HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023
(On the status of QB Trevor Lawrence in the concussion protocol) “I’m not at liberty to speculate with
head injuries, so I can’t say one way or the other.”
(On if the coaches were able to pinpoint what play QB Trevor Lawrence got hurt on) “I think it was
obviously the scramble play, I think it was the last one that he got hit on potentially. It’s hard to say, but
he continued to play the rest of the game and then he self-disclosed after the game to our doctors and
our trainers.”
(On if he noticed QB Trevor Lawrence being so off-target on the last four passes of the game) “Well, I felt
like even with the hit, I thought it was more of his shoulder because of the way the hit looked. It did
affect him the next couple of throws, there wasn’t a lot on it. As he played through it, it got better.”
(On if QB Trevor Lawrence has a shoulder injury too) “No, no that was my observation.”
(On if QB Trevor Lawrence could’ve gotten a head injury earlier in the game) “I don’t know, I really don’t
know. He was fine throughout the whole game.”
(On what went wrong in yesterday’s game on offense) “We had fumble at the 20, we didn’t score before
the half. We missed two field goals. I think a handful of pre-snap penalties. To me, you put up 181 yards
in the first half, on a really good defense and you do some really good things. But then we do some
dumb things. To me, that’s the ballgame. At least, keeping us in the game.”
(On being in control of offensive mistakes) “Yeah, you’ve got to hang onto the football. You got to make
your kicks. We can’t jump offsides when we’re at home. Those are all things that we can control.”
(On how to coach bad mistakes) “We’re still in first place I think, fourth in the AFC. We’ve got a chance to
accomplish a goal that we set out to do, that’s to win the AFC South. Obviously, we’re making it hard on
ourselves but we have to stay focused on that. I think so much sometimes we focus on the negative all
the time and not the positive, we’ve got to find the good too and fill our player’s heads with positive this
time of year. We feel like we’re still a good football team, we’ve played like it at times. It’s just at times
we don’t look very good. Last night was offensively didn’t look very good at times. There were moments
of playing with anybody out there. It’s all things in our control, control what you can control. That’s just
what we have to do and it’s not a situation where, I think one of the reporters last night asked me are
you gripping the bat too tight. We can’t do that. We can’t begin to panic, begin to press, we got to
continue to play, practice hard, and make a conscious effort to correct things we can.”
(On difficulty of bringing players positive energy the day after a loss) “It’s hard. It’s hard to fill myself with
positive energy because you lose a game. You lose it in a fashion we’ve lost these last three, that’s the
disheartening thing. Yeah, my job is to point out the bad, but I think I have to flip it around too at the end
of the message, it has to be positive. This is what is ahead of us, our goals are still in front of us. Let’s
continue to work hard, let’s support each other, let’s lift each other up, let’s stick together. All those
types of messages of the team. Everybody is hurting, everybody is disappointed. But at the same time,
our goals are still right in front of us.”
(On if he liked what he saw from the defense last night) “I did. Gosh, through three quarters, it’s a 10-7
ballgame. Defense was playing really good. That’s a good offense too, that’s a dynamic quarterback and
they’re going to make some plays. They did, but I thought defensively, we came away with 3.0 sacks, we
had the one takeaway, it wasn’t until later in the game that the rushing yards began to pile up. Of course,
Lamar [Ravens QB Lamar Jackson] had 97 or so yards himself. That’s who he is. The defense really kept us
in the game, I thought we were physical up front. The backend did a nice job of covering the receivers
and we were much more disciplined in our gap integrity, our gap assignments. So, yeah I felt good about
the defense.”
(On if WR Parker Washington ran a deep enough route to end the first half) “No, it was just a flat route. It
was right to the flat. In that situation, the intent is if you can score, score. If not, you throw it away. You
either give yourself an opportunity to run another play if time permits or you kick the field goal. It’s just
a great teaching moment again for us to go back through that situation and coach that up. I don’t know if
Parker this season has been in that situation, Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] has, it’s the same play that we
scored against them last year when we hit [WR] Marvin Jones [Jr.] in the back of the endzone. It’s the
exact same play. That’s the intent of that play.”
