HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023
(On what it’s like for backup quarterback to get a chance to start) “It’s exciting. You get your opportunity
to start, lead your football team, do everything you can. There’s really no pressure, only the pressure you
put on yourself to perform. He can come in and relax and play, he’s going to be excited and ready to go.
Our guys on defense need to pay attention to that energy and be ready for that.”
(On if he feels like the defense knows Colts QB Gardner Minshew’s tendencies) “Yeah, I think there’s
enough information, and obviously you have to study the tape, understand what they’re trying to do as
an offense and how they’re trying to atack you. They have a really good running game that could get
going and that could help your quarterback, too. Defense is playing well, I think there’s enough
information there to really have a good understanding to who you’re playing.”
(On injury updates across the team) “Walker [OL Walker Litle] and Zay [WR Zay Jones], both of their
images and everything were good, they were clear. Both are going to miss today and be day-to-day as we
go. Cam [OL Cam Robinson] is fine, left elbow. Had a litle hyperextension during the game, but went
back in the football game Sunday. He’s going to be good. We get Devin [LB Devin Lloyd] back in practice
today, back out there today. You’ll see a protected pad and bandages and stuff on his hand, but he’ll be
fine and back out there. We’re getting close with DaVon Hamilton, of getting him into some practice. We
haven’t opened up his window yet, but he’s getting closer each week. Smoot [OLB Dawuane Smoot] is
fine, we activated him last week in London and he’ll have another week this week. Hopefully if
everything goes well, there’s a chance that he could make this football game.”
(On how OL Cam Robinson performed in his season debut last game) “I thought he did well. Obviously, a
really good pass rush that we went up against last week. He was in a really good frame of mind, he
prepared well and had a good week of preparation last week. I thought, overall coming back, he did a
nice job and he’ll be beter this week just understanding the game speed again. He did well.”
(On who would fill in for OL Walker Litle if he is unable to play on Sunday) “Yeah, Shatley [OL Tyler
Shatley] is the one that has played recently. It tends to be a litle bit more in his favor right now, to have
Tyler in there and Cam [OL Cam Robinson] at left tackle.”
(On how he tweaked the week to give the team a litle break after the London trip) “Yeah, that’s a
concern coming back from a ten-day trip and the jetlag is real and all of that for a couple of days. Just
spend more time, walkthroughs slow the pace down a litle bit, try to get their bodies and minds
rejuvenated again. Obviously, the ownness is on the player for understanding the gameplan and getting
the game plan down. I can do my part by helping them and getting them out of the building a litle bit
sooner where they can, not necessarily get them out of the building, but off the field where they can
continue their rehab and treatments, hydration is important, and nutrition is important. Making sure
they get rest at night.”
(On if he’ll be able to see how the team responds to the London trip before Sunday) “Yeah, you can
gauge it. Today’s been good so far with the guys that are here, just talking to them and how they feel,
how I feel, all of that. You’ll have a really good understanding. We need to guard against a litle bit of a
lull that happened to us last year when we came back. It’s something that I’ll continue to talk to the
team about.”
(On what the staff is doing to adjust back after the London trip) “Nothing. We’re grinding, absolutely
nothing. Monday when we came back, we came straight into the office and started working and game
planning for this week. We got two games in nine days so we’ve got a lot of film to pour over in the next
week and half. We just got them in here on Monday early, and got them out a litle bit earlier on
Monday night. Other than that, it’s business as usual for us.”
(On if he had any input on the team he was playing after the London trip) “No.”
(On what impresses him about the Colts so far on tape) “Obviously, [Colts QB] Anthony Richardson has
made a difference, his ability to run the ball, he’s thrown the ball. They’ve made plays offensively and the
run game has sparked them. Their defense is solid, it’s a penetrating style up front, I think Zaire [Colts LB
Zaire Franklin] obviously he’s leading the league in tackles right now and he’s all over the field. He’s that
field general for them, he’s a really good player and he’s playing well right now. We know DeForest [Colts
DT DeForest Buckner] and his size and length and what he did against us in the first game. Then, Grover
[Colts DT Grover Stewart] right there, these guys are a solid defense and it’s keeping them in football
games. They’ve had some really good wins, we’re both 3-2. Shane’s [Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen]
got them playing extremely well and extremely confident right now.”
(On why the team was able to get into a rhythm last week, specifically WR Calvin Ridley) “Sort of what
I’ve been saying all along, it takes a litle bit of time. It takes that work in practice and seeing things,
seeing yourself in these game situations and making the necessary adjustments and corrections.
