QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
(On his choice for the My Cause, My Cleats campaign) “I’m partnering with LIFT JAX. They work in the
East Side, Out East. It’s really a cool initiative and group where they full service try to revitalize the
community. They focus on providing housing, education, health and wellness, and then they do financial
courses and a lot of things like that. It’s a really cool thing they do, and it’s literally a couple blocks away.
I rode there on a golf cart last week, early last week to go visit with those guys and talk to them about all
the stuff they’re doing and talk about My Cause, My Cleats, why we wanted to partner with them. It’s
really cool what they’re doing over there. The East Side is such an important part of Jacksonville, and it’s
right around the corner, and I think a lot of times it gets overlooked, so it’s cool what they’re doing, and
just for me to get to be a small part of it.”
(On how he partnered with Lift Jax) “Me and my wife were looking to get more involved in the
community, and this was one of the organizations that our team here with the Jags kind of brought to
us, because when we were looking at stuff for My Cause My Cleats, we were trying to figure out what
we wanted to do, and this was on the list of different things to look at, and we checked it out, and we
really love what they’re doing over there. The fact that it kind of covers everything, like I was saying,
education, housing, health and wellness, financial literacy, all those things, it’s cool that it’s really a full
service. They’re trying to hit every part to revitalize the community, and I think it’s really cool.”
(On if he would wear them in a game if the NFL allowed it) “We can wear them this week. I’ll be wearing
them this week. These are actually two different pairs of cleats. You can see these are both right foot, so
I can’t wear them at the same time. I’m going to pick which one I want to wear. I don’t know [how I will
pick]. It depends what we’re wearing. If we’re wearing white or … They’re the same exact cleats [that I
normally wear], just painted. They’re pretty sweet though. I like these right here. I’ll wear them probably
tomorrow and Friday.”
(On why the team has been playing better in the red zone since the month started) “I think the one
thing you look at is we’re not turning it over in the red zone, and that was a big stat early, early to
middle of the season, out of four of five red zone trips we had a bunch of turnovers inside the 20, so
obviously if you turn it over, that’s a wasted possession in the red zone, so we’ve eliminated those. I
think we’ve been a lot better on first and second downs. It’s really hard to score when you get yourself
in third and long in the red zone. Teams are just going to kind of sit back, play zone, run up, make the
tackle. You can get some yards and get something back, but it’s hard to move the sticks or even get in
the end zone when you’re third and long, so I think we’ve done a good job of being ahead of the chains.
There’s other things, too, but I think those are the two main things.”
(On if he spoke with the coaches on having better decision making near the end zone and ensuring he
doesn’t throw interceptions) “We talked about it a few times. We’ve talked about it, honestly not
necessarily a ton, it’s just something that I’ve really thought about and worked on, especially in the red
zone, constantly, if it’s not there, what do I do at that point in the game? It’s so early. That game on
Sunday felt like it was two separate games, the first half and the second half. First half flew by, second
half was forever, and it’s such a long game, it’s okay to take three points there. You don’t have to be a
superhero, you don’t have to try and make a crazy play, just take the points. Obviously, you want to
score a touchdown on every red zone possession, but no one’s 100 percent in the whole season. That’s
going to happen, and you’ve just got to be smart, and I think that’s something I’m learning and we’re
doing a better job of.”
(On when he started to appreciate winning more, as he mentioned on a recent Dan Patrick show
episode) “I think both (after last season and realizing that wins are hard to come by in the NFL) I think
both. Obviously, kind of the struggles that we’ve had the past year and a half. I learned how hard it is to
win in this league compared to college. Just going back through my whole career, that was something I
really appreciate because I know what it takes. You see how much work you put in, and when you don’t
win, or you do win like on Sunday, you’re even more appreciative of the fact that you won because you
know what it took to do that even the other weeks, you put in just as much work, and you might not
win. So you’re really appreciative of really the guys that do it with you, the coaches, the players, and the
amount of work that everybody puts in because it takes a lot to win. It takes a lot.”