(On what more can be done after losing consistently) “Keep coaching it, keep talking to them about it.
Hold them accountable at practice, hold them accountable in the meeting rooms. Just keeping working
it, keep working the snap count in practice. If I’ve got to crank the noise, I’ll crank the noise. I got to find
those ways of keeping our guys locked in moments like that.”
(On if the team needs one great gain to knock out the negativity of losing) “That would be the ideal
thing, right? Just to try to play a clean game and that’s rare that you’re going to play a clean game.
There’s always going to be things that come up. You want to play well and win, right? Right now, we
haven’t done that enough, consistently enough. But like I said, I think the guys see the mistakes, we
continue to point out the mistakes. But we also got to point out the good and let them know that there
is a lot of positive out there as well, show them that too. As coaches, we’re not always harping on the
negativity. It seems like that’s the easy thing to do. You want to make sure that your guys are engaged
each week, they’re energized each week, and they’ve got hope and you’re not just trying to squash that
dream.”
(On if he felt it was more productive to throw the ball than run yesterday) “It was a little of both. I think
yeah, you could probably if you’re sitting here on a Monday and armchair quarterback you could
probably say run the ball more. Then there’s weeks you sit here and say, well you should’ve thrown the
ball more. Sometimes, you get in the game and the personnel can dictate certain things, how they’re
matching different personnel groups. It’s conducive to throw or to run in those situations. The hard thing
too, when you do run the ball and you’re not productive enough on first down let’s call it, now you’re
second-and-11, second-and-12. You’re putting the ball in the air a lot more and you’re hesitant maybe
the next first down to come back to the run. There are a few things that kind of go through your mind as
play callers and as coaches, but I think it’s a little bit of both. I think it’s the matchups that you see and
yes, I think sometimes we can get away from it.”
(On if anyone on the sideline mentioned to him about QB Trevor Lawrence’s head injury before they
were aware) “No.”
(On how the offensive line performed with OL Ezra Cleveland and OL Walker Little) “They played well and
they played hurt. Walker Little battled through, he was dealing with his hamstring and played tough,
played through it. Ezra coming off the week in Cleveland where he tweaked his knee there. He battled
through it, both guys were kind of hobbling at the end of the game, but they’re tough guys. I thought
they played really well, they held up really good. As a whole in pass protection, we gave up the 1.0 sack,
but I thought they did a nice job. Pockets were clean.”
(On confidence of knowing the offensive line can play well despite injuries) “I think it gives you all of the
confidence in the world moving forward. Again, we’ve got to lean on them. That’s what you do this time
of year. We have to continue to find the good plays that we can come back to in the run game, but yet
still have gameplan’s, specific things that we’re going to do. We’ve got to lean on them, every week now
moving forward.”
(On WR Jamal Agnew’s performance in his first game back from injury) “Yeah, Ags did a great job in the
return game. Obviously, the one 65-yard reception on offense, it was just a great play and all of that. He
played physical in the return game. I thought his first game back in awhile was very productive for him.”
(On OLB Travon Walker having his most impactful game so far) “Yeah, I thought he played really well. He
was able to collapse the pocket, he was around the quarterback quite a bit. Chasing some plays down
from behind, I just thought he played the type of ball that he’s very capable of playing. Something to
build off of and build from with him. I even thought the whole d-line as a group played well, controlled
the line of scrimmage for most of the game.”
(On if DT DaVon Hamilton had his best game back from injury) “Yeah, he’s continuing to improve each
week. He can still get better obviously, and he knows that. I thought he was another one that is making
progress with his setback that he had early in the season.”
