other positions so that he can continue to get in some of those groupings.”
Third-year wideout Parker Washington continued to make an impression at training camp. Early in 11v11 team drills, he made the play of the game by coming down with a contested deep ball over the middle of the field against safety Andrew Wingard. Washington made another physical catch a few plays later, and his crisp routes and strong hands showed up during red zone drills, where he made a diving touchdown on a smooth pass from Trevor Lawrence.
Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski said of Washington after practice, “When you see a guy who can win consistently against man coverage and match coverage, tight coverage like that, make plays on the ball, attack the ball with his hands, those are encouraging for the play caller … He can plug and play at different spots and go and
execute a wide route tree.”
Free agent addition Dyami Brown has consistently made plays as well. Lawrence found him for a touchdown against Jarrian Jones in team redzone drills, and during 1v1 redzone drills, Brown bested top cornerback Tyson Campbell two times: first on a one-handed goal line fade grab, then on a physically-contested slant. Lawrence put the ball in a perfect spot on both plays. Hunter subbed in for the next rep and put an end to the Lawrence-Brown connection with a pass breakup.
Third-year tight end Brenton Strange had a sweet one-handed catch down the left sideline in team drills. He looks remarkably smoother as a route runner compared to previous offseasons.
Free agent tight end pickup Hunter Long seemingly makes at least one big catch each practice. Today, the former L.A. Ram hauled in a near-touchdown from Lawrence over Antonio Johnson.
Johnson later recorded an interception off a pass breakup, and...
