QUARTERBACK MAC JONES
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025
(On what closing out the season with back-to-back wins would mean) “Yeah. It’s a big thing
to do in the NFL if you can stack some good practices and games and carry that
momentum wherever it may go. So, we’re definitely working for that.”
(On if believes that would create momentum going into next season) “Yeah. This is my
fourth season, so I know how this goes. You definitely want to put your best foot forward
and control what you can control. For me, just keep it simple this week. A lot of
distractions, a lot of this and that. But the challenge for everybody and for me is to focus on
doing my part and then from there, it should take care of itself.”
(On his case for WR Brian Thomas Jr. winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award)
“Yeah, I mean, I’m not a voter for that, but I definitely have been a part of that award.
Obviously, didn’t win it. I think he definitely is deserving of it. He’s a great player. He’s meant
a lot to this team this year specifically, and to do it as a rookie is pretty much insane. So
hopefully we can just finish strong this last week and he can also carry that momentum
into the next year and for his whole career. So, I’m excited for him.”
(On how he is able to be himself and maintain composure during a game) “Yeah, I think the
more jokes I tell on the field, the better I play (laughs). So, if I can just talk, talk smack to the
other team or keep it loose with the refs, I think that gets me in my zone. When I can get
there and play in my zone, I think you can see the good stuff happens. I feel like we’ve done
that as an offense at times. You can see it, the personality of the team, guys playing
together. When I’m out there, guys playing hard. So, got to continue that this week, and
that’s a big challenge to do it a few weeks in a row.”
(On if he thinks he sold a flop to the referees) “Yeah, I mean, the ref on film, he grabbed his
flag twice, but he never pulled it out (laughs). So, I’ll take two touches of the flag, but no
penalty. But yeah, that was funny.”
(On what it’s been like to go from division rivals with OL Mitch Morse to teammates) “Yeah,
we talked about that a lot. I mean, he’s like, ‘I just, I wanted to hate you, but then I met you
and you’re just such a normal, nice guy.’ And I was like, yeah, that’s nice and somebody
showed me the video of him talking about me. I was like, yeah, I mean, I paid you to say that
(laughs). So, thank you for saying that. So, I’m glad, I’ll Venmo him his money and we’ll
move on from that.”
(On the balance between wanting to finish the long season and wanting to maximize his
last opportunity for this season) “Yeah, it’s tough. You’re, like I said, trying to be where your
feet are, trying to keep it simple, trying to take it one play at a time and not thinking about
the outcome of the game or the season or what’s going to happen the next day. It doesn’t
matter because at the end of the day, we’re out there playing because we love the game.
We want to have fun, and I know both teams are going to do that this week. It’s a great,
great defense we get to go against. Always is a tough defense. Got a lot of good players,
well-coached, and so it’s an opportunity, really is how I look at it. I’m going to control what I
can control and let the chips fall.”
(On if he feels the uncertainty of where he will play next season) “Yeah, I mean, that’s
always the million-dollar question for everybody. You’re either under contract or not, and
for me, it’s like I said, eliminating the distractions and taking it one day at a time, one play at
a time and it will take care of itself. I’ve had a lot of fun here and I’m looking forward to really
just practice today and had a good walkthrough. So, carry that over, see if we can get
another win.”
(On how tough he thinks it will be to balance the joy that he has had in Jacksonville versus
competing for a starting quarterback position elsewhere in the league) “Yeah, I know I’ve
got a chance, like I said, this Sunday. You don’t know how many games you’re going to get a
chance to start. The same thing last week. I knew I had one opportunity that was last week.
Played well enough to win and hopefully, we can do that again this week. So, it’s tough, like I
said, every year, whether you’re in the playoffs or you’re fighting to get in the playoffs or
whatever it may be or you’re in our situation where you know you’ve got one left. You just try
to put your best foot forward and like I said, the chips will fall how they fall. I have
confidence in myself and all the guys around me.”
(On if it’s realistic for Thomas Jr. to get the same amount of touches with a healthy receiving
group) “Yeah. It’s tough. Those are hypothetical questions where it’s if this guy’s here or not.