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JOSH ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023
(On how he feels about trying to stay in a positive mindset) “I thought it was a great message he gave to
the team this morning of staying positive. We obviously know that we didn’t play good enough, that’s
where you hold yourself accountable for the things you have done wrong. If we can build on the positive
things that we’re doing and positive things we have done, and correct the mistakes that you have made,
I think there’s a way to find and improve on that. I thought it was a great message and I think it kind of
lifted people’s spirits. We don’t want to pacify anything, obviously we lost the game. It doesn’t matter if
we played tough or gritty, we lost the game at the end of the day. To understand that we still in a great
place, we still have a great opportunity for us to win this next one. We have to do everything we can to
do it, and that’s eliminating the small things.”
(On how it felt to bounce back this game after recent performances) “It’s ups and downs because you
look our performance from last week compared to this week, was much better. The last two weeks
actually compared to this week was much better. Then, when we’re competing against another team,
you look at that defense and you look that team held our team to zero points in the first half compared
to us. It’s like, was that good enough? It’s always, we did good in this area, we did better, we did better,
but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t enough to get the job done. Obviously, it’s a team sport and
everybody has to click and we understand that, but for us to do our parts a little bit better, there was still
room to improve. To see guys go out there and challenge themselves, I know Coach Pederson [Head
Coach Doug Pederson] and Coach Caldwell [Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell] challenges us to see
what type of character we are going to bring this week. I think we all stood tall, but when you look at it,
again, you look at the other side of the ball. That was the number one defense in the league that held
our offense to zero points. Yet we had little mistakes here and there, they held a team to zero points. We
want to get to that part of playing great defense. We continue to do that, continue to grow, continue to
get better, continue to be confident, continue to trust each other. I think we can get back to where we
once were.”
(On if it’s hard to move on from multiple losses in a row) “It definitely gets frustrating to a point. At the
end of the day, you have to move on because you keep dwelling on the past, then the past is going to
keep coming up. You have to learn from your own mistakes. I think communication was our problem the
last two weeks on the defensive side of the ball. This week, we overly communicate. We started in
practice, flew around to the ball, communicated right and it carried onto the game. It’s the little things
that we want to correct in practice that we want to improve on. This week is more technique things, we
can play this technique a little bit better. Let’s focus on these and grow in this aspect so when we do see
it, we know how to handle it a little bit better. We can play faster and physical up front and really just
attack more.”
(On how holding each other accountable has been seen throughout the team) “If you really love and you
really believe in the person next to you, when that person doesn’t do his job, you let that person know.
Instead of waiting until we get on film and say, ‘Oh man, I should’ve told you’ or ‘You’ve got to play that
better.’ As soon as you see it, you address it and I think this week, we’ve held a lot of people
accountable. That’s nothing negative in my ways. Yeah, the message may sound crazy, but it’s the words
that are coming out are all good intent. We’re in the heat of the battle, things are going to be said, but if
we all listen with that intent of, ‘He doesn’t want anything bad for me’, we can all grow from that. We
trust each other, we love each other, we can have these conversations and now we just need it a little bit
more all around. That’s where you see the leadership comes up. Doug [Head Coach Doug Pederson] talks
about we’re a player-lead team. The guys in leadership roles need to take accountability for the guys
around them and to motivate those guys to bring your butt on and catch up.”
(On how the locker room will handle the unknown of QB Trevor Lawrence playing this week) “We all
want 16 out there, but it is what it is. It’s the same thing if Ray [S Rayshawn Jenkins] doesn’t play. Next
person up. It’s all equal opportunities out there. I think whoever, if he does play, that’s great. If he
doesn’t play, I think C.J. [QB C.J. Beathard] or Nate [QB Nathan Rourke] or whoever trots out there for
the first play of the game is going to be prepared and ready to play. If we can do that, if everybody is on
the same page, nothing is really waivered. We can get into that groove; we find a way to win this game.
That’s what I’m excited about. As a defense, we handle what we need to handle, and we play great
defense. Outcome is the outcome.”
