HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
JULY 29, 2026
(On WR Parker Washington being wired the right way when separating business and
football) “Yeah, I mean, you saw it today. He had a really nice little option route today. The
guy knows himself really well, I think. Like he knows his strengths and weaknesses and is
really intentional about trying to work on those things. The guy spends a lot of time on his
body. I mean, he really puts a lot of time into it. I think he’s ready to take another step in his
progression of his career. He’s a guy that I know, Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence], obviously,
they have a rapport of working together for a number of years. If you look at him as a
wideout on our team, I mean, Trevor’s probably thrown to him in Strange [TE Brenton
Strange] the most, of guys that are on our roster currently. Really confident in him and really
excited to see what he can do for us.
(On how it felt to be back) “Yeah, It felt good to be back. I mean, I thought it was a little
sloppy in terms of drops and some inaccuracy, just not throwing and probably catching a
ton with each other. I mean, they got together. I know Trevor had a bunch of the guys
together throwing out here, or at a high school or something locally where they were getting
some work in, but a couple of little things, but I was pleased to see some plays being made
on both sides. Like, I wouldn’t really love to walk out here today and it be one-sided. I’d
prefer it, obviously, for the offense to have a lot of success, and I don’t like to see the ball on
the ground as much as it probably was today. But I was pleased with some of the back and
forth, and some of the hits in the run game as well.
(On what it was like seeing WR/CB Travis Hunter practice) “Yeah. It was good. I mean,
obviously would’ve liked to see us complete that one to him on the sideline, but I was
pleased to see him go up with no fear and just go up and try to make a great play. And
Jabbar (CB Jabbar Muhammad) ended up making a really nice play at the end to finish it. I
thought he had a couple of good reps on defense in one-on-one situations and press. And I
think that we’ll connect on that route and be able to get him some of those touches as we
go in through. They build more of a connection and chemistry.
(On what he saw from RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.) “Yeah, I mean, Chris is always, kind of Chris.
So, I’m not saying he looks the same as he did at Kentucky, that’s not him, but he’s got the
same demeanor, the same way that he approaches it, knowing that we’re trying to ease him
back into this thing. It’s a long training camp. It’s a long season. We’re trying to get him
back, without any sort of hiccups or bumps. And it was great to just see him back out, like,
taking handoffs, right? I mean, it’s in a small sample size, but I was pleased to see him out
here with us.
(On if it’s easier to come up with a practice plan for WR/CB Travis Hunter as opposed to last
season) “We did. I’ll say this, when we put in a lot more even time, I got to give a lot of credit
to Shane Waldron [Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Pass Game Coordinator], Jay Kaiser
[Assistant to the Head Coach], and Chris Bach [Director of Performance Science], Those
guys put in, countless hours and time, really looking at the reps, where he needs to be now,
right? What, how do we balance his reps here, knowing that we’re trying to ease him in, but
he also, at some point, needs to get double the amount that a normal player gets. And so,
what does that ramp up look like? And we’ve had, we have it all kind of mapped out, till the
mock game is really where we have it. I mean, on every single practice schedule, I mean,
he’s, his reps are highlighted in here. I mean, like, where he’s in, what plays he’s in, where
he’s at on the field. I mean, we’ve been extremely intentional about it. So there are no
hiccups, miscommunication, and just everybody’s got confidence knowing exactly where
he’s at, what plays he, is he in on? Being intentional about getting him the exact reps that he
really needs from a learning progression standpoint. So yeah, it’s been a lot.”
(On WR Zay Jones coming in this week) That’s right. That’s exactly what it was. Get him in,
see what he looks like, just meet him. I had, I never met Zay. Really seems like a guy that’s
got his head on in terms of, like, being a pros pro, knows the league, knows Trevor, right?
Knows this place. And I think he has a lot of appreciation for this place. And, you know, we’ll
see how things progress, but it was really good to get to meet him”
(On not taking a step back after the success of last season) “Yeah, we haven’t done
anything to rest on our laurels here. We’re not in a place to hang out and just kind of chill,
right? Everything we’re doing is trying to attack an edge. Last year was about finding an
edge and creating an edge. And now we are attacking these edges with a relentless pursuit.
And at the end of the day, we want to go play anywhere, anytime, anybody- doesn’t matter.
And our mindset is, we got to go prove it and go earn it because consistency is the truest
measure of performance at the end of the day. And there’s a lot of guys in this locker room
that, when I took this job, have said, ‘Man, you know, they brought that up’. And how do we
become a consistent, respected organization?” That’s what this is all about.”
