HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
(On injury updates to QB Trevor Lawrence) “Obviously, we’ve got one more day today. He’s
been very limited all week. It is trending, obviously, in a way that’s probably to not playing or
leaning towards not playing. But we’ll see today where he’s at. He felt good today and Mac’s
[QB Mac Jones] ready to go if need be.”
(On how much confidence he has in QB Mac Jones) “I’ve got a lot of confidence. He’s
somebody that prepares extremely hard, extremely well. He’s a smart kid. You go back to
even some of the preseason stuff and what he did then, as far as preparation and all that
and how he played. He’s going to be fine. He’ll be excited. Home game, home crowd, home
fans, his people, so to speak. But a lot of confidence in him.”
(On tailoring the game plan to QB Mac Jones’s playing style) “Yeah, I mean, it’s with
anybody, especially at the quarterback position. I don’t want him to be Trevor. So, we’re not
going to give him Trevor-type plays, but we’re going to give him Mac-type plays, and we want
Mac to run the offense. We’ve got enough variety that we can tailor it to him or C.J. [QB C.J.
Beathard] or Trevor or whoever’s playing. But this is what I appreciate about all our
quarterbacks and this week—if it is Mac—just his communication with us, right? What he
likes, doesn’t like and his comfort level.”
(On his philosophy that if a player doesn’t practice during the week, it is not the ideal
setting to play them in a game) “It’s part of it. Yes. Yeah. That’s why I said it’s trending the
other way. So, it’s hard. I think that’s something I learned last year. With the quarterback
too, if you’re not getting the reps during the week, it’s just hard to go in. It’s with any player,
but I think at the quarterback position especially.”
(On if Lawrence will require surgery) “I would leave that up to the medical professionals. I’m
not a doctor. I’m not going to speculate on that.”
(On if surgery has been talked about) “No.”
(On if there are plans to move Lawrence to injured reserve) “Not at this point. Again, the
severity of it, I don’t get into all the medical side of it. So, I don’t really know all of that. I
don’t have a PhD after my name.”
(On if he’s hopeful that Lawrence will return) “Yeah, you’re always optimistic that any player
can return, especially the quarterback. So, we’ll see as each week and each day goes by.”
(On Jones’s relationship with the other players helping the transition) “You know what, it
does. That and he’s been a starter in this league, right? He’s done that. It’d be different
probably if it was a rookie, a true rookie that was having to maybe play, and you’re trying to
get that person ready. But with Mac, this week I’ve seen it with just the conversation and
how he’s worked with the offense in practice and the reps he’s gotten and the
communication there. So yeah, it’s different. But at the same time, I think it does, for a
coach, give you a little bit of peace of mind that this is a veteran player that has kind of
been there and done it.”
(On if that’s why he brought Jones to Jacksonville) “Exactly. And it’s a great opportunity if he
plays.”
(On how much the team’s record plays into Lawrence’s timeframe for healing) “It’s kind of a
hard question to answer, I think, because by no means, whatever happens in this football
game, I just don’t think you’re going to throw in the towel. I mean, that’s not how I operate.
It’s not how these players have operated. You go into every football game trying to win that
game. So, it’s hard to say. But it’s something, I guess, for a future conversation.”
(On if it will be strange to see Vikings T Cam Robinson) “Yeah. It’ll be different. I’m looking
forward to that matchup with he and Josh [DE Josh Hines-Allen]. I’m sure there’ll be some
words exchanged on the field. But it’s all in competition. But listen, I appreciate Cam. Two
years, two-and-a-half years here, drafted here. He’s done a lot here for this organization, so
it’ll be good to see him.”
(On if the team was hesitant to send Robinson to a team on the future schedule) “No. No.”
(On WR Gabe Davis’s status) “Looks great.”
(On if he believes Davis will be available for the game) “I believe so. I believe so. We’ll see
today. Red-zone day, and see how he performs, but he’s been good, feeling good. So again,
I’m optimistic that he’ll go.”
(On which players are likely to be out for Sunday vs. Minnesota) “Probably two right now.
Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland] and Maason [DT Maason Smith] probably just because Maason’s
still probably a week and Ezra’s probably another week too. When I say Maason, could be
ready next week. So those two right now, as far as injury goes. You get Dewey [S Andrew
Wingard] back in the mix. Obviously, special teams guy, safety. Duvernay [WR Devin
Duvernay] comes back this week, he’s looked good this week. So barring, again, setbacks,
that should be good for us this week.”
(On Duvernay’s role in the offense given injuries in the receiver room) “I think he’ll have a
bigger role now that the guys are banged up, right? More than just returner out there. So
again, Devin is a pro. He prepares, he gets himself ready to go and I would anticipate him
playing a little bit more on offense.”
(On if the team will list Lawrence’s game status as questionable) “Probably. I’ll lean on
what the medical staff says.”
(On who will be the backup swing guard) “Well, [OL] Luke Fortner and he can play guard,
center. We’ve cross-trained him really through the course of camp and now. Then, if need
be, Cole [OL Cole Van Lanen], Cole can play that spot as well.”
(On if the team is down to their last two guards) “Yes. Well, and [OL] Steven Jones. Steven is
sitting there on the practice squad. But on the 53, yes.”
(On the ways a non-throwing shoulder injury may affect a quarterback) “Probably how he
carries his duffel bag into the stadium. I don’t know. Look, I mean, I’ve had a left shoulder
back when I played. It affects if you want to throw, pulling your shoulder through. You don’t
want to get hit. Obviously, it’s your lead shoulder. You don’t want to get hit on it. All that kind
of stuff, protect on it, fall on it. But throwing-wise, it’s not necessarily going to affect it too
much. It’s kind of a pain tolerance deal.”
(On if WR Brian Thomas Jr. is progressing through his injury) “He is. I really appreciate BT.
Toughness with this kid. When it happened a couple of weeks ago, he didn’t miss a whole
lot of practice time. We limited him, but tough kid. He fought through it the last couple of
weeks. But he’s progressing well.”
