After drafting their franchise QB of the future, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a crucial training camp coming up. When does it start, where will it be held, and are fans allowed to attend?
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With phase 3 of the 2021 NFL offseason set to wrap up on June 18th, teams are already looking forward to training camp. It is by far the most grueling and pivotal part of a team’s preparations.
Training camps often include busy days for players and coaches, sometimes with 2 practices a day, weight training, team meetings, and film sessions.
Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), no contact is permitted during the first 3 days of camp. Days 4 and 5 will see players at full speed in light equipment called “spiders and shells”, day 6 is a mandatory day off, and finally fully-padded practices start on the 7th day.
Along with the strenuous schedule, full-speed practices mean that both contact and non-contact injuries are very common. Regardless, training camp is mandatory for all players, unlike OTAs which are voluntary. If a player doesn’t show up, they risk getting cut by their team.
When Does Training Camp Start for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
For the first time in NFL history, there will be a unified start for training camp. 29 franchises, including the Jaguars, will kick off their training camps on Tuesday, July 27th.
The Cowboys and Steelers, who will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game, are allowed to begin training camp as early as July 21st. The Buccaneers will also be allowed to start training camp 3 days earlier on the 24th, as they play the season opener against Dallas on a Thursday night.
Where is the Jaguars Training Camp Being Held?
Normally, NFL teams are permitted to hold training camp at outside facilities to improve accessibility for fans, However last year, due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic, teams were instructed to conduct camp at their own training facilities.
With the situation looking a little more optimistic, the league has informed teams they can return to outside facilities, should they choose to do so.
The Jaguars’ training camp will take place at their training facility inside their own stadium, the TIAA Bank Field.
Jacksonville Jaguars Training Camp Roster: Key Position Battles to Watch
As usual, teams will start camp with 90-man rosters. They must cut down to 85 players by August 17th and to 80 by August 24th, before settling on a final 53-man roster by August 31st.
With a new HC and a generational QB entering the team this year, the Jaguars will hope to rejuvenate the youngest franchise in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ position battles in camp will be fierce and should certainly give HC Urban Meyer something to think about.
Perhaps the biggest battle of them all will be who will emerge as the RB1 for the Jags. James Robinson joined the team as an undrafted free agent but went on to take the league by storm. Robinson was the highlight of a horrid team that went 1-15 last year. He had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and was tied for fifth in the entire league in rushing yards.
However, the team drafted Clemson RB Travis Etienne with the 25th overall pick in 2021 NFL draft. Etienne was a force in college and is more than qualified to be the lead back on the team. And with his Clemson teammate Trevor Lawrence at centre, Etienne could come out of training camp as RB1.
Another battle that will be interesting to see is who will get the toughest assignments amongst the cornerbacks. Shaq Griffin was a big-money free agent signing this spring. He was a Pro-Bowler just two years ago and was no slouch in 2020. But the Jags drafted CB CJ Henderson with the 9th overall pick in 2020 and the sophomore will hope to take over as the top corner after an impressive rookie season.
Will Fans Be Allowed to Attend Jaguars Training Camp?
The NFL is pursuing 100% attendance for the following season for all teams. And a major step in that direction was indicated when, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL told teams on a conference call that it expects fans to be allowed at training camp this summer. The Jaguars will be no exception.
With no Covid-19 restrictions in the state of Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars will get excited to have fans at training camps once again.
Also Read: Tennessee Titans Training Camp 2021: Start Date, Location, Roster Battles, and Fan Policy