(On how quickly a locker room can flip back to high spirits with winning) “You just got to make your
plays. We talk about making the plays that come to you and being where your feet are. When a play
presents your way, you make that play. You get energy, you celebrate, we all celebrate, and we feed off
that energy. We feed off that momentum and that’s what we need more of. On every side of it, DT [S
Daniel Thomas] on the special teams play. That was a huge play, backed up on the three-yard line and to
get a returner, he’s going against two people, to make a play for a zero-yard gain, that is an incredible
play. That gave us momentum, so let’s feed off that energy. Little things like that, Rid [WR Calvin Ridley]
makes a big play, Travis [RB Travis Etienne Jr.] makes a big run, move the sticks, move the sticks. Ev [TE
Evan Engram] makes a big play, move the sticks. As a defense, they’re moving the ball. Even if they don’t
score, we’re going to be put in a great position to get field position. It’s all about momentum, catching
momentum, just riding that wave. That’s all it is, and we have to do a better job on that. Once we hit our
wave, we have to believe and trust in each other, have confidence in each other. If we can play with that,
I think we’ll put ourselves in the best position.”
(On if he’s thought about breaking the franchise record for most sacks in a single season) “I think about it
too much. I’ve got to stop thinking about it. I’ve got to stop thinking about it, just go out there and play
football.”
(On if OLB Travon Walker played his most complete game last night) “No, I think Tray can play better.
Hopefully, if he was up here saying anything, he would say he can play better. The consistency to areas to
improve each week, those are the signs that we need for him to take those steps. I would say the best
players need to make the best plays. He’s one of our best players on defense and he has to make plays.
We expect that from him, we’re never surprised when he does make a play, we just expect more. Just
like me, they expect me to make those plays and when my play comes to me, I’m going to make it, same
way with Tray. When his play comes, he has to make it. Ray [S Rayshawn Jenkins], when his play came,
he makes his play. Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun], Devin [LB Devin Lloyd], all our guys. For him, he’s just
played his part in the system that he was meant to do. I think there’s still room to improve, that’s
another way of holding each other accountable. It was one play where I thought he didn’t do it right. For
me, I saw what I saw so I got on him. But it wasn’t the message of what I was saying, it was the words
that were coming out. It’s something that we practiced, it’s something that we did. Then, once we
explained it to me, we kind of dialogued in it and were like, okay. Well next time you do it, let’s do it like
that. Then, everything was just free. It’s just little things like that, but I love him. I’m going to tell him
right because I want him to be great. We continue to have that trust within each other, have that trust
within your group, have that trust within your unit, and hopefully that can carry on and it can show on
the offensive side of the ball. You have the one person that keeps making plays and making plays and just
trust each other, have confidence and go out there and play fast.”
(On when consistent errors become a problem every week) “That’s a great question. We have to play
with our hair on fire.”
HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023
(On injury update of QB Trevor Lawrence) “Still in the [concussion] protocol, progressing well. But we
have to follow the steps, we can’t skip anything. He’s still in, yeah.”
(On injury update of WR Zay Jones) “Zay is getting better, strength is good but still week to week.”
(On injury updates of CB Tyson Campbell, S Andre Cisco, OL Ezra Cleveland and OL Walker Little) “Yeah,
they [OL Ezra Cleveland and OL Walker Little] are good, they came out of the game sore, but they came
out fine. They’re fine. Both Tyson and Cisco will practice today, get them back out there so hopefully they
continue to progress and we’ll see where they’re at.”
(On if the rest of the team is healthy) “Yes, running backs are good. Jamal [WR Jamal Agnew] was good.
The O-linemen were good. Zay [WR Zay Jones] was probably the only one and then Trevor [QB Trevor
Lawrence].”
(On if there’s a certain percentage he shoots for of red zone efficiency) “Well, one hundred percent
would be great. Realistically, you’d love to be 80-plus percent to get in the red zone. That’s probably
high, but our goal is to score touchdowns in the redzone each week. If you can come away with three,
obviously that’s good too, but our biggest issues have been the turnovers down there. That’s the thing
that’s kept us, I think, from having a little bit better scoring percentage this year.”
