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JACKSONVILLE Aaron Burbridge Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles was poised in the pocket and nearly perfect in one series of work, a significant improvement from the way his preseason started a year ago.

Bortles completed 6 of 9 passes for 53 yards and scored on a short bootleg in Jacksonville’s 24-20 loss to New Orleans in the exhibition opener for both teams Thursday night.

Bortles had a five-interception performance during a training camp practice in 2017 and continued to struggle during joint practices with New England. He was benched two weeks into the preseason and had to earn the starting job back.

A year later, his spot is as solid as just about anyone’s on the team. It showed against the Saints.

Playing without two starting offensive linemen — left guard Andrew Norwell (calf) and right tackle Jermey Parnell (precaution) — Bortles led the Jaguars on a 15-play, 79-yard drive to open the game. He converted both third-down passes he faced and finished off the series by going untouched around the right side.

“It’s a good way to start,” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said.

Saints star Drew Brees got the night off, allowing backup Tom Savage to play the first half. Savage completed 10 of 14 passes for 70 yards. Brees only played in one preseason game in 2017.

“Early in the game, offensively and defensively, we struggled,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “There’s a lot we have to get cleaned up. We struggled the whole night, fundamental basic stuff. We had trouble with who’s on the ball, where our split is. We’ve got to go back to square one with some of that because that didn’t look good. It wasn’t a smooth operation.”

Mark Ingram, suspended the first four games of the regular season for violating NFL policy on performance enhancers, carried seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown. Ingram scored against Jacksonville’s backups and after a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty kept the drive alive.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey , linebacker Telvin Smith, and running backs Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon remained in the locker room during the national anthem.

“It was a personal thing, man,” Fournette said. “Don’t really want to get into it. Everybody has their own beliefs and certain things. … I’m not really trying to get into it. It’s just something I believe in. I ain’t really trying to go into details about it. Just more focused on my teammates right now.”

Yeldon said he “just didn’t want to come out” during the anthem. Ramsey was no longer in the locker room when reporters entered after the game.

Smith offered the most insight, but declined to answers specific questions.

“As a man, I got certain beliefs,” said Smith, who wore “Salute the Service” cleats. “You know what I mean? This is not going to become a distraction, and Jacksonville’s not going to become a distraction for this team. I got beliefs. I did what I did. I don’t know if it’s going to be every week, can’t answer if it’s going to be every week.

“But as a man I’ve got to stand for something. I love my team, I’m dedicated to my teammates, and that’s what we’re talking about. I did what I did. It was love. I hope people see it and respect it. I respect views.”

GAME CHANGERS

The Saints overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win. Jayrone Elliott’s strip-sack set up rookie Jonathan Williams‘ 4-yard touchdown run with 2:16 remaining. Elliott had another strip-sack late in the game, but the Jaguars recovered.

SOLID OUTING

Jaguars backup quarterback Cody Kessler completed 14 of 17 passes for 139 yards Vic Beasley Jersey , with a touchdown . Jacksonville acquired Kessler in a trade with Cleveland in March.

INJURIES

Saints backup cornerback P.J. Williams appeared to get the wind knocked out him while making a tackle. He jogged to the bench but later headed to the locker room. … The Jaguars had 10 guys who didn’t suit up, including All-Pro defensive end Calais Campbell (calf) and rookie defensive lineman Taven Bryan (abdomen).

UP NEXT

Saints host Arizona next Friday night.

Jaguars travel to Minnesota on Tuesday for two joint practices with the Vikings before their exhibition game on Aug. 18.

One of the first passes thrown by Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay Packers camp was as noteworthy for who was competing for the ball as much as the play’s result.

Cornerback Kevin King, locked in coverage deep against receiver Randall Cobb, appeared to wrestle away an interception, though the ever-competitive quarterback disputed that call.

Coach Mike McCarthy took a diplomatic approach.

”Yeah, I’m a head coach so I thought it was an excellent play by both guys,” McCarthy said Friday, drawing laughs. ”I like the way Randall finished with the ball but I like the position that Kevin was in.”

Outcome aside, the most important takeaway might be that two players who could be pivotal to Green Bay’s success are healthy again.

Cobb revealed Friday that he had ankle surgery after offseason workouts. He was spotted at an airport with a walking boot on his right foot last month.

Doctors ”went in and pretty much just removed a piece of cartilage that was giving me some problems,” Cobb said . ”Obviously not that big of a deal. But feeling a lot better than I did before.”

Enough so that the senior member of the Packers receiving corps is a full go in camp .

”I think the first call, the first play … where the ball goes deep to Randall, I think that tells you the kind of shape (Cobb is in),” McCarthy said.

Cobb’s health is important for a receiving corps that lost Jordy Nelson after the respected veteran was cut in the offseason in a money-saving move. It left Cobb and Davante Adams as the Packers’ top wideouts Dan Fouts Jersey , plus a bevy of young players competing for targets that once went to Nelson.

”At this point, it’s just getting my conditioning back. I was here the entire offseason working with our strength and conditioning staff trying to get back and get right,” Cobb said.

King had left shoulder surgery after his injury-shortened rookie year. The shoulder maligned him for much of last season, and King was limited to individual workouts in the offseason as he recovered.

But King is a full go now, and his interception against Cobb in practice Thursday offered a glimpse of King’s full potential when healthy. He is talented enough to be the Packers’ top cornerback.

King wasn’t done. On the next play, he broke up a throw for receiver Geronimo Allison and ended up hitting the ground.

”I could have done that last year,” King said in the locker room.

Maybe, but he might have been in pain.

The shoulder no longer hurts, King said. The injury during his rookie season also sharpened his mental game.

”Mentally, it elevated me. It’s been positive for me,” King added.

A healthy King could do wonders at a cornerback position beleaguered by injuries the last couple of years. The 6-foot-3 King has the length to play effective press coverage for new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

Now King just needs to stay on the field after making 31 tackles in nine games last season, including five starts.

”There’s no question about Kevin’s ability and his level of talent and the ability to play,” McCarthy said. ”Yes Bob Griese Jersey , he made two competitive plays on the ball. … The biggest thing I’m happy about is Kevin’s healthy and he’s come back from the shoulder surgery and is off to a good start.”

NOTES: OLB Nick Perry, who is starting camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, said he had no concerns about being ready for the opener on Sept. 9 against Chicago. Perry, who had offseason ankle surgery, and Clay Matthews are the veteran leaders at a position otherwise short on experience and production. ”We’re still going to take it one day at a time just to make sure that everything goes smoothly and I’m here for the long haul,” Perry said. … Rodgers and TE Jimmy Graham showed rapport in connecting for some tough pass plays during team drills. Graham was signed in the offseason as a free agent. … A pass from Rodgers over the middle during a two-minute drill was picked off at the goal line by ILB Blake Martinez. … Two backups, QB DeShone Kizer and TE Robert Tonyan, connected on a 15-yard scoring pass in coverage for the offense’s only score in two-minute drill work.

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