(On what he has seen from TE Nate Boerkircher and TE Tanner Koziol since they were
drafted) “I mean, it’s also trying to put them in some positions that maybe are a little
uncomfortable early on. Like putting them in some positions that, we got to go see what
they can do, in terms of that. Not that we know what Hunter [TE Hunter Long] and know
what Quintin [TE Quintin Morris] can do. I think both those guys had good days as well,
Hunter and Q. We got to see what these guys can do, right? Against, NFL competition,
against a good defensive line, whether it’s with the first group or the second group. So, it’s
something that I know the whole league, you know, is going to big personnel and all that. I
mean, we’re, we’re just kind of experimenting. You got two personnels, 11 and 12, right?
Well, you’re always hunting up that third personnel. What is it? Well, in Tampa, in 24, for us,
it was 21 pony, because we had two backs that we really like to use. And so, what is that
next personnel going to be that we can use as a changeup, as something that, man, if we’re
seeing a defensive structure in, whether it’s 13 or whatever it is, can we take advantage of it
and use it more within that game plan? That’s more along the lines of what we’re trying to
get accomplished.”
(On if there is an update for LB Jack Kiser) “No update yet. I think he’s getting looked, getting
picture tonight, getting a MRI tonight. We’ll have a better idea. He didn’t, he wasn’t, like,
screaming or freaking out in pain. And so, very hopeful that it’ll be shorter than longer, but,
really don’t know, exactly what it is at this time.”
(On if LB Branson Combs will have a shot at the Will linebacker spot) “I think, first and
foremost, his athleticism. His ability to defend the pass. If you think about, like, how much
teams are trying to expose linebackers in coverage. Obviously, we saw what Devin [LB
Devin Lloyd] was able to do for us in coverage a lot last year in terms of zone and vision and
be able to create some turnovers with vision on the quarterback. I think Branson innately
does that. He played, I think, wideout growing up and has played a lot of different positions.
Safety, he’s come down. And so, I think athletically, he gives us something there. I think he’s
tough. He’s smart. He understands football, I think, and it’s more so him just being able to
get a ton of reps. Like, every single rep that Branson gets, whether it’s with the first group,
the second group, doesn’t matter. Those reps are important, and they’re very beneficial to
him. So, he gives himself a chance, I think, with some of those things.”
(On if LB Branson Combs won the Iron Jags competition) “I got to confirm that. We had, like,
four winners. We had, like, four different, deals, and I think he did, you’re right. I’ll find out
exactly.”
(On WR/CB Travis Hunter running 22.6 MPH) Yeah, he’s definitely got some of those freaky
traits, right? Where you’re like, man, he just came off a leg injury and he’s running, I guess,
you know, maybe faster than he hit at times last year, maybe. I’m not sure if he ever hit 23
last year. I don’t think so. But when you put on 10 pounds of muscle, it, he made a
comment to me on the grass the other day that he feels, when he’s running, he feels lighter.
So, you put on 10 pounds of muscle, he feels lighter. I mean, that’s a good thing, right? So, I
feel like he’s confident in himself, in his physicality right now. I think he’s going to go into the
season feeling more confident in what he’s been able to put on his body, for armor
purposes and physicality. And, you know, he’s got to get in football shape, that’s for sure.
But it’s exciting to see.”
(On WR CJ Williams being able to earn trust quickly) “Yeah, he’s just, he’s extremely
intelligent as a football player. He is. I mean, he’s, he gets it. You don’t have to tell him
much, honestly. Like, there’s not a ton of coaching points for CJ on a day-to-day basis. It’s
just about getting him some of those opportunities and physically being able to do
everything, right? I think the quarterbacks innately trust him being at the right spot, at the
right time, and he’s going to typically catch the football, right? So, he’s another guy that he’s
been able to pick up the offense very quickly. And excited to see if he can help us out this
year. First time
(On what he saw from RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.) “I think that Chris, what he brings to this
team, I don’t think any of us are going to see throughout the entire training camp, honestly. I
mean, until we play tackle football, it’s going to be very difficult for all of us here to gain a
true appreciation for who he is and what he does. I’ve seen it, so I do appreciate his skill set
and what he brings, but just as a pro, I mean, he’s a good dude. He doesn’t say a ton, but
he’s tough. I mean, he’s, he’s one of those glass eaters. You know, he is. I mean, he’s going
to run through a wall for his teammates, for his coaches, for this organization when the
time comes. Pleased to see him. I mean, he was so down. I mean, it was a frustrating time
when you get here and get hurt on the first day. So I think he was just pleased to be able to
get out here, be with his teammates, take some coaching points, and knowing that the best
of C-Rod will not be seen until the pads come on and we play tackle.”
