Blake Bortles was poised in the pocket and nearly perfect in one series of work Authentic Dorance Armstrong Jr. Jersey , 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 鈥?left guard Andrew Norwell (calf) and right tackle Jermey Parnell (precaution) 鈥?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 Frank Ragnow Lions Jersey , 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, 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 Authentic Jay Bruce Jersey ," 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, 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.

Once he was released by Jacksonville http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rasheem-green-jersey , running back Chris Ivory wasted little time moving on to Plan B: The chance to serve as LeSean McCoy’s primary backup in Buffalo.

”I always felt I had something to prove and things didn’t go as planned, man,” Ivory said, referring to the Jaguars during a telephone conference call shortly after agreeing to a two-year contract with the Bills on Tuesday. ”All I can do now is continue to stay dedicated to my craft and continue to build.”

As for his new role behind McCoy, the Bills’ workhorse, Ivory said: ”It’s whatever coach asks me to do.”

Ivory’s new deal guarantees him $3.25 million in pay, and was reached less than two weeks after he was cut . Ivory finished with just 382 yards rushing and a touchdown and was inactive for four of the Jaguars’ final five games. He lasted just two seasons with Jacksonville after signing a five-year, $32 million contract as the Jaguars drafted Leonard Fournette last April and made him the starter.

The 29-year-old returns to the AFC East, where he topped 800 yards rushing in each of his three seasons with the New York Jets from 2013-15. His best season came in 2015 Browns Denzel Ward Jersey , when Ivory had 1,070 yards rushing and scored seven touchdowns in 15 games.

Ivory is known for being a physical runner and provides the Bills a complement to McCoy’s elusive style.

Overall, he has 4,852 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns in a career that began with a three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.

Getting Ivory allowed the Bills to address a need at the position a little over a week before the start of the NFL’s free agency signing period. Buffalo has three running backs eligible to become free agents, including fullback Mike Tolbert.

Ivory said he visited Buffalo and Cleveland since being cut by the Jaguars, and had phone conversations with other teams without revealing which ones.

”It just felt good when I got here, just felt the right place for me,” Ivory said.

—

.