Continuing to work the following week to get beter and working on timing, all of that. Calvin
understanding more of the offense and what we’re asking of him. It’s been good, it’s still not where we
need it to be, there’s still a lot left out there. We can’t turn the ball over in the red zone like we did and
give up points. Defensively, we can’t have the breakdowns in the backend for big plays, it’s all
communication stuff. Those are all things that we continue to work through. Just the execution has
goten beter.”
(On improvements seen out of TE Evan Engram’s confidence since last season) “Evan is in a good place.
There was a lot of outside criticism on him about the drops and different things, but he’s a hard worker,
he works on that and he works on his craft. He wants to be a pro, his confidence level right now is
extremely high and I think it’s easy or safe to say that’s well behind him now.”
(On why the run defense has been playing well) “[DT] Angelo Blackson, getting him in here when we did
has helped that. Roy [DL Roy Robertson-Harris] has been playing well, [DL] Adam Gotsis getting more
opportunities, [DL] Jeremiah Ledbeter is playing good. Then, the addition of [DL] Tyler Lacy. All of these
guys are playing solid, consistent football right now. Really, they’re staying disciplined with their gap
integrity and all of that. We’re tackling beter on the perimeter, there’s a sense of urgency there. Guys
are flying around and making plays, you saw Jenk [S Rayshawn Jenkins] Sunday against the Bills, coming
through there and making some great tackles for losses and things like that. I just think there’s a
confidence level with the defense right now that they pride themselves on that.”
(On what was seen out of S Antonio Johnson in his NFL debut last game) “Yeah, it was good to get him
back out there. He was probably going to start the season with the [CB] Chris Claybrooks deal, probably
as a gunner for us on special teams. He kind of picked up where he left off right there. Then, getting him
in, I thought he was coming out of camp in a really good place, he was improving each day and week
during training camp, in a really good position to help us on defense. I do think that his role will increase,
he’ll get more reps obviously on defense, maybe more dime situations or three-four if we go the three
safety looks. I know Dewey [S Andrew Wingard] has been in there, if you go dime, he’s athletic enough to
cover tight ends and running backs, stuff like that. I think you be smart with it, don’t overwhelm him
with a lot of information, a lot of stuff right now. Just let him go play, but he did a good job Sunday.”
(On if missed tackling numbers are significantly down compared to last year) “I haven’t really paid a lot
of attention to that right now, it feels that way. I’d have to ask our analytics.”
(On if players care or talk about having a home winning streak against the Colts) “No, they don’t really.
It’s focused on one-game-at-a-time mentality, just getting ready for the next one. We obviously
understand it’s a division opponent, AFC South, there’s a lot on the line with this football game. They
don’t pay attention to the streaks and all that. It’s just getting yourself ready to play.”
(On if a divisional matchup helps the nature of this week coming back from London) “I think it does. I
think the guys understand. Going away for ten days was good for us, but we’ve got to bring that energy
back. We can’t leave it in London. That’s a big part of this week but playing a divisional opponent can
help that.”
(On how the team bonding in London can carry over into the rest of the season) “Well, that’s just it.
We’ve got to continue that, the energy that I saw the last two games on the sidelines in Wembley and
Totenham, the way the guys were flying around, we can’t leave it in London. It’s got to come back with
us and we’ve got to experience that again this Sunday. It’s a week-to-week business and the emotions
run so high each and every week, you’ve got to be a litle bit beter each week and the next week and
the next week. Keeping it real, keeping it to what we do and our process here, getting beter today and
tomorrow, just focusing on one day at a time.”
(On expressing his emotions throughout the game) “I do think they [the team] reacts to how I go. As
coaches, we got caught up sometimes in the emotion of the game and feel it just a litle bit. We get
excited for great plays out there and things that are happening. I tell our players all the time, let your
personality show out there. It’s no different for us and for me to do the same thing. I’m excited for the
players and when you play big games like that against great football teams. They’re still a good football
team and a powerful football team. To be able to do and come away with that win, I think you just let
your emotions go and have fun with it.”
(On if it’s harder on a specific group of guys to transition back after the London trip) “I think it’s
individual, honestly, how each person handles it. It’s hard to say if it’s one body type or position group.
We did have some guys that cramped during the game, it was warm over there. So making sure that on
the long flight coming back and having a couple of days, making sure that they’re well hydrated again
into this week. They’re getting the proper rest and nutrition plays a big part in that.”
(On if OLB Josh Allen drawing a holding penalty is as good as making a sack) “No, I’d rather be second-
and-16 not first-and-20.”
(On injury status of OL Cooper Hodges) “Yeah, we wanted to take him and him be around the team and
get his conditioning and workout over there. He’s doing well, he’s still on track. He’s not necessarily
ready to put a lot of load-bearing weight on that knee right now, but he’s another one that’s getting
close.