(On how his mentality translates to the team every day) “Yeah, that was the entire message
to the players last night was, ‘Let’s, let’s go earn something.’ Nothing in this league is given.
Every year is a brand new year. Yes, we have a lot of returning, a lot of coaches returning, a
lot of staff members returning, a lot of players returning. But we have to treat it as new,
right? In a lot of ways, we have to reconnect our relationships and be intentional about the
way that we communicate and practice and meet with each other. And so, these guys
know, I mean, what, what is it, 30-something out of the next 40 games in the next two
years? They’re not going to be played here in Jacksonville. So we’re not going to use it as an
excuse. We’re not going to use it as a “but”. It’s just, it is what it is. And our mindset and
mentality is going to be: drop us off in a plane anywhere, and we’ll go play you.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
JULY 29, 2026
(On working with WR/CB Travis Hunter again) “Yeah, obviously, today was the first time in a
while we’ve gotten a live team rep throwing. We got some work in this summer, so I feel like
the chemistry’s still there. Have to just try to keep working it more and more. Kind of missed
a throw behind him a little today, but just good to see him back out there and he looks
good. He’s flying around. Seeing him play both sides is just always pretty cool. He looks
great, so just excited that he’s back on the field.”
(On the team’s mindset as camp begins) “Yeah, I think just for any team, any year, that’s
always what you have to do. No matter how good or bad you were the year before, it’s a
fresh start, it’s a new year. You can’t carry anything over. I think for our team to start really
from scratch that mindset of we have to earn it, the way we prepare now until the season
starts. And it already started in April, honestly, but from now until the season starts, that’s
what’s going to earn us the right to win these games in the fall.”
(On the team’s rookie tight ends and the potential for tight-end-heavy personnel packages)
“Yeah, I think it’s obviously important. It’s such an important position in any offense,
especially in an offense like ours so I think you’re seeing that commitment to that position
on our team. I think all of our guys can play and if we can get those guys on the field more
often than maybe we have in the past, I think that’s a good thing. Obviously, there’s only
one football, so there’s some balance of like, okay, we have some really good receivers as
well. I think those are all things that you think about and you work on through training camp
and you just experiment with. The more we can do personnel-wise, the better we’re going to
be just to keep the defense guessing and not knowing really what we’re going to do.”
(On if there will be less experimenting this year than the previous training camp) “Yeah, I
think there’s definitely honing in on stuff that works. It’s also a lot of, I wouldn’t say
experimenting, but working on things that we know we need to get better at to have a better
offense, whether it’s explosive plays down the field, some of the deep shots that we talked
about in the spring to just some of the run game stuff that might be plays that we’ve done in
the past, but maybe we’re doing more of because we think we’re better at those concepts.
So, there’s a little bit of that going on, and then you’re always trying to add little wrinkles
here and there. I’d say it’s a mixture of all that.”
(On how he feels) “I feel really good. I didn’t think I had the best day today necessarily, but I
feel like this whole offseason and even today, I threw it well and just missed a couple. But I
feel really healthy. I feel like I’m in great shape. I think I’m throwing it as good as ever. I think
the chemistry with the guys is really, really good. I like where our team’s at. So, I’m excited,
really excited for this training camp.”
(On the absence of Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr.) “Yeah, not something that I thought about
like right away this morning when I woke up, just because he’s been gone for the spring too.
That’s a guy that obviously I miss and we have a great relationship. Always rooting for him
and we’ll see him this preseason, which will be fun to catch up with him and see him a little
bit in New Orleans. Yeah, it’s, it’s different and it’s an opportunity for these guys to step up
and get a great opportunity to make some plays and to play more. And I think our running
back room is really talented and diverse and can do a lot of good things. So, obviously we’re
going to miss Travis, but the show goes on and we have to figure it out.”
(On the current running backs room) “Just a really well-rounded room. I think Bhayshul [RB
Bhayshul Tuten] obviously, you saw a little bit of what he can do last year when he got some
carries. Really explosive, great vision inside. Obviously has the speed as well to hit these
home-run runs. And I think the steps that he’s taken in protection this offseason have been
great and he’s gotten a lot better, so I think he can do more and more. And then obviously
LeQuint [RB LeQuint Allen Jr.], I think catching the ball in the backfield, he’s much
improved. He was already good at it, but I think he looks even better this year. And
protection stuff, he’s always on it. One of the best pass protectors, maybe the best in the
league. I’d like to see one that’s better. Just always knows what to do. He’s a hard runner.
