The 2021 NFL regular season is inching closer and the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t named a starting quarterback yet. Instead, Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew have split reps with the first team throughout training camp.
Lawrence got the starting nod against the Cleveland Browns even though Minshew got with most work with the ones. Before Thursday’s practice, Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell had a sitdown with the local media and said the rookie will probably start once again. He added that both quarterbacks will continue alternating reps with the first team.
"We’re still going to handle it that way until we end up making the final decision. Right now, it’s still status quo."
You could argue that Lawrence should be exclusively working with the starters but there are two preseason games still left to play. It will be a cause of concern if the Jags won’t have named him the starter by Week 1 of the regular season. However, the rookie passer could also benefit from working with the twos. He’s gotten the chance to practice with most of his teammates, showing adaptability and the ability to adjust while doing so.
Furthermore, Minshew won’t get as much work as he’s getting once the regular season starts, so the Jaguars are giving him as many reps as they can. In the end, it’s just a matter of time before the Jaguars name Lawrence the starter but they will do it when they feel it’s the right time. Could this approach hinder his development? It’s too early to tell, and if it works, nobody will question the way the team has handled the “quarterback competition”. For the time being, here are other observations about Day 16 of Jaguars training camp.
Who will start at safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021?
The Jaguars did a good job of revamping their safety room this offseason. After all the additions they made earlier this year, they may have a good problem on their hand ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
Rayshawn Jenkins, who signed as a free agent this year, will most likely start at one safety spot. However, it’s uncertain who will line up next to him in Week 1 of the regulars season. Rookie Andre Cisco has made strides in training camp, displaying his athleticism. Josh Jones has seen plenty of time with the first-team defense while veteran Jarrod Wilson has been solid. At this point, it may be too soon to make any predictions, as Cisco, Wilson and even Jones could end up starting.
Furthermore, the team’s brass also locked up Rudy Ford in free agency and they have activated sophomore Daniel Thomas from the COVID-19/Reserve list. Wilson met with the local media after Day 16 of training camp and talked about the depth Jacksonville has at safety.
"I love our group, we got a lot of guys from top to bottom. Everyone goes out there competing their tail off and I’m just really proud of our group. From Dre, the youngling, Rudy [Ford] being new, is still gonna be BRus (Brandon Rusnak) me DT [Daniel Thomas] Josh [Jones], Rayshawn [Jenkins], I can’t say enough positive things about them."
The Jags won’t run out of choices at safety and could even withstand a couple of injuries to the position. As Mia O’Brien of First Coast News suggested, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Jaguars carry six safeties into the regulars season. After all, it would be difficult to leave out someone like Ford or Jones when they have had a solid offseason.
The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t be hurting for talent at wide receiver.
The Jaguars have a trio of playmakers in Marvin Jones Jr., DJ Chark Jr., and Laviska Shenault Jr. However, they aren’t the only wide receivers that will make an impact in Jacksonville in the regular season. The team has a well-rounded group and will likely have to make some tough decisions when trimming down the roster.
One player that could exceed expectations in 2021 is Jamal Agnew. The Jags signed him because of his playmaking prowess in the return game. But he could also contribute on offense. Originally a cornerback, the 2017 fifth-round selection made the transition to wide receiver last year. In 2020, he hauled in just 13 receptions for 89 yards with no touchdowns. But he could see his role increase as he grows more acquainted with the position.
Agnew told the local media that it wasn’t a smooth transition, as he had limited contact with his coaching staff last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So what did the San Diego product do? Resort to YouTube, of course. Here’s what the fifth-year wide receiver had to say about switching positions.
"I transitioned last year, I didn’t have much of an offseason because of COVID. so I didn’t get a lot of reps in OTAs. So, I was really teaching myself watching film, watching guys like Doug Baldwin on YouTube and stuff like that. So I was really teaching myself but I learned the best hands on, so I just watch the other guys and I try to apply some of that to my game."
Agnew also said that he feels like he’s still learning every day and noted that he has a great wide receiver coach in Sanjay Lal. The 2017 All-Pro selection will have a key role in the return game but if he can contribute on offense, that would be icing on the cake.