(On painful turnovers in the redzone) “Any turnover is painful, but especially down there. When you
have a little drive going and you’re at the 20-yard line going in, they’re all painful.”
(On difficulty of navigating concussion protocol with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Yeah, you’ve got to follow the
steps. It’s really based on symptoms and how he feels. If he can sit in a meeting and tolerate a meeting,
it’s okay. If not, then we don’t put him in there because you’re stimulating the brain. It’s just based on
symptoms. If it’s his knee or ankle, he’s in those meetings and he’s getting the gameplan and listening
and all of that. You just got to do it really case by case.”
(On where QB Trevor Lawrence’s concussion symptoms are) “I can’t disclose head injuries and where
people are.”
(On making a tough decision at quarterback if QB Trevor Lawrence is healthy later in the week) “It’s a
tough decision. The number one thing is making sure he’s one hundred percent and he has been cleared
by all of the specialists. Then you have to make a decision as a team and see where he’s at too. It
definitely makes it harder.”
(On if QB Trevor Lawrence gets testing done once a day) “Correct.”
(On why the running game hasn’t been as relevant in recent games) “I think probably the one that sticks
out is just the lack of consistent players, meaning the same guys in the same positions, for the whole
season. Same left guard, same left tackle, center, guard, that whole thing. There’s so much timing that
goes on up front and now we’ve introduced a new player with Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland] to our scheme.
Not a rookie, but a veteran player. New to our scheme. Walker [OL Walker Little] has been playing guard,
he’s been playing tackle, he’s being bounced around. It’s hard for those guys to get into a rhythm. I think
that’s where it starts up there. Secondly, I just think our ability to finish blocks and sustain blocks. It’s
been no shortage of good defensive fronts. We’re playing some good teams. It’s no excuse for us not to
continue to sustain and move people. Our guys take pride in doing that. The other element, too, is the
running backs. Making sure that we detail with them and anticipate where this hole should be on this
particular run, where it may go. Some of it, too, there’s advantage type throws. There’s throws where
the quarterback can pick it up and throw it. You’ve seen those lateral throws, where those are runs that
he has the opportunity to go down sometimes as passes, but that’s really a run. We haven’t been real
good, especially the last couple of weeks, in some of that.”
(On burden on QB Trevor Lawrence to not get the running game going) “It’s tough, because it takes away
a little bit from your play action, some of the movement stuff you want to do, screen game. It’s
something we’ve got to continue to work at, we’ve got to continue to get better. I’ve said this before, we
can keep going back to some of the concepts that have been successful for us. We do that, just so our
guys can not think about a lot of things and just go and play.”
(On if the team may need just a spark to get out of the losing streak) “Yeah, it’s figuring out how to win a
game right now. Everybody has to pay attention to their job and just do what they’ve been asked to do,
coaches and players. We try to keep it simple so they can play and play fast. Somewhere, somebody
making a play like last week when Jenk [S Rayshawn Jenkins] gets the interception, but we don’t
capitalize as an offense type of thing. We don’t go searching for them, but we need to make the ones
that show up and present themselves. Sometimes, it may not be pretty, but if you can figure out a way to
get it done, it helps you.”
(On what he’s thought of Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield’s performance this season) “I thought he’s been
playing really well. He’s gotten better as the season has gone on, some of his statistical numbers, he’s
getting the ball out of his hand extremely fast. It does slow down pass rush when you can do that,
especially in the third-and-short, medium range. He’s trusting his guys down the field and they’re making
plays for him. He’s not turning the ball over, so all those things are in his favor and are helping. He’s
playing well.”
(On if it’s too soon to feel desperate in the season) “I don’t know if you ever want to feel desperate. I
think you’ve got to feel a sense of urgency, you’ve got to feel like your back is against the wall a little bit.
It’s just time to go play. I don’t think you ever want to be desperate, because then, you do things out of
character.”
