Jaguars QB Nick Foles ready to play Week 3 of the Preseason

For the first time, Nick Foles will play in a Jaguars uniform in live action this Thursday at Miami.

This coming Thursday is a big game for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not only is it the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season, but it is also the first time many of the team’s starters will get to play in live-action other than hitting their teammates in practice.

Head coach Doug Marrone has not given specifics yet on how long stars like quarterback Nick Foles or defensive end Yannick Ngakoue will play in the game against the Miami Dolphins. As players return from injury – Marqise Lee, Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, and rookie Jawaan Taylor returned to practice on Saturday, things are beginning to take shape once again for this team.

Will the real Jaguars come to play in South Florida and will there be more continuity on the offensive line and in the running game? Will the linebacker unit take more shape? With Quincy Williams practicing on the sideline, there is hope for the return of the rookie linebacker at the start of the season.

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The mantra all preseason has been to keep this team as healthy as possible and ready for the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Marrone and his staff know his players who haven’t participated yet in the preseason must get some reps this coming week.

Foles talked to the media on Sunday and was happy with the way the team practiced in anticipation of Thursday evening.

"“Today was a really good practice. I thought we got a lot out of it through the walkthrough and through the practice. Now it’s really just fine-tuning all of the details and really just getting closer and closer to the opening day of the season,” Foles said after the practice session. “Obviously, we have two preseason games left, but we’re working on fine-tuning all of the little details every day. So far today, it’s been a great day.”"

Having Lee back is another chance for the chemistry between the quarterback and one piece to the offensive puzzle. The sixth-year wide receiver returns 51 weeks since a devastating knee injury wiped out his entire 2018 campaign. Lee is still listed as a starter on the depth chart, opposite Dede Westbrook.

"“Marqise’s locker is only a few away from mine, so I’ve gotten to know him quite well since I’ve been here. Obviously, he’s been rehabbing to get back on the field and then playing with Nelson Agholor in Philadelphia, I know they’re real tight, so Nelly gave me the low-down about how passionate he is, the type of player,” Foles said.“I’ve seen him from before, he’s a [U]SC guy, so being in the PAC-12, understanding his skillset, we’re excited he’s just back on the field with us right now and he’s going to help this offense greatly. We just want to make sure he’s 100 percent healthy, ready to roll and comfortable.”"

If the offense looks different this season, and it will, it will be because of the inclusion of tight ends to the passing game and more responsibilities given to the running backs in situational pass plays. Alfred Blue, the team’s top backup tailback, is nursing an injury he suffered against Philadelphia last week and did not practice on Saturday or Sunday.

Foles has been excited about the use of the tight end in the passing game, something he once again spoke about on Sunday.

"“Obviously we were a little banged up in that room, but when Geoff [Swaim] and Josh [Oliver] are out there, they were doing a really nice job when they’re healthy,” he explained. “James [O’Shaughnessy] and Ben [Koyack] and the guys have been stepping up and doing a great job of—We have some young guys who just got here, so they’ve been doing a nice job stepping in, and running the routes and getting the blocking terms down, but obviously we need to get our tight ends healthy.”"