(On if he thinks he took it for granted when he looks back at his success) “Yeah, probably. I don’t think
it’s something you consciously do, I just think you’re so used to it, which is a good thing. You want to be
used to winning, but at the same time, it’s good to understand where you’re at and have your
perspective changed a little bit. Like I said, I’m more appreciative of it. We want to get back to that
though. I think that’s where we’re getting that confidence every week. One, we have that confidence we
can beat anybody, where we’re winning most of these games. That’s obviously the goal, and I think
we’re heading there.”
(On if his confidence level never waivers) “I wouldn’t say that. I think there’s times where you go
through some trials, and there are times you have to kind of like bring yourself back in. One, remind
yourself who you are, and I think that’s part of having good people around you. I guess my point, I know
you’re talking about some of the stuff I’ve said, it’s moreso people act like I’m a totally different person.
I’ve always been this player. There’ve been times where I haven’t played my best, and that’s kind of part
of my growth and my development, and I’ve gone through those stages, and I still have a lot to learn. I’m
not saying I’ve arrived at all. I think this game is very humbling. The second you think that you have, it
will humble you real quick. I just think that’s the only thing. People act like this is a new person. This is
who I’ve been. This is the player I’ve been, and I’m happy I’ve been really consistently performing that
way the last few weeks on the field and showing that. That’s kind of the way my mind’s working right
now, keeping that confidence. This is the same guy that I’ve been. Like I said, I haven’t always been this
consistent the past year and a half, but that’s kind of where my head’s at.”
(On the best message he received after Sunday’s game) “I saw just a couple videos, not necessarily a
message or anything, but just of my family because we had my wife’s family and my family in town for
the holidays, for Thanksgiving. We had probably like 30 people at the game. Just to see everybody, just
so excited, the videos of everybody in the stands the last couple plays of the game. Then some of our
family members who don’t get to come to a lot of games, that’s the one they got to come to. That’s
super cool, and a lot of them haven’t even been to an NFL game before, and that was the first one they
get to see, so it was a cool day, and it all came together. It sucks having that many people in town when
you lose because then you’ve got to go talk about the game and all that, but when you win, it’s
awesome because everybody got to be there and experience it. It was really cool that that was the game
that everybody got to see.”
(On having to top that next time for the family that comes to the game) “I know! My brother is an artist,
and he comes to one or two games a year. They live in South Carolina. He doesn’t watch any football
unless it’s me. He’ll sometimes watch it on TV, he’ll come to a couple games, but I was like, ‘Did you guys
have fun?’ He was like, ‘Yeah!’ because ‘Okay, if you didn’t, I don’t know what else we can do. That’s
about as good as it gets.’”
(On a couple pictures that showed him emotional and excited when usually people comment that he
shows no emotion and how he describes his emotions during games) “I don’t know honestly how to
answer that, but I’d say, I think the way I carry myself, especially standing up here after games, after
practice, whatever it is, talking to you guys, I’m just always the same. I’m always going to be really level-
headed, probably monotone, a little boring. That’s just kind of how I am. That’s just how I am. That’s the
way I carry myself. I believe that’s the best way to be in my position. I think that’s worked for me in my
career, and kind of the stuff I’ve gone through especially the past year and a half, I’ve learned how to
navigate, and I’ve always been that way, and it hasn’t come back to bite me. That’s kind of worked for
me, so that’s the way I handle myself, especially with the media. I think on the field, obviously I have
more emotions, I get fired up. This is a game. We all play with passion, with fire. It means a lot to us, so
if anyone thinks it doesn’t mean a lot to me, they’re just wrong. At the same time, I don’t have to prove
that to anyone. I don’t really care. It’s about what the guys in the locker room think, what the coaches
think. That’s really all that matters. Everyone else, they’re not on the field on Sundays, they’re not on
the field during the week practicing, so it doesn’t really matter to me. I’m always going to carry myself
this way, and I think that’s the best way to be.”