(On a word to describe the team’s recent performances) “That’s my word with them, I won’t tell you.”
(On if the current challenges are more mental or physical) “It’s a little both. It’s a physical game and
you’re going to get beat. That’s just football, you’re going to get beat from time to time. I think it’s the
mental from the standpoint of just understanding your role, understanding your job. Look, every
offensive player out there, skill position guy, they know they’re not supposed to turn the ball over. Duh.
To us, that’s the most prized possession on the field, the football. We know that. It’s a little more
concentration, it’s a little more focus, it’s a little more attention to detail when you’re in traffic and out in
space, the ball security, it’s where it becomes second nature for our guys. The physical part of it, guys are
going to get beat. It happens. They make plays, we’re going to make plays. It’s just the ebb and flow of
the game.”
(On if it’s hard to snap out of a losing streak) “When you really look at it, there’s been times where you
go back to the Cincinnati game. We had a chance to win that game, we didn’t, but we had a chance to
win it with the kick late in the game and then the kick to win the game. Cleveland, four turnovers in that
game. Miscommunication gave up some explosions offensively by them. Then this past week, same
thing. In each game, you see a lot of good things happen, but it’s the negatives that are maximized.
Those are the glaring issues. That’s what’s kept us from feeling better about ourselves at this stage. It’s a
mentality, it’s a mindset that sometimes enough is enough and you’ve just got to take pride in the
opportunities you get.”
(On if he’s worried about the confidence of the team) “No.”
(On any advantage to declaring QB C.J. Beathard to start earlier in the week) “Well, I think there’s an
advantage to C.J. if you came out and said he’s the guy. You always leave the door open for the chance
that Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] clears. This has nothing to do with C.J. or the backup quarterbacks, but
you want your starter to play, especially at the quarterback position. I think that’s a given. At the same
time, internally, you prepare and C.J. does a great job of preparation. He knows the situation. It’s the life
of a backup. I spent eight years behind a guy that you never knew if he gets hurt, but he always bounced
back and seemed to play the next week. I get it. It’s tough. The guys know and they prepare no
differently.”
(On who has taken advantage of the next man up mentality on the offensive line) “I’ll say two guys really
stick out. One is Anton [OL Anton Harrison], as a rookie right tackle, he’s faced a lot of great defensive
ends this year and he’s gotten better each week. Each week, he settles in and it’s probably the most
football he’s played in a long time going back to his college days. He’s done a nice job as a rookie and has
settled in. I think the other one coming in as a new player is Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland]. I think he’s really
embraced the opportunity, now he’s playing a little bit hurt, but he’s really done a nice job for us and has
shown that he’s very capable of stepping in and filling in at that spot.”
QUARTERBACK C.J. BEATHARD
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023
(On if this week is any different than weeks when QB Trevor Lawrence has been questionable) “No, to
me it’s the same. I’m taking a lot more reps in practice and stuff, but I’m preparing the same way. You got
to prepare as if you’re going to be going, and hopefully Trevor clears concussion protocol by the end of
this week for sure.”
(On how to balance uncertainty of playing or not throughout his career) “A lot of practice at it, I think.
Whether it’s here or where I used to be, I think the mindset of being in my seventh year in the league,
I’ve had a lot of experience. Even in games where the starter isn’t banged up or whatever, just preparing
like you might have to go into the game. That’s just what you have to do. At this point, it’s really just a
mindset and I feel like this year I’ve actually gotten to practice a lot more in years past as far as with the
starters when Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] missed a couple of practices here and there. It’s only
benefitted me and helped me in the long run of just getting reps with certain guys and that kind of stuff.”
(On significance of getting more reps in practice) “Yeah, it helps a lot. You can’t see me throwing an out
route or go route to Calvin [WR Calvin Ridley] with the speed he has and the way he runs routes.
Definitely helps getting routes with the starting guys in there.”
