OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR GRANT UDINSKI
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025
(On his vacation before training camp) “It was a lot of fun. A lot of fun. Nice little change-up
from Jacksonville. Canada was snowing. I think I mentioned to someone, got snowed on
pretty bad and got caught in another snowstorm after that. It was definitely a different
environment. It’s good to be back, though.”
(On if there were issues getting in touch with him while he was away) “I’m not going to say
that. I’m not going to say that necessarily, but I tried my best to stay in touch. I don’t know if
they would say that there were no issues, but I’ll just say I tried my best.”
(On how he would assess the growth of the offense so far) “It’s been encouraging to see the
growth of the guys. I think day by day, you see little pieces here and there improve. You
know that the progression is never going to be linear by any stretch of the imagination. So
you see some steps forward, some steps back in different areas but the encouraging thing
is the work that the guys are putting in and the development overall. Whether it’s the
scheme, the skills, the techniques, the operation, all of those things, the improvement in all
the different phases of the game is what is so exciting.”
(On how WR Brian Thomas Jr. improved today) “It was good to see that, to see him get his
opportunities and come down with some of those catches. I think when you have those off
days, when you’re a player like BTJ, you kind of expect that bounce-back day a little bit. The
anticipation is that he will make those plays. So, there was never really any worry or doubt
that he was a guy who could come down with some of those catches that he didn’t come
down with. It was just a matter of time and execution. So, it was good to see, but I wouldn’t
say that there was any concern leading into the day that we needed to see that.”
(On what gives him confidence in WR Brian Thomas Jr. to bounce back after a poor
performance) “Well, it really comes down to the way he works and for all the guys, you can
have that type of confidence. That confidence comes from preparation. The way he works
and approaches his skill and his craft, not only from a receiver position, but from mastering
the scheme and his job, what he’s supposed to do. When he’s dialed in and working and
studying and doing the things he’s supposed to do, the way he does to prepare to come out
here and play and come out here and practice, it gives us confidence as coaches. More
importantly, it gives him the confidence to come out here and play fast and do that.”
(On the reps of RB Tank Bigsby and his room for improvement) “I think everybody knows
that they have room for improvement. That’s the exciting part about this group on offense,
specifically, is that nobody has probably performed at their maximum potential on a
consistent basis. I think guys have hit that, glimpses of it here and there, but what we’re
working for is to get that on a consistent basis. So, seeing Tank in the run game or even in
the pass game in protection, seeing those improvements and trying to reach that level that
he can perform on a down-in, down-out, series-in, series-out basis is what we’re working
towards.”
(On how OL Walker Little is embracing the position of left tackle) “In a lot of ways. I think his
play style has started to pop off the tape when you see the way he’s working the strain and
finish in the run game, and kind of the ownership he’s taken of his craft in the past game,
whether it’s the sets, the communication, working with Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland], working
with Hainsey [OL Robert Hainsey]. It’s just good to see him really embrace that role and
build his confidence that is really well deserved as he plays better and better and better.”
(On the importance of depth in the offensive line during training camp) “It’s absolutely
helpful. The flexibility of those guys to be able to fill different spots. I think you probably saw
Chuma [OL Chuma Edoga] has played tackle, played some guard the past couple of days,
and we really have a bunch of guys who can play different positions. It’s a testament to
their work and their ability to be able to play in those multiple spots. It’s not easy to go from
playing on the left side to playing on the right side, let alone from the left side, outside to
the right side, inside. So that takes a lot of work, not only in the drill work with Coach Sarrett
[Offensive Line Coach Shaun Sarrett] and the rest of the staff, but from studying and
knowing my calls at guard are different than my calls at tackle. So, to have that group that
has the flexibility mentally and physically is really nice for us to know it’s a little bit of depth
and security blanket, but also, we can mix and match different groups of guys and see that
chemistry kind of build out throughout camp.”
(On how QB Trevor Lawrence is thinking through the offense) “That’s a great point. That’s
something we’re working on that we’ll probably always be working on. I would love to say
that at some point, we’ll be there 100 percent and everything is just automatic, but we
know football’s a game of many variables. It’s never going to be the case that he can go out
there and just play turning your mind off completely, but we are certainly moving closer and
closer to that state and I think he mentioned something about that too that pre-snap and
post-snap, both of those start to get faster and faster and faster as he’s gotten there. So,
we’re not there yet, and we know we have work to do. But his work over the course of the
summer, over the course of training camp, has led him to a spot where there’s a noticeable
difference in the way he plays or even in just the way he approaches a given play.”