(On challenges they will have to face against the Lions’ defense this week) “They do a good job. I feel like
they’ve been playing really well, especially the last few weeks. I think they’re a really disciplined group.
They’re really physical. You can tell. I’ll talk a little bit about their coach, Coach Campbell (Head Coach
Dan Campbell). You can tell they play with that energy, that fire, they’re flying around. They’ve got guys
that just play really, really hard, and you see that on the tape for sure. In their group, they’re a really
good team. You look at what they’ve done in the past month, they’re playing really well, and honestly,
they maybe should have had one against Buffalo on Thanksgiving, too. They’re playing really well.
They’re a dangerous group. One, if you have a team that talented, but two, with some momentum and
they’re playing good right now, that’s a dangerous group, and you’ve got to be ready and prepared, and
it’s going to be the same thing every week, but they’re a really good team.”
(On parallels to their team and what he sees in their hard work) “I don’t know their locker room, their
team, everything like I know this team, as far as from the outside looking in, what I’ve seen, honestly, it
seems like they’re doing it the right way. It seems like they play with a lot of belief in each other. Like I
said, you can see just on the tape the way they fly around, they’re having fun, like I said, they have a lot
of momentum right now, they won a few in a row then had a really tight one when Buffalo came to
Detroit. They’re playing really good right now. I don’t really know what’s going on in the building, but it
looks like whatever they’re doing is working, so they’ve got something good going.”
(On what stands out about the Lions’ front seven) “Obviously Aidan (DE Aidan Hutchinson), he’s a good
player, he flies around. I think he’s got a couple interceptions on the year, I don’t know exactly how
many. He’s playing really well, makes a lot of plays, flies around, and just the whole group, including
their linebackers in that, too, just play with a lot of effort. They never quit. They fly around really good.
I’d say those are the biggest things, and that makes up for a lot of things. You can be kind of in the
wrong spot, but if you play hard and you make the play, you get there before they kind of make you pay
for it, it can cover up some stuff, and they do a really good job, they’re well-coached, their pressures.
They do a good job mixing them up, all those things. They’re a good defense.
JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 2022
(On the Lions’ offensive line being underrated) “I think you’ve got to give credit where credit is due, and
their offensive line is really good, protecting Jared (QB Jared Goff). He’s done a nice job of distributing
the football. That’s one of the things. They’ve been scoring points. That hasn’t been one of their issues.
They’re putting points on the board and on a little bit of a hot streak here recently.”
(On what stood out about DE Aidan Hutchinson during the pre-draft process) “One, great person. I got a
chance to meet him in person, just a great human being, and he’s a good football player. It’s going to be
exciting watching him all week this week but watching him in person and understanding he’s got a
bright future.”
(On what stands out now on his pro football tapes) “Moving him around a little bit, playing the edge
position and also inside, five and half sacks and getting pressures, just doing the things that we thought
he could do. He’s going to be a really good player in this league for a long time.”
(On the Lions not scoring many points last year and doing much better this year) “I just think they’re
comfortable with their system. Jared (QB Jared Goff) is obviously playing confident with the guys around
him. There are some injuries and guys have been kind of banged up, but he’s done a nice job of just
executing their offense. They’re opportunistic when the time comes. That’s what you need, and their
ability to run the football, a couple good running backs in there. I think just playing together and being
around for a second season helps.”
(On the Lions’ wide receivers) “If he (WR Jameson Williams) plays, he’s obviously a talented player. He’s
got speed. He’s long and athletic, so that’s a challenge obviously. Again, an opportunistic team, and
they’re making plays and playing with confidence. They play with a lot of energy. You see it on tape.
They fly around. It will be a great challenge for our football team.”
(On RB Travis Etienne Jr.’s chances of playing this weekend) “I feel good. It’s going to be day to day with
him. I want to make sure he’s 100 percent before we stick him out there, and he’ll go through some of
the walk through portions of practice today.”