(On when QB Trevor Lawrence clears concussion protocol affecting how he approaches the week) “Again,
it doesn’t. It’s the same, right now I’m preparing as if I am going to be playing on Sunday. If tomorrow or
Friday or whenever that day comes if he clears it, that’s great news for us. Right now, I’m preparing as if
I’ll have to go Sunday and see. Hopefully, he clears protocol by the end of the week.”
(On if he’s ever gone through concussion protocol) “I have not, no.”
(On if his shoulder is feeling better from a few weeks ago) “Yeah, definitely. It’s progressively gotten
better over the last few weeks for sure.”
(On how much he leans on his last starting quarterback experiences in San Francisco) “Yeah, I think it
helps just knowing the last several times I’ve been out there, it did go well. It was kind of crazy to think
that was back in 2020, so it’s still three years ago. It doesn’t feel like three years because you base it off
of playing time. It doesn’t feel like that was three years ago. I’ve learned a lot over the three years since
then and it’s helped me. Hopefully, I’d like to think I’ve gained a lot of experience from the sidelines and
practice and everything, even since then. Again, I know each game and each situation presents its’ own
set of circumstances, whatever that may be.”
(On if his family is attending the game) “Probably not, no. It’s Christmas Eve, they’re not going to be
flying to Tampa and trying to get back before Santa Claus makes it in town.”
(On if players are okay with playing on a holiday) “I think we’re cool with it, but most guys and a lot of
guys do have families and I think playing on Christmas Day isn’t as sought-after. I think having a Thursday
Night game this week, you hit the jackpot for sure like we did last year. We were all pretty fired up about
that just because you do get to spend Christmas with your family and stuff. At the end of the day too,
same with Thanksgiving games, you want to play in those games because you know everybody is
watching on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everyone is going to be tuned in at their house and watching
whatever games are on. That’s pretty cool feeling to know in itself as well.”
(On if there’s a lot of plays him and QB Trevor Lawrence equally like) “Yeah, we have a lot of similarities
in what we like and it makes it easy for Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] and Doug [Head Coach
Doug Pederson] and those guys to gameplan it and scheme it. We like a lot of the same stuff and you
don’t have to change a ton of things.”
(On if he gets excited about the potential of playing) “Yeah, you see a lot of backups around the league
and there’s been a lot of them that have played this year, I’d say more than most years. I think I’ve
learned from experience, you can’t get overexcited, you just got to stay even keeled through it all. You
truly don’t know what’s going to happen. Then, like Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, you’re in one
phase of the game, then all the sudden by the flip of a switch you have to totally change your mindset
and you’re in there. You just prepare in the same way, you’re not getting overexcited, you’re just trying to
do the best you can to help us win the next game. Whether it’s today in practice, tomorrow in practice or
being out there on Sunday, whatever that is, I know practicing today will help us win on Sunday even if
it’s not me in there playing. But to some extent, it’s going to help us get a victory on Sunday. I take pride
in that for sure.”
(On if he’s spoken to QB Trevor Lawrence this week) “Yeah, he’s doing better. He’s been in the building
today. I got to talk to him and hang out with him today, so he’s doing good.”
(On if he’s had a concussion before) “I have not. Not in the NFL.”
(On if you can still talk to people and function with a concussion) “Yeah, I think it’s more headache type
of stuff, maybe feeling tired or foggy or that type of thing. You’re functioning as a normal person, it’s
nothing crazy about that side of things.”
JAGUARS SIGN QB E.J. PERRY TO THE PRACTICE SQUAD
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed QB E.J. Perry to their practice squad, the team announced today.
Perry originally signed with the Jaguars in May of 2022 and spent the season on the team’s practice squad. He was waived by the Jaguars in March 2023 and claimed by the Houston Texans. Throughout 2023, he’s spent time with both the Texans and Michigan Panthers (USFL).
The Andover, Mass. native played collegiately at Boston College (2017-2018) and Brown (2019-2021). In his collegiate career at Brown, Perry completed 546 passes for 5,981 yards and 45 touchdowns across 20 games.
