The Jacksonville Jaguars will see Tom Brady more than once in preseason
By David Levin
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Jacksonville Jaguars for joint practices prior to the two teams playing each other in the second preseason game of 2020.
A conversation I had with two local sportswriters three years ago prior to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots holding joint practices in preseason went something like this.
Me: You know, if the Jaguars somehow beat the Patriots in this game, fans are going to go wild and think it is the first step to the Super Bowl.
Them: Crickets
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Well, the Jaguars did win the preseason game and went on to face Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC title game, only to lose.
No, we are not rehashing old news, just stating the obvious. Yes, Myles Jack still isn’t down.
Fast forward to 2020 and Brady, the former Patriots starter and living legend has a new team and a new home in Tampa and will be part of joint practices between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second week of the preseason prior to the two teams playing at Raymond James Stadium.
Could this be déjà vu all over again for the Jaguars? Does it mean the two teams from the state of Florida play each in the Super Bowl? Tampa is the host city this season and well, I just got a bit ahead of myself.
This is the second time in four years with Jaguars and Buccaneers will hold join practices. Back in 2017, the Jaguars hosted their in-state rival. Those practices were quite heated, with several fights that broke out especially during the second day of scrimmaging.
The Buccaneers have been one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL this offseason with their move to sign Brady, who became a free agent for the first time in his career. He is now working with Bruce Arians in an offense that could one of the best in the NFL in 2020.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this offseason has been busy. The team has gotten plenty of its own press coverage for their offseason moves, mostly for trading away key veterans and how the team is stuck in turmoil with young stars who may be on their way out of DUUUVAL.
Marrone says #Jaguars will conduct joint practices at Tampa Bay, the second preseason opponent. Says team asked to open preseason against a certain team (Denver I think) to do joint practices and league didn't grant it. Doesn't seem like Carolina will work with new staff.
— Hays Carlyon (@HaysCarlyon) May 8, 2020
Holding a joint practice like this will help the young Jaguars and give players a chance to scrimmage against someone else besides teammates. Also, it gives the coaching staff and Doug Marrone an opportunity to pick the brain of Buccaneers coaching staff.
Also, in 2017 both Blake Bortles and Jameis Winston were under center for both teams. Winston is now in New Orleans while Bortles is still testing free agency.
Last season, the Buccaneers traveled to Jacksonville in Week 13 and handed the team a 28–11 loss. It was the last time Nick Foles saw the field in a Jaguars uniform. Gardner Minshew reentered that game and has now been named the starter for this season.
This preseason starts off with a Jaguars facing the Carolina Panthers on the road followed by the game in Tampa. The team then ends the four-game schedule against the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons.
dark. Next. Joe Schobert becomes the Jaguars man in the middle