(On if QB Trevor Lawrence’s confidence in the offense is noticeable) “You can tell on certain
reps and really certain operations when you’re standing up there at the line and trying to
make decisions and protection calls or you’re trying to make an adjustment. Just the timing
of it and the confidence with which you do it. That’s the real ownership of a play. Typically,
when you have that type of ownership, the result ends up being good.”
(On what he’s seen from WR Eli Pancol and WR Josh Cephus so far) “It’s a lot of young guys.
It’s been encouraging to see Josh be able to make plays and get on the same page with Nick
[QB Nick Mullens] and John [QB John Wolford] and the guys throwing the football. Same
thing with Eli who’s worked really hard at knowing the playbook, knowing his role,
embracing his role, doing different things that maybe don’t always flash in terms of some of
the catches and big plays that you see with other guys, but dirty work, with blocking,
motioning, shifting, setting things up, things that influence the offense and the run game in
a significant way, but might not always be seen on a surface level.”
(On the energy he expects from the offensive line with pads on) “That might be a question
for them. I know my energy will be pretty high. I’ll be pretty excited, but I think the group will
be excited to get out there with pads on and play football a little bit more for real.”
(On how he feels when WR/DB Travis Hunter makes plays on defense) “Not good. That is
the ultimate bittersweet because it is miserable seeing him make plays on the ball during
practice, but it’s a team game. So, it is exciting in the end to see him make plays, and you
see the ball skills that show up on defense, the same thing translates to offense. It’s
exciting to see him flourish.”
(On WR/DB Travis Hunter’s progression in the offense) “Really encouraging. I think even
from the end of the spring last year to the start of training camp this year, you noticed the
progression not only from a mental standpoint, but from a technique and release
standpoint at the receiver position. I only expect with the way he works and approaches it,
that progression to continue.”
(On the schedule of training camp so far under Head Coach Liam Coen) “It’s down to the
minute. It’s been great. Defense has been awesome to work with. The staff has been
unbelievable. He’s been great, focused, locked in. It’s a lot to manage and a lot to juggle,
but he’s been a real pro at handling it. It’s a long training camp, so we know he knows we
have a long way to go, but so far, it’s been a lot of fun.”
(On the conditioning of WR/DB Travis Hunter) “That’s unbelievably rare. I don’t know that
I’ve seen anything like it, with that level of conditioning before. Obviously, he’s expected to
do something that I have not seen another player do, that none of us have seen before. It is
once again a testament to his work, his training in the heat in the summer, to be able to
come out here and do this. It is hot. No joke. There are guys out here struggling to just do
one, and he’s doing multiple things, juggling different things mentally, physically. It’s a
testament to his work. The conditioning is definitely apparent.”
DEFENSIVE END JOSH HINES-ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025
(On his difficult last few months and the decision to announce his child’s battle with
cancer publicly) “Definitely. I think our main goal was to make sure Wesley was healthy
first. If he wasn’t, in a room of like he’s getting better, to kind of hold it a little bit. So we
wanted to make sure that he was in a good position for us to speak about it, because I
know once the word gets out that he’s in remission, it’s going to be more uplifting, more
positive. Also, I get to be in front of you guys and talk about it and spread more awareness
as much as I can. So, our goal was to really wait until he got healthy. The timing was just
perfect, and we’re here today talking about it.”
(On the message he wants to get out there) “That a lot of people go through it. A lot of
people that you may not know in your daily life has had some type of cancer at a young age
or probably getting it now. That you can always be there to support them, care for them,
give them love because I think that’s really the main focus on people that’s going through
that. They have people that can help support them and give them love. And again, my
foundation is just to show support. We’re contributing to four different organizations
throughout the year, so each month is going to be different. An organization that we’re
targeting to help spread more awareness for them and for us as well. So, I’m excited about
that journey and this first month is Nemours and then we’ll start adding on when the
season goes on.”
(On support he has received from coaches and players) “Yeah, they text me dang near
every day. Especially during the offseason. ‘How’s Wesley?’ Not even ‘Josh, how are you
doing? How’s your mental?’ How’s Wesley? Which I respect. Because they kind of
message family first at all times and they really truly mean it. The last staff, they did as well.
Like when I told Doug [former head coach Doug Pederson], they were all, you’re okay. Take
your time. And even coming in here for them to embrace me as how’s Wesley? How’s your
family? How’s your wife? Like, how’s your family doing? And then, how’s training? They
really care, man. And they really truly care, not just asking to ask, just asking to really see
how I’m really feeling so it’s super cool.”
