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A happy homecoming for Jaguars practice squad QB Carter Bradley; 4 Jaguars observations
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- A happy homecoming for Jaguars practice squad QB Carter Bradley; 4 Jaguars observations
The first time Carter Bradley pulled into the Jaguars ' parking lot was on the January 2013 day his father, Gus, was introduced as the team's head coach .
All these years later, through stops in Toledo (Ohio), Mobile (Ala.), Las Vegas and San Francisco , Carter knew exactly how to get back downtown to sign with the Jaguars ' practice squad Tuesday.
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"I didn't need to use the maps (app), that's for sure," Carter said with a laugh after his first Jaguars practice. "A lot of memories, a lot of good memories and a lot of good people still here. It was surreal."
Like most (if not all) practice squad additions, Bradley didn't have to catch a flight to Jacksonville — since being waived by the 49ers with an injury settlement on Aug. 25, he returned to Jacksonville to rehabilitate while staying at his family's house they have kept since Gus was fired by the Jaguars in December 2016.
Bradley had the move-around childhood like many kids of coaches. Born in Fargo, N.D., (Gus was on the North Dakota State staff), moved to Tampa at age 6 (Buccaneers), to Seattle at age 9 ( Seahawks ) and to Jacksonville at age 12 (Jaguars). When Gus moved to become the Los Angeles Chargers ' defensive coordinator, the family stayed in Jacksonville through Carter's senior year at Providence in the 2017-18 school season.
It was Carter Bradley 's first look at the Jaguars' new practice facility; during Gus' tenure, all of the team's locker rooms and offices were inside the windowless stadium.
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"I wasn't trying to make my dad jealous when I said, 'You should see this place,'" Carter said. "They've done a great job with this place and making is super, super player-oriented."
Bradley sustained a torn plantar fascia (the band of tissue along the bottom of the foot that connects the heel to the toes) and a high ankle sprain on separate snaps while playing for the 49ers. Surgery wasn't required, but rest was. He accepted an injury settlement from the 49ers, which allowed him to sign with the Jaguars once healthy.
Bradley was 22 of 41 for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception for San Francisco. Gus Bradley is on the 49ers' staff.
"I definitely felt his presence out there and it was cool to see that side of him, working with the guys (on defense) and you could truly see how much of a leader he is," Carter said.
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Bradley played four years at Toledo and two years at South Alabama before spending time with the Raiders and 49ers.
"He has got some arm talent — he can throw it and push the ball to a lot of different areas of the field," Jaguars coach Liam Coensaid.
Said Bradley: "Some people say it's been a tough journey for me, but I've loved every part of it and loved everywhere I've been and if football is involved, I'm happy."
About the Jaguars
1. Respect for Spagnuolo:Coen goes against Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolofor the second time; Spagnuolo's Chiefs beat Coen's Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year in overtime, 30-24 .
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"(Pass rushers from) anywhere and everywhere," Coen said. "He definitely puts a lot of pressure on you as an offense, as a play-caller, as a quarterback. A lot of respect for the position that he puts his players in and the attacking mindset they play with."
2. Memories of 54-51:Coen was a first-year NFL assistant for the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 when they beat the Chiefs 54-51 in a Monday Night Football classic , the third highest-scoring game in NFL history.
"I was hardly coaching in that game — I was up in the box as the assistant receivers coach charting coverages and you just kind of found your eyes watching both (quarterbacks) Jared Goff and (Patrick) Mahomes," Coen said.
The game had six lead changes and the Chiefs and Rams combined for 14 touchdowns, 53 first downs, 1,001 yards, seven turnovers, and improbably, still seven punts.
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3. Lawrence tracker:Against San Francisco, I charted Lawrence for four positive and six negative plays, running his season total to 23 positive and 26 negative plays.
4. Penalty disparity:The Jaguars' minus-19 penalty differential (38 for/19 against) is the largest in the NFL entering Week 5 and one of only five teams with a differential of at least -10. The Jaguars are followed by Tennessee (0-4 record, minus-15), Chicago (2-2, minus-14), Minnesota (2-2, minus-11) and Philadelphia (4-0, minus-11).
Pittsburgh (19) and Seattle (20) have the fewest enforced penalties. Where do they differ from the Jaguars?
The Jaguars have 10 offensive holding penalties compared to two for Pittsburgh and three for Seattle. They have seven false starts compared to one for Pittsburgh and two for Seattle.
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Of note is the Jaguars have been called for six illegal shift penalties (five were declined); the next-closest team is New Orleans (three).
Sep 20, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Gators back to work
Give Florida a puncher's chance Saturday against Texas for two reasons. The Gators have played close games against South Florida, LSU and Miami during their losing streak; the Longhorns opened at Ohio State (14-7 loss) and have tuned up for conference play by beating San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston State by a combined 120-17. It's been a month since they were tested.
The second reason is Texas quarterback Arch Manning is still finding his way. He is completing 61.3% of his passes with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Maybe the Gators' defense has something to cause problems for Manning.
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Embattled Florida coach Billy Napierhas Texas, at Texas A&M and Mississippi State before the Gators' next bye. He will remain the play-caller despite ranking tied for 99th in scoring (22 points per game), 98th in yards per rush (3.9) and 123rd on third down (30.9%).
Look at the schedule and it doesn't take much to deduce UF could be headed toward a 2-10 or, gulp 1-11 season. They have teams currently ranked Nos. 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 on their schedule plus gritty Mississippi State and struggling Kentucky.
Saturday selections
Miami at Florida State:A bigger game for FSU at home and already having one loss and the Seminoles will play with that kind of urgency. FSU 27-24.
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Texas at Florida:The Gators enter with their first 1-3 start since the on-probation team of 1986. They will be 1-4 for the first time since the on-probation team of 1986. Texas 17-11.
Vanderbilt at Alabama: Kalen DeBoeris 2-0 against Georgia, but if he falls to 0-2 against Vanderbilt, hot seat re-started. Alabama 33-27.
Mississippi State at Texas A&M:Florida's next two opponents face off in College Station. The Aggies move to 5-0. Texas A&M 28-24.
Record:3-1 last week (14-8 season).
Sunday selections
Kansas City at Jaguars (Monday):Two home games in six days for the Jaguars — earning a split is critical. Chiefs 27-24.
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Top game — Washington at L.A. Chargers: The 2-2 Commanders get quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) back after two games. Not sure if Washington is any good. Chargers 35-24.
Upset — Houston at Baltimore :The Ravens are a 2-point home underdog after losing Lamar Jackson (hamstring). Cooper Rush keeps the Ravens' playoff hopes alive. Baltimore 20-14.
Lock — Dallas at N.Y. Jets:The Cowboys are a 2 1/2-point road favorite. They can't stop anybody, but no worries, the Jets can't move the ball on anybody. Dallas 27-14.
Record:2-2 last week (9-7 season).
Contact Ryan O'Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Son of ex-Jaguars coach happy to be in Jacksonville; 4 Jaguars notes