I think it definitely helps pull coverage but from a football schematic standpoint. But he’s
done a great job getting open when he’s got two guys on him, when he’s got one guy on him,
when he’s got three guys on him. So, he does a great job just doing his part and we’ve done
a good job moving him around. Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] and Doug [Head
Coach Doug Pederson] and everybody moving him around and stuff. But yeah, they’re going
to definitely try and take him away from the game and that’s where it all starts.”
(On his improvement in the last two weeks) “Yeah, I mean, I talked about this. Challenge
myself to play better post-Bye Week. I didn’t know if I was going to get a chance to play
again, so that’s the challenge for me. I’m looking at it that way for this week as well. So,
trying to stay turnover-free and take those completions and keep moving the offense. Like I
said, control what I can control, take it one play at a time and the chips will fall how they
may.”
(On him throwing the ball better these last two weeks) “Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I’m throwing it
well, but I’ve got to keep doing it each week.”
(On how many plays he looked at on film where he thought he should have thrown the ball
elsewhere) “Yeah, I always try—and I call it, like, the attempt, like, what was the attempt of
the play? So, maybe I was attempting to go to the right guy, I just missed the throw, but I can
live with that. When, hey, it’s one-on-one, it’s your best player, he’s open. Maybe he’s not
open, but you give him a chance, it’s a low-risk throw. But yeah, I think it’s a lot about
percentages and really in the NFL, it’s more about moving the ball as best you can based on
the play and taking what they give you. They can give you the deep, they can give you the
short or the medium, but you just have to be really disciplined. I’ve got to continue to do
that this week.”
(On how hard it is to make the right decision on every throw) “Yeah, I think, I mean, Coach
McCoy [Quarterbacks Coach Mike McCoy], obviously, our quarterback coach talks about it,
just do the next best thing. So, if that’s throwing it away or going to the check down or taking
the shot, that might be the next best thing. They may be taking away the short, so you have
to throw the deep. But that’s kind of how I view it. As a quarterback, when you’re reviewing
things, you obviously look at it very critically, but you don’t want to overanalyze every little
thing, like, ‘Oh, my foot was six inches to the left here. I need to move it two inches to the
right.’ You’re kind of just not nitpicking, but looking for big themes that you can fix.”
HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025
(On what he’s trying to get out of the final game of the season) “Obviously, you’re trying to
win the game, bottom line. The key is to make sure that everybody stays locked in and
focused on the task at hand, right? I mean that’s the most important thing. Then, you want
your team to prepare this week for that. I don’t necessarily use it as developmental for
anybody. I think that you still go in and the guys that are healthy and can play, play. But
again, if there’s somebody that’s dressing that is a younger player, you might want to get
them in and see what he can do.”
(On getting the rookies and younger players more time in the last few weeks) “I’d say the
one that probably hasn’t played as much is Tre Prince [CB De’Antre Prince]. But the other
ones all have seen time and continue to improve, and that’s what you want and that’s what
you ask of them. Really too, it’s how they prepare during the week. That’s all part of the
process for young players is that and making sure they’re ready to go.”
(On if ending the season with two wins carries over into the offseason and next season) “It
definitely can. I think it just leaves that good taste, that feeling of winning, especially now
here when we start a new year and have an opportunity to do that. I think just gives you a
little momentum—gives you the hope that you want and that you need, and then you work
on what you need to fix. Plus, we finish 4-2 in the division, if that’s the case. But, playing a
good football team, running back, quarterback, defense is I think sixth in the NFL in
takeaways. I mean, it’s a good football team, so we’ve got to go and keep our minds right.”
(On what he’s seen from DT Maason Smith in these last few weeks) “Yeah, that and the fact
that he’s gotten a lot of time. He’s gotten a lot of playing time and continues to improve
each week and does some really good things out there. That’s what you want. A player that
we took high in the draft, who we knew probably as the season started, there were going to
be some growing pains with that, but the more he’s played, the better he is—and he’s
fought through injury this season too, so he’s had to deal with that. So, for a young player,
he’s really come a long way, and I think on the track to become a good player for us.”