(On his training regimen this offseason) “I trained here. I did a lot of events as you follow my
social media. I did a couple events. I went to Paris fashion week and the ESPYs. So I’ve
been moving, but regardless of that, I still got my work in. Even in Paris, I’m getting training
LA, I’m getting training. So I never really stopped the grind, but when I was settled, I was
settled here. I want to stay close to the fam, the kids – they’re in summer school. So I just
want to stay close. Can’t really travel as much now, they’re in school now. So kind of
keeping us more stationary and I get in my routine a little bit quicker.”
(On the community around his offseason training) “I mean, it’s awesome. I think
camaraderie is the main thing. And obviously, I know that I’m pushing myself to the limit
that I can help these guys on the field. But when you can train outside of the building and
talk to them and work out with them and push each other. I also know that you’re
sacrificing, running this hill with me. It means a lot more so when you step out on this field,
it’s like I know you’re going to give me everything you got. And then if you don’t, I can tell you
that you’re not giving me everything you got because you showed me a couple weeks ago.
So it’s really cool just to work out with everybody and stay in contact. We’re brothers at the
end of the day, and brothers stick together.”
(On how hard was it to balance training and his family’s situation) “Again, timing is
everything. So, he got sick right towards the end of season. Right at the end of the season,
the first couple months, you’re really not doing nothing. You have to have your body kind of
relax and come back. Then three or four months later, then you start kind of working out
here and there. Again, timing was everything, and I got to just sit back and be full-time dad
which I which I love to do. Just sit back and indulge myself in their life and really commit to
them. So training didn’t start picking up until he got a little better, until he got out of the
hospital. He started going back to school and then that’s when I started to kind of okay, I
can start going to Jason (Hines-Allen’s trainer). I can drive to Orange Park in the morning,
but I’ll still be able to take him to school. Make sure he takes his medicine in the morning,
and kind of adapt back to normal.”
(On when he got the news that his son, Wesley, was going to be ok) “What kind of settled
my mind, obviously it’s scary to think about, but when they talked about the type of cancer
that he did have, it was a six-month treatment phase. And so, when I thought about six
months, like six months, it’s a long time but it’s not twelve months or it’s not two years. It’s
not three years which families do have to go through as well. So knowing that he had that
cancer, it’s kind of like alright, we’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through
this. And so, once three months came and four months and then realizing that his levels
were rising, everything was coming back to normal, nothing was dropping, and then
everything is kind of like, oh, well he’s good. When we took him off the medicine for a
month, all the levels were the same. They weren’t dropping, so it’s like it’s working. His
body’s coming back to normal. And once you’re hearing these type of words and you’ve
seen a smile on his face and now everything kind of seemed normal and he wasn’t having
any fevers. That’s a telltale sign of something happening to his body, so he stopped getting
fevers. And so now everything was just as normal as possible. When they gave us that he’s
in full remission, man we kind of prayed for it and we kind of knew. We kept praying that it’s
going to happen. God was looking over him. He had so many prayers for him at that time,
and we knew that it was going to happen at some point. And when it did happen, just keep
on track until the next phase.”
(On if he celebrated when his son went into remission) “100%. 100%. We definitely
celebrated, [woos] one of those type of celebrations, but everything that we can do for him,
we made special. Taking these late trips. I’m usually not a late trip guy because I like to
kind of be where I’m at and just kind of focus on that, but to really sacrifice that time away
for him because we couldn’t travel early on. So it’s kind of like put that on hold, but we also
have to now make it normal and special for him. So let’s go to the Bahamas. You know
what I mean? So okay, Josh. I’m freaking out, but we need to do it. How am I going to make
it work? I found a trainer out there, and I was training with him. So it was like I’m having fun
with my family, but I’m also making keeping the main thing the main thing.”
(On what the next two practices in pads will tell him about the team) “At the end of the day,
we have to still protect each other. So you know how it is. As soon as you get pads on,
maybe the fundamentals go down. To know that we’re a good defense and we’re a good
offense and we like to take care of ourselves but be competitive. Let’s not try to kill each
other. Let’s focus on our technique. You know what I’m saying? Have our technique. You
see here, we’re still being physical with nothing on. So, if we can continue to still practice
like this, but in pads, I think we’ll be able to take care of each other a lot more. We don’t
need anybody hurt. Obviously, that comes with the game, but if we can kind of prevent as
many injuries as we can, but still being physical, knowing what we’re doing,
communicating, and running to the ball, both sides of the ball, I think it’s just a good
building point. I think we’re going to be good. I’m excited about pads tomorrow. More
physical up front, I think it really affects the front, the front four, front seven, more than
anybody else. But I’m ready to put my face in. I’m ready for contact. I’m ready to have some
contact and really see what it’s about. So, I’m excited.”
