HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023
(On injury updates across the team) “Zay [WR Zay Jones] is still working through the knee injury. I don’t
expect him Sunday, hopefully next week with the bye and we’ll see where he’s at after that. DaVon [DT
DaVon Hamilton] is trending well and he’s practiced full this week. We’ll get another good day today and
then we’ll see how he feels and where he’s at. There’s a good chance that he could be active for this
game, we’ll just see how he does through today. Walker [OL Walker Little] same thing, we get through
today, he’s had a good week with no setbacks so we’ll see where he’s at and make a decision there.
Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] has been good obviously, he got a good work in yesterday and it feels good.
Tyson [CB Tyson Campbell] and [S] Andre Cisco will both practice today, we’ll see where they’re at the
end of the day and make a decision on both of those guys, but they’re trending in the right direction.”
(On if having a bye week next week hinders a decision of playing injured players) “A little bit. I don’t want
to risk a setback with anybody but having time next week to fully rest some of these guys next week can
play into that. Really, if they don’t play this week then obviously that’s two more weeks, three if you
think about the week of San Francisco before you play a game again. The other one is [CB] Greg Junior,
we activated his window. He’s practiced full this week and he’s getting close as well.”
(On difficulty of getting DT DaVon Hamilton fully prepared physically) “Just the physicality of practice,
you’re not in pads like you would be in training camp or earlier part of the season as much. Just that
physicality part and getting his legs and his conditioning to gain speed back, if he’s up for this week then
I’m sure we’ll keep an eye on him. Much like Smoot [OLB Dawuane Smoot] in the same type of thing.
We’ll keep an eye on that if we need to.”
(On if the Saturday schedule changes due to flying to Pittsburgh on Friday) “No, I’ll keep Saturday the
same in Pittsburgh.”
(On what he’s doing pregame near the tunnel by the field) “I think it’s probably waiting for the
introductions once we come back out on the field. Don’t stumble, if I have anything on my face.
Honestly, you’re just thinking about the start of the game, that’s what I’m going through and just any last
minute things I might need to tell a coach once I get out on the sideline. We get the headset on and just
trying to take a deep breath, exhale and enjoy the moment.”
(On if buys into bulletin board material making a difference in a game) “I think during the week it can
spur some motivation and maybe early in a football game. I think once you kick the ball off and you play,
it’s a ballgame and the guys are playing hard. You don’t ever want to give too much information for one
team, I do think it can probably maybe motivate a little bit during the week.”
(On the Steelers’ comment about a ‘hope defense’ made it’s way to the team locker room) “I’ve seen it,
but I haven’t heard it from the team. I don’t know, I’m sure they’ve seen it. You still got to go play,
bottom line. You got to go play. I try to coach our guys and I know Coach Tomlin [Steelers Head Coach
Mike Tomlin] does the same thing. You got to coach your guys not to put information like that out there
and just keep things to yourself. At the end of the day, you still got to go play and make plays and
execute. That’s what it comes down to.”
(On how he’s seen the pass defense perform recently) “It’s a little interesting. Numbers are one way,
interceptions are another way, things of that nature. I think the bottom line is that win-loss column. If
you have more points at the end of the game than your opponent, you’ve done something right. I
coached a Super Bowl game a couple of years ago and yards and everything were way out of whack and
whatnot. It’s something that you’ve got to be concerned with, pass rush, affecting the quarterback,
secondary, injuries, all kinds of things play into a lot of things. A team like New Orleans a week ago, they
were in the two-minute situation a lot in the second half there, they were playing hurry-up tempo so
everything was a pass. Situation of the game can dictate that as well.”
(On if he feels the team culture is set if new players were brought in) “I do believe you have to consider
the culture of the team. Anytime you get to that midseason point and you bring someone new who you
think is going to help you offensively, defensively, whatever it is. I think about the players in the locker
room. How is that going to affect them and how is it going to affect a particular room? Those are all
things we take a look at and factor in. If you are going to make a move, this player is coming in to help
you in an area of possible need or something like that. You just make sure that your guys, our culture is
strong here, so I think we could absorb something like that if it happens. I’m mindful of it as we get
closer to the deadline.”