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023
(On if he’s feeling jetlagged from the trip) “A little bit. I would say I get tired earlier in the day, because
they were five hours ahead. I’m waking up earlier, which isn’t a bad thing. I kind of like it. I went to bed
at like nine o’clock last night. It’s not the worst thing. We’re kind of getting adjusted still but feeling
pretty good.”
(On working with QB Gardner Minshew in his rookie year) “Yeah, Gardner was awesome. Obviously, we
didn’t play a season together, but having an offseason together I got to know him pretty well. He’s a
good guy for one, but he’s a good player, smart player, I learned some things from him for sure,
especially being a young player coming into this league. A guy that played a lot of football and played
really well in his career, even up to this point. He’s a guy that is really smart. I think the way that he plays,
he makes a lot of plays and he’s a good athlete. He’s just kind of savvy like that. He treated me well when
he was here and I saw him when he was in Philly my rookie year, then last year too, when we played
them, I saw him. I try to loosely keep up with him, we text back and forth. We haven’t in awhile now, but
I got a lot of respect for him and a good opportunity, he’s been playing well this season.”
(On how good bonding with one another was in London) “I think it was really good. You’re away from
home, you don’t have, some people’s families were there, but you’re still staying really far away so it’s
not like everybody is doing their own thing necessarily. We’re just all together. When practice was over,
being here, everybody just goes home, and you’ve got your families and stuff going on. But, you get out
of here and have your own personal time. Over there, when practice was over for the most part, you’re
hanging around each other and finding something to do whether that’s hitting a couple of balls on the
golf course or just hanging around playing cards or whatever. You’re always around each other. I thought
it was good just for continuing to build the chemistry of our team. I think it was really strong anyways,
but I think it was good for us and to be locked away together for ten days. We weren’t playing great and I
think it helped us. We grew closer and the way we’ve played the last two weeks has been closer to what
we want to put out there on Sundays. We’re just going to try to keep getting better every week, that’s
the main thing.”
(On if the offense was tweaked in London to perform better) “There’s always going to be adjustments
you make every week. You’re going to see things that you didn’t do well, that you did do well, that you’re
going to pair that with the gameplan for the next opponent and what you think will work against that
team. Of course, there’s some changes, but I would be lying if I said we just changed a lot of things. It
was just that we did our stuff better. I think you look at both of the games, they still weren’t even close
to perfect. That’s not what this game is about, it’s about just making the plays at the right time and
playing the next play even if you’ve had a couple of bad plays or you’re not on track. Just continuing to
play the next play and I think in the last two weeks we’ve played really complementary, that’s something
that we weren’t doing the first three weeks. At least in Week 2 or 3 of the season, we weren’t doing that.
That’s something that also has helped us too, when the defense gets a stop, we go score and get points
off of it. If we’re backed up, we get out of the situation and either flip the field or we go on a long drive
and get points. I think that’s something that we’ve done a better job of, instead all of us being off at the
same time, we’re covering for each other at times when we need to and when we have a big play on one
side of the ball, we’re capitalizing on the other side of the ball. That’s a big part of this game too.”
(On relationship growth this season with TE Evan Engram) “I think he’s a guy who’s really a spark for us.
He brings a lot of energy; you get the ball in his hands, and he can make a lot of plays. He’s great, he’s
really great after the catch and that’s something that is definitely a strong suit of his. Honestly, he’s a
great route runner too. We have so many guys we want to get the ball to and you see the receivers and
those guys, they flash. Evan is a great route runner; I think he’s a mismatch for a lot of safeties and
linebackers on him. That’s something that you always try to take advantage of. Not talking about him
with the ball but just his leadership and the way he works, he’s one of our hardest workers. He’s one of
the first ones out there every day, the last ones off the field. He stays pretty much every Wednesday with
us and sometimes Thursday with the quarterbacks and watches tape with third downs and all that. I
think that’s a big part of our relationship as well, we talk through a bunch of stuff when we’re watching
tape together. Whether it’s a coverage or a play that we have in on third downs, if they play this
coverage how we’re going to attack it, all those things. Just continuing to conversate and talk about
everything, I think that’s where you build the chemistry, especially with tight ends and receivers and
those guys. He’s done a good job of that and really just works super hard. I’ve seen his confidence just
keep growing and growing. I think that’s the story for a lot of us on offense and over the past year and a
half, of how we’re working alongside each other. That’s brought us all up and elevated everyone. I think
that’s a cool thing to see, when everyone starts to play better because of the guy next to him. That’s the
ultimate goal.”