(On if he thinks Smith has the potential to strengthen the defensive interior moving forward)
“I do. I do think he has that capability. He’s got great size and length and can be a dominant
three-technique that you’re looking for. There’s still obviously some room to grow and
improve, but the potential is there, for sure.”
(On how QB Mac Jones has done stepping in for QB Trevor Lawrence this season, and if his
ability to assume the position confidently is what he wants out of a backup quarterback)
“You do. Obviously, he’s not Trevor, so we can’t ask him to be Trevor. We just want him to be
Mac Jones. So, we’ll tailor things to his liking and to his strengths. You want him to come in
and still run the offense, right? He’s been able to do that. He’s been taking care of the
football lately, which has been big. I think early when he was playing, it was a couple
giveaways there. He’s done a better job there, and I think just running the offense, just
letting the guys around him work. He’s done a nice job there, and that’s what you want from
your backup. He’s exceeded that and done a good job.”
(On if Jones could be a starting quarterback again in the NFL) “I know he would probably
want that in his future, to take over a team again and be the guy. That’s what he was drafted
to do, so I would assume—I don’t want to speak for him—but I would say that’s the case.
Hopefully, he’s given an opportunity. See what happens over the course of, obviously, the
next several months. He’s done some good things, and I think if teams are evaluating the
quarterback position, he’s definitely one that you would have to consider.”
(On the production of DE Josh Hines-Allen and DE Travon Walker this season) “When the
two of them [DE Josh Hines-Allen and DE Travon Walker] are playing good—I think last week
too, the pressure rate was high, one of the higher rates we’ve had. May not have the sack
numbers, but the pressure rates, that’s also important to note. But when those two guys are
playing and playing at a high level, it makes it hard on quarterbacks, it makes it hard on
offensive linemen, tackles. This year, coming in, learning a new scheme, some new
technique things, takes a little time, and they’re working through that as the season has
gone on. But you get in those known passing situations, you just want to cut these guys
loose and let them go play.”
(On the production of Hines-Allen and Walker over the last few years) “From the numbers
standpoint, that’s impressive. But it feels like, I think because of where we are as a team, it
kind of gets—it’s overshadowed. But that’s, again, that’s another bright spot with this team,
I think with the defense, especially those two players and what we drafted both of them to
do, obviously. Again, there’s definitely more for them to get, and I think that’s the exciting
part as you look ahead to the future.”
(On evaluating talent out of Louisiana State University given their former players’ successes
in the NFL) “Well, obviously, the guys coming behind them. I mean, you look at what
[Bengals WR] Ja’Marr Chase and [Minnesota WR] Justin Jefferson; obviously our guy [WR
Brian Thomas Jr.]; what [Commanders QB] Jayden Daniels, what he’s done; [Bengals QB]
Joe Burrow. I mean you look at that group, six guys or so right there. That’s pretty
impressive. You look at our guy, B.T. and I think he’s second in the AFC behind Ja’Marr
Chase in yards and touchdowns, and it’s a pretty good separation between he and—for
touchdowns, anyway, for third place. So, as you’re looking, it’s kind of like there for a while
it was Alabama. Alabama was sending receivers to the NFL, and then now, it seems like
LSU. It kind of switches a little bit. But yeah, you’re going to take a look. You’re going to see
what’s been working for them, and obviously, can it translate to the NFL, which obviously it
has and will. But it’s good company. It’s good company, and the year that B.T.’s had to be
mentioned with those guys that came before him and are still playing at a high level, it just
says something for that entire group.”
(On if Thomas Jr. would have a high chance of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year,
quarterbacks aside) “I think so. I think he would definitely be in that conversation. The
quarterback position obviously gets the most looks, and Jayden’s [Commanders QB Jayden
Daniels] played well. I mean, he’s led the Commanders to where they are and obviously
continuing to play. So yeah, if it wasn’t for that, he’d definitely be in that conversation.”
(On how high the ceiling is for Thomas Jr.) “I think the benchmark would have to be a guy
like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, right? I think it would have to be those type of receivers.