(On how he feels playing at a lower weight) “You know what? Feels good. Feels good.”
(On his mentality going into this season being 2.5 sacks away from breaking the franchise
sack record) “23 sacks. That’s the NFL record. I think all pass rushers should strive for that
goal like every team strives to win a Super Bowl. So, I think my goal is to break the record
and not really focus on it. Just know that if I handle what I need to handle, stay healthy,
know what I’m doing, communicate, anticipate what’s happening to me, anticipate pass
and kind of be quicker on that, then everything’s going to play off the way it’s supposed to.”
(On adding DL Emmanuel Ogbah and DE Dawuane Smoot) “I think having better edge
depth matters. I think moving Arik [DT Arik Armstead] to the inside is also going to open us
up a lot more. I’m excited to rush with the four we’ve got. If you put in Maason [DT Maason
Smith] in there… When Maason gets healthy, you put Maason in there, Arik, Smoot, myself,
Tray [DE Travon Walker], Ogbah, you know what I’m saying? The rotation can kind of be
endless. We can kind of line up anywhere. But right now, it’s just how do you like to rush?
Like, me and Smoot, we know, like, “Go.’ You know what I’m saying? So, it’s very natural,
and I called him. I was talking to Smoot every day—not every day. I’m not going to be
exaggerating, but I talked to him a lot during the offseason, especially doing the, ‘Come
back. What are you waiting on? You’re going to have a role here. Come on.’ It was a lot of
those calls that he can say that I did that to him. I didn’t call him every day. There were a lot
of those conversations, and also, he just vibes with everybody. He fits what we’re trying to
do, he fits the players around him and he’s unselfish. If I need to pocket push, I’m going to
pocket push the hell out of this guy. If you need me to buy this guy so you can make it
inside the b-gap, I’m going to do exactly that. You know what I mean? So, having him kind of
frees up everybody. It helps Arik as well. You’ve got these two being selfless. You’ve got
Arik. You can rush a little bit more freely because you know you have a guy that’s in tune to
the rushes. You have a guy that, ‘Okay, if you take this side, I’m going to wrap under.’ So,
it’s cool having a guy like that, man. I love him as a brother, and I respect him as a player as
well. I can’t wait to really see tomorrow and, obviously, the preseason games and all that,
we can compete against somebody else. I can’t wait.”
(On DT DaVon Hamilton) “He’s the best nose in the game. He’s the best nose in the game.
D-Ham [DT DaVon Hamilton] is the best defensive nose, tackle, whatever you want to
identify him, in the NFL right now, and he’s showing it and proving it every single day. When
you can have that, you know you have that confidence that they’re not going to run the ball
right here, not everybody else has to pick their level up. You know what I mean? So, again,
DaVon Hamilton is the best nose in the game, and he’s going to prove it. I can’t wait to be
out there to support him after every play he makes.
(On if he thinks the defense will flourish enough to allow him to break the single-season
sack record) “100 percent. I mean, don’t ask me. You can ask the coaches, because they
tell me all the time, this is what we want to do. Okay. But they’re the ones that’s going to
call the plays. You talk to Coach Camp [Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile], you
have guys that can go get the passer. Go get the passer. Cool. So, now let’s do it. Let’s
show it. Let me prove to you. But I’ve already proved it. Tray’s proved it. Let’s just continue
to do it. The more reps we get, the more ops we get, the higher percentage that we’re going
to get pressures. We’re going to get hits. We’re going to get sacks. We’re going to get batted
passes. We’re going to get more plays even in the run game. Hell, it’s going to affect us in
the run game, more tackles for losses. So, yeah, I think Coach Camp, [Defensive Line]
Coach Matt Edwards, [Assistant Defensive Line Coach Derrick] LeBlanc, those are the guys
that you need to ask those questions to, but I like where your head’s at. It does help.”
(On being voted 63rd in the NFL Top 100) “I mean, at the end of the day, I’m honored to be
on the list with my peers. I just know where I was at the year before. Now, knowing where
I’m at after last year, after a down year, it’s time to go back up. And it’s time for not only me
to get in there, it’s time for Tray [DE Travon Walker] to get in there. It’s time for [CB] Jourdan
Lewis. It’s time for Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun]. We have guys that can be on that list and
really rack that list up. But most of the guys that are on there, they have the number one
defense, number two defense. They play deep in the playoffs. So, if we want to get that
recognition, we have to be able to get that far.”