(On if things are going better and better for TE Evan Engram) “I think he’s a really focused guy. On the
field, we have a good time and he’s not overly serious, but he’s not a big cut up and he’s locked in and
he’s dialed in. He’s got that look in his eye. Even in practice, he really takes a lot of pride in his job and
doing his job the right way. That’s something I respect. As our relationship has grown, getting to see the
other side of him that we’ll cut up and have a good time. I think all of us have a really good rapport and
good relationship. To go along with what you’re saying, that confidence piece has been big and we’re all
feeding off each other. I think that’s a cool thing, we all have a lot of faith in each other. That’s what
makes it go and you’ve got to trust the guy next to you and that’s where we’re getting now at this point
in the season with Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] getting introduced to the team. I think he’s coming along
great and with the guys that were here, we’re just rolling. It’s cool to see everybody’s confidence
growing every day and at the right time, too. We’re going into Week 6 and it’s about the right time.”
(On importance of winning this week against a divisional opponent to be ranked first in the division) “It’s
a big week. Anytime you play a divisional opponent, it’s big. Right now, it’s only Week 6. There’s a lot that
can happen as the season goes on. A team where we’re tied for first in the division, so they’re 2-1 and
we’re 1-1 in the division. This is a big game; you look at it and we could go 2-1 or they could go 3-1.
That’s a big swing, so for us, we understand the importance of it, and they do too. There are no secrets,
you’re not going to surprise anyone in games like this. It’s a great opportunity for us and just to continue
to go the way we want to go this season; this is the next step and we’ve got to take it one week at a
time. This is a team that’s playing really well right now.”
(On if opportunities were presenting themselves to push the ball down the field more) “I think every
week there’s some sort of plan, you have to have your shots in there. I wouldn’t say it was necessarily
more of an emphasis last week than it was in prior weeks, maybe a little bit just because of the defense
you’re playing. I think that’s just how the game went, there were some opportunities that were
presented to us. They played a little bit of man coverage; they pressed a couple of times where we got a
one-on-one opportunity like the one to Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] at the end of the game. It’s like a man-
zero look, stuff like that which doesn’t always happen every game. You try to take advantage of it when
you see it, but I’d say we always have shots. I think we were able to run it at the right time and we were
able to get them against the right looks. We were able to capitalize on them, so I think that’s what
showed up, more execution and maybe pass games. Maybe a coverage that dictated the ball didn’t go
there or maybe there was pressure, whatever it may be. Sometimes the shots don’t work out, but it
seems like we were able to get more of them off last week which is good when you can have those
explosives. That’s what we try to do in our offense, is to be consistently efficient and explosive and that’s
a big key to being a good offense, is those two things.”
(On what it’s like having early leads and powerful defenses in recent games) “It’s a lot better than trying
to play from behind all of the time. Obviously, in this league, even if you have a lead, it’s going to be a
four-quarter game. Very rarely do you see games when a team gets blown out, it doesn’t happen much
in this league. You still understand the sense of urgency that you’ve got to keep executing and playing
well. You’ve got to play the whole game, but to get out to a lead early and start fast, I think that takes
pressure off of the defense and takes pressure off of us. We can play more on our terms. I think that is a
positive and you’re not finding yourself in the second half trying to come up with all of these points late
in the game when you’re limited on possessions. I think that’s the biggest thing, when you fall behind
and you’re down by a couple of scores, then you’re trying to score fast and you’re trying to figure how
we can get the ball back fast. There’s a lot that you have to do right to win those games. We’ve had
success in the past, but you can live off that. That’s definitely how we want to play, to jump out early and
get a lead.”
(On if RB Travis Etienne Jr.’s current skill level is the highest he’s seen out of him) “Yeah, definitely,
especially at this level. College is harder to judge, you’re not playing the same defenses every week in
college. I would say yes, he’s playing great right now. I think his game as a whole, not just carrying the
ball or breaking tackles and doing his thing in the running game. In the passing game, protections, all
those things, I think he’s doing a great job. He’s playing really smart and he’s trusting the guys up front. I
think that’s something that we worked a lot this offseason on, is gap integrity and talking about our
schemes and where we want the ball to hit, all of those things. He’s just really doing a great job of
staying disciplined and trusting those guys. Of course, he’s going to go and make some plays that not a
lot of guys can make. That’s what makes him special. Every play where he’s doing his job, he’s trusting it,
he’s trusting the guys up front to clear a path for him and he’s hitting it. I think that’s where I’ve seen him
take some huge steps and it’s been impressive to watch. He’s getting more and more involved in the
passing game and that’s been good for us. I think that opens up our offense even more when he can be a
threat out of the backfield. He’s playing great, so we’ve got to continue to put him in good positions and
help him out, and he’s going to keep playing great.”