Obviously, his rookie numbers this year, we talked about [Pro Football Hall of Fame WR]
Randy Moss, who’s Hall of Fame wide receiver—not putting B.T. in the Hall of Fame yet, but
he’s got at least a start. But I think you’ve got to look at Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr and those
guys and say, hey, if he’s in that company, then I think you can continue to get better. Those
guys continue to improve, and their ceiling is extremely high, and they’re impact players for
their teams. They’re game-changers for their teams and that’s what we see Brian Thomas
as.”
(On how different Indianapolis looks now than in Week 6) “Yeah, they’ve got more guys on
defense back than before. Obviously, [Colts RB] Jonathan Taylor. We know what he can do
and two weeks ago, he was 218 yards and about 120-plus yards this past weekend. I mean,
just a solid running back. [Colts QB] Anthony Richardson, he’s rushed for 500 yards this
season. A lot of it’s scrambles, but lately some of it has been designed runs. So, offensively,
they’ve changed a little bit. That regard, defensively, these guys, again, it’s another good
defensive front with 90 [Colts DT Grover Stewart] and 99 [Colts DT DeForest Buckner]
coming off the ball. They’re two really good D-tackles in this league that present problems,
and our hands are full there. Their two linebackers, Zaire [Colts LB Zaire Franklin] and E.J.
[Colts LB E.J. Speed], I mean, these guys can run. They’re sideline to sideline, they’re
downhill, they’re fast. It’s hard to get to them on combo blocks, you’ve got to be prepared
for that. Then, [Colts CB] Kenny Moore [II], a solid corner, nickel. He’s crafty, he’s a good
tackler in space, a good blitzer. This is a solid football team, and it’s a test for us where we
are in our season. Obviously, I’m sure they’re disappointed as well, but there’s a lot riding
on games like this.”
(On playing complementary football and not getting the ball in opponent territory) “It was
evident, right? I mean, Sunday, we get the takeaway, offense goes and scores. It just adds—
it just helps. That’s probably the one thing, when you look at this season too, that we
haven’t done a great job of, is that complementary piece. Offense has had to go the long
way, defense hasn’t been able to get off the field. It just makes it harder. So, yeah, anytime
you can create the takeaway, give your offense another possession, especially in a shorter
field, at least three points, especially with the way our kicker [K Cam Little] has kicked this
year. It’s big, and all things that—I mean, yeah, you can sit there and look at it all day—but
until it happens, right? It makes it hard.”
(On five possessions in opponent territory, the team scored four touchdowns and one field
goal) “It just goes without saying. Some of the top teams that are still playing, defensively,
they’re creating takeaways. That’s what makes your offense better. Your point total goes up,
your red zone drives go up. Everything goes up. Sacks go up. There’s definitely a correlation
with takeaways.”
(On how impressive K Cam Little has been as a rookie kicker) “He’s been a bright spot for
our team. I think he’s 93.0-plus percent on field goals. I think he’s missed two this season.
Of all the rookie kickers this year, he’s leading the pack there. His kickoffs obviously have
been really good. To me, I haven’t seen—a lot of times this time of year, you see a kicker
start to fall off, leg gets tired, balls aren’t traveling quite as far, might miss a field goal here
and there, but Cam hasn’t done that. He continues to impress that way, and it just gives
you confidence. You cross that 50-yard line and now you’re crossing that 40-yard line, and
now you’re starting to say, OK, we’ve got points on the board at that point. So, Cam’s done
an excellent job for us and has been a bright spot.”
JAGUARS SIGN DE JOE GAZIANO TO PRACTICE SQUAD
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed DE Joe Gaziano to the practice squad, the team announced today.
Gaziano signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Chargers (2020-22) before joining the Falcons in 2023 and the Jaguars in 2024 (Aug. – Dec.). Gaziano has played in 25 games (one start), including two appearances for the Jaguars this season (Week 7 vs. New England and Week 8 vs. Green Bay), and totaled 26 tackles (16 solo), four quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one pass defensed.
The Scituate, Mass., native played four seasons at Northwestern University (2016-19) and earned All-Big Ten honors consecutively in 2017 and 2018. As a sophomore, he led the Big Ten with 8.0 sacks in the regular season.
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