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On the defensive side , the Jaguars ’ young pass rushers made their presence felt on the first drive . Facing 3rd-and-10 at the Jaguars 39-yard line , second-year Leo defensive end Dante Fowler Jr . – playing in his first live football game since January 3 , 2015 after an ACL tear during his rookie minicamp – lined up at one end opposite 2016 third-round draft pick Yannick Ngakoue , who was playing his first snap in an NFL game . The combined pressure helped Ngakoue register a sack of Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick , and stoked hope of what could come with the Jags pass rush .
“ Me and him ( Fowler ) definitely feed off each other in practice ,” Ngakoue said . “ We ’ re always competing with one another . That ’ s only going to make us better and make the team better .”
Rookie linebacker Myles Jack logged two tackles in his first game , while third-year linebacker Telvin Smith led the Jaguars defense with five tackles . Second-year defensive tackle Michael Bennett and fourthyear defensive end Bjoern Werner each recorded a sack .
Notable absences from the Jaguars defense in Preseason Week 1 included rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey , who sat only as a precaution around his surgically-repaired meniscus in the offseason . Free-agent addition free safety Tashaun Gipson also did not play after suffering a minor leg contusion during the previous week of practice . Both are expected to return to action .
“ WE ’ RE ALWAYS COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER . THAT ’ S ONLY GOING TO MAKE US BETTER AND MAKE THE TEAM BETTER .”
— Yannick Ngakoue
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