JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars wrapped up organized team activities on Thursday and will finish their offseason program next week during their three-day mandatory minicamp.
It’s been a busy week for Jacksonville, including flurry of roster moves to add reinforcements at both defensive end, receiver and linebacker.
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On Wednesday, the Jaguars waived Cooper Hodges and running back Keilan Robinson. Jacksonville did bring Hodges back Thursday and put him on the physically unable to perform list. They added linebacker Dennis Gardeck and receiver Trenton Irwin. On Tuesday, the Jaguars brought back defensive end Dawuane Smoot.
All of those moves continue to help add and churn a roster that needs significant help.
Photo gallery
The Jaguars wrapped up OTAs on Thursday. Click through WJXT photographer Chris Smith’s images from camp in the photo gallery above.
Thursday’s video coverage
BTJ wants to ‘be the best’
Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had the best season by a rookie in Jacksonville history last year. His goal in 2025 is to be even better.
Thomas has carried himself like a different player in his second year. Last season, Thomas was outwardly far more reserved, which aligns with his personality. But in OTAs so far, Thomas projects a more confident and loose attitude. He’s often grooving to music over the speakers alongside rookie Travis Hunter, a player who Thomas joked has too much energy to be classified as “chill.”
Thomas said the reason his comfort level has increased is that he feels the chemistry among the team.
“Just being able to be around all my teammates and have some of the same guys here, some of the same faces,” he said. “Being able to bond with Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] and stuff has been pretty good. Being able to have those bonds is just going to help us out going into this year.”
Former owner at camp
Wayne Weaver took over Jacksonville’s flailing bid for an NFL team in 1993 and helped steer it to the biggest upset in NFL history. The NFL awarded the city the Jaguars franchise on Nov. 30, 1993. Weaver made his wealth with his ownership of Nine West and Shoe Carnival and was pitched on joining the ownership team of the city’s Touchdown Jacksonville group.
The lead partner of that team, Tom Petway, agreed to step aside and let Weaver be the main man on the project, and it’s the central reason Jacksonville stunned the country when it was given the league’s 30th franchise. Weaver owned the Jaguars until selling the team to current owner Shad Khan in 2012.
Now 90, Weaver makes spot appearances at Jaguars camp and did so on Thursday. General manager James Gladstone and executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli spent probably 15 minutes talking to Weaver.
TE Long goes way back with coach
Tight end Hunter Long has steadily been able to see a bit of the country during his football journey. He played high school football in New Hampshire and then played at Boston College. The Dolphins drafted Long in the third round in 2021, then dealt him to the Rams as part of a trade for Jalen Ramsey.
That’s where Long crossed paths with both Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen. But that wasn’t Long’s first interaction with Coen. Long said that Coen actually recruited him out of high school when he was an assistant coach at the University of Maine.