(On how important this week is for RB Darrell Henderson Jr. if RB Travis Etienne Jr. can’t play) “It’ll be
important, spending a little extra time with him. Coach Parmalee (Running Backs Coach Bernie
Parmalee) will get him ready to go if need be. He’s a veteran guy, he’s played. It’s a matter of
understanding a little terminology. We won’t throw the whole thing at him but give him a series of plays
that he’s comfortable with.”
(On the leadership and growing confidence of the players through both wins and losses) “I feel like
we’ve talked a lot about this, but these guys, nothing really bothers them, number one. They’ve stayed
the course through hard times this season, some of the tough losses we’ve had, and they don’t seem to
get too high or too low. Obviously, they’re excited because of the win Sunday, and that’s something we
can build on. The leadership of the team has been really good that way, even from the way we practice,
the way we meet, challenging the guys that way. You get this late in the season, there’s not a lot that I
can do to really motivate the guys. We’re 13 weeks in, and it’s matter of them taking it upon
themselves, and you lean on the leadership that way.”
(On if he is surprised at how the guys have been able to stay so even-keeled through the season) “I’m
not surprised at all. Character of the football team, character of the guys, the type of men that we have
in that locker room. It doesn’t surprise me at all.”
(On how he feels when players have a never-give-up mindset) “I’ve been around this league a long time.
Anything is possible. Detroit’s in a situation, too, where they could go on a little run here and affect the
outcome of their season, too. Yes, we understand that it’s a one-game season, the importance of this
game. If you look at our schedule, we’ve got some really good opponents down the stretch here. We’ve
still got three in our own division. I love the confidence the guys have. I don’t want to take that away
from them either. If they believe that, then we’ve got to get more people believing that–coaches,
players, everybody. We understand it’s a one-game season, one-game mentality. Anything is possible.”
(On the significance of the My Cause My Cleats campaign) “With pancreatic cancer [represented on his
shoes], it brings awareness to what I dealt with my brother and going through that with my family. My
wife and I, our whole family is going to have shoes on to bring awareness to that and obviously
remember my brother during this time. Everybody’s got something they can sort of hang their hat on, a
cause of some sort. I think it’s great that the league gives the players, the coaches, the organizations a
way to honor those, whether it’s through a charity or someone personally in their family that they can
honor during this time is a really good thing.”
(On what it takes to get the whole family involved) “Not much. Just ask their shoe size.”
(On if his wife handled it all) “Yeah, my wife’s a trooper. They’re going to be back in Louisiana. My wife
handles all that. She’s a trooper.”
(On how much he got to know DE Aiden Hutchinson during the draft process) “A little bit. It’s tough to
get to know guys during that process. It’s so short and brief then even getting a top 30 visit in your
building and things like that, it’s still not enough time to get to know somebody. I’ll say this, this kid was
professional—the way he acted, the way he spoke, the way he handled his business when he was here.
You just know guys like that are going to have success in this league.”
(On if he has ever been part of any weird streaks, such as the Jaguars having 19 straight losses to NFC
teams) “I don’t think so. You’re right, I don’t get caught up in a lot of that. Different team, different
times, but those are real numbers, real stats. Those are things I don’t talk to the team a whole lot about.
We’re just focused on the Lions and preparing to be ready to go.”
(On the team’s red zone performance) “Taking care of the football, number one, I think can increase
production, obviously points, outcomes, drives and things like that. We’re going to pride ourselves like
most teams to run the football down there. It gets hard to throw the ball with some of the structure that
the defenses possess and some pressures and different things. It’s been a slow progression as the
season has gone on. We can always get better, and we have to get better down the stretch here, but the
number one thing for us is taking care of the football, which we’ve done in the last couple games.”
(On if QB Jared Goff being a veteran quarterback helps the Lions be a really good team in the red zone)
“Yeah, it’s that and just trusting the players and putting them in positions to be successful. That’s just
what the red zone is. You take care of the ball, the ball’s out on time and rhythm, and you’ve got to be
accurate and make plays.”