He’s physical. Obviously getting C-Rod [RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.] back in, [RB] DeeJay Dallas,
we got a lot of guys. Getting C-Rod back and healthy is exciting and he’s a big physical
runner, so I think we have a well-rounded room.”
(On where he tried to improve this offseason) “I think just the mental side, staying sharp on
everything so I can play fast like I was at the end of the season and the chemistry and
rapport with me and the skill guys is so important. Just really tapping into that all
throughout training camp and making sure that we’re on the same page because you saw
when we started clicking at the end of the last season how efficient and how sharp we were
and some of the plays we were able to make. Just starting that now and trying to practice
like that every day, so we can start the season that way and not take a few weeks to get
there.”
(On limiting turnovers last season) “Yeah, I think 12’s a little more than I’d like still, but
yeah, I think that that’s something that has been a huge talking point in my career and
rightfully so. You have to take care of the ball, so I think that’s something I’ve worked really
hard on my entire career, and I think the last few years. A big one is especially fumbles and
taking care of the ball in the pocket and when I’m running because that’s one that you can
control every time you have it. You control how you protect the ball, how you secure it, how
you tuck it and then obviously the interceptions. Playing quarterback, it’s going to happen. I
think what type of interceptions are they? Are you getting fooled or is the DB making a good
play? Sometimes you’re just going to miss a throw a little bit, DB makes a play. But limiting
those bad decisions, limiting the ones where I feel like the defense fools me and limiting
the ones that are just unnecessary, red zone ones or something like that. I think there’s
different categories for all those but taking care of the ball is super important.”
(On if the offense can pick up where it left off in 2025) “Very optimistic. That’s the
expectation for us. To be honest, we should be able to do that, and we should do that day
one. Not every day’s going to be perfect. We’re going to have some days. We have a good
defense too, so we’ll have some days. Like today, the guys on defense made some great
plays and made some adjustments and made some really good plays in the ball. That’s
going to happen but for us to operate smoothly, get in and out of the huddle, to know all the
checks, to know all the changes that we’re making at the line of scrimmage, get the ball
snapped to play clean football, I mean, that should be automatic. Then I know the plays will
come and we just have to keep working at that and building the chemistry.”
(On having confidence in the offensive unit at this stage of the season) “Obviously. For sure.
It’s a good feeling. Even to start last year, we were still swimming a little bit, trying to get the
system down and to start the season, we were a little sloppy, a lot of penalties. So, I think
that’s definitely an area of improvement for our offense is play cleaner, be a smart team, be
really good situationally.”
(On his chemistry with WR Parker Washington) “Yeah, it is. Every year it’s gotten better and
better, but especially after last season with all the reps that we accumulated over the last
nine, 10 games. And just the way the guy works. I mean he’s always down to get extra reps
after practice. He wants to talk after every rep that isn’t right on the field. Just the way he
communicates with me. He’s just a professional, so I think it was only a matter of time
before that started to show, that chemistry and the way we work together started to pay off.
So just proud of that guy and love working with him.”
(On WR CJ Williams) “Man, he’s a good example of a guy that just knows what to do, always
in the right spot because he studies so hard. I’ve been really impressed, as a rookie, how
he’s come in and really gotten the playbook down pretty quickly. I haven’t seen him make
too many mistakes, running the wrong route or blocking the wrong guy. And he knows what
he’s doing and he studies. I think that’s letting his talent show because he’s in the right spot
and he has the opportunity to make the play. He just has to keep getting better every day. I
like what I see from him. He’s a really good player and he can definitely help us.”
(On what he is looking for over the next few weeks) “I think it’s just trying to be that
consistent group and then starting with me even just individual in our position room. Just
trying to be so consistent every day and do all the little things right. And then as an offense,
holding ourselves to that standard as well of the splits, the motions, when we’re getting the
ball snapped, being in the right play all the time, the progressions, all that stuff, just being
super sharp. While it is more of a controlled setting, because you don’t get this time back.
Before you know it, we’re going to be game planning for Cleveland. This time to really work
on our offense and our system without the game plan element’s going to be gone, so just
taking advantage of that.”
(On his health) “I feel great. Just grateful that I’m healthy. I feel really good to get an
offseason to train and to not have to just rehab and try to get back healthy, but to be healthy
and just get stronger and work on my game and my fundamentals. It’s a good feeling, so
just excited to feel good.”
(On his NFL Top 100 ranking) “Yeah, I think it’s always a cool thing when peers think highly
of you. I think it is what it is. It’s definitely a respect thing that is appreciated and it does feel
good, but at the end of the day I have to go prepare for this season.”