(On if LB Chad Muma playing 100% of the snaps and LB Devin Lloyd playing 37% was more situational to
the Ravens or more of what will be seen going forward) “A little of both. The Ravens, it’s a different run
style than what most teams conventionally do, so there was going to be some extra linebackers in the
football game. I think moving forward, I think Chad did enough in that game to give him another
opportunity. Still making sure that Devin’s ready and prepared and still having the rotation available if
need be. I think both players are in a really good place, especially headspace right now. They’re young
players, long season, six games left, and we’ve got to make sure that both of them are well-prepared as
we make these next six games.”
(On S Rayshawn Jenkins playing more of the nickel position) “It was that three safety look. You saw
Andrew (S Andrew Wingard) in there playing more safety, which put Jenkins down in the box. Again, it’s
just that unique style that Baltimore presented.”
(On his relationship with S Andrew Wingard and his role with the team) “He’s been through a lot with
this team. He’s been here now for a while and hasn’t had the success that he probably had hoped for.
He’s one of the guys that, he’s a core leader on this team. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, too, and
it’s great to see. He’s very passionate about the organization, his players, his teammates. He had a heck
of a game Sunday, came up with a big turnover in the red zone. He plays great on special teams. We ask
him to do a lot. He just means a lot to the organization, to the team, to the locker room. Just a fine
young man.”
(On how hungry guys who have been with the organization a while are to get things turned around)
“You see it with those guys. I think there’s a belief that they can get it done. Obviously, for whatever
reason, we haven’t, but you look at a win like Sunday, and the way we won, how we won, it wasn’t
perfect. There were mistakes in the game, but to finish that game. That game could have easily, you
have one turnover at the end of the game going their way, and it’s a ball game, the fumble that Trevor
(QB Trevor Lawrence) had. We haven’t been able to get those back, but in that game we did, and we
stayed on the field, we made plays down the stretch, we learned how to finish. That’s what it means to
those guys to be able to do that and see that, just feel that emotion after the game, and that’s what
you’re trying to get to each week.”
(On his confidence that QB Trevor Lawrence would throw an incomplete pass if the first read wasn’t
open on a roll-out play with at the goal line) “The confidence level was high. We had a nice
conversation.”
(On if WR Jamal Agnew’s touchdown was the same play they ran against Philly) “Same type, yes. A very
similar play, yes it was.”
(On if an exciting, vocal end to a day at training camp over the summer was indicative of the type of guy
that S Andrew Wingard is) “I don’t necessarily remember that situation. I’m sure that happened, but
yeah, that’s the type of player, the passion, the excitement that he brings to the team. He’s hard on
himself. He wants to be perfect in every way possible. He’s right, the guys want to get their reps in, too,
especially those guys who don’t get a ton of reps with maybe the starting units or whatever, but I think
that’s a great indication of who he is and how much this organization means to him and this team.”
(On if WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is a receiver has earned that respect of being a guy they would shadow on
defense) “Of course. He’s definitely done a nice job in games and made plays and somebody you’ve got
to be aware of, and if Jameson (WR Jameson Williams) is back as well, those two guys out there, it just
makes a tough combination. If the game plan warrants that Tyson follows him, then that’s what he’ll do.
We’ve got a lot of confidence in Tyson if that’s the case.”
(On if he calls this a big game) “I don’t necessarily use it in terms of a big game. I do believe that the guys
understand that it is a big game because it’s the next one. Just like them, our goals are right in front of
us, and this is a good football team. What we staff have to get across to our players is that we’re playing
a good football team, and I think they’re saying the same things. They’re playing a good football team.
We’re kind of the same in a way. I heard Coach Campbell (Head Coach Daniel Campbell) talk about that
the other day, that we’re very similar teams both playing for a lot. Just from that standpoint, you could
probably consider it in the big game category.”
