HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
(On signing QB John Wolford to the practice squad) “He’s been in the league. He’s been on
some good teams. Somebody that can, with Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] obviously not
practicing being in the protocol right now, having a third guy here to be on the
developmental practice squad to help kind of give a look to the defense and for us too to
put our eyes on him and see what he can do.”
(On his reaction to Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension) “It’s honestly
probably not my place to speak necessarily on the punishment. I think that’s the league
issue on that. As far as Azeez goes and everything, good player. I think just a play that
somehow we need to try to get the play out of the game if possible. Obviously, I stand
behind our guys for the reaction. I think it’s a natural reaction. I think for all of us that have
watched sporting events over our lifetimes, things like this happen. The team is going to
respond. So, for guys to respond to Trevor in that way, and the hit, I support them and all of
that. But at the same time, listen, I say that to say this: we’ve got to somehow eliminate
these plays. These are plays that can change outcomes of games. I’ll say this, both teams
were very professional in the second half. It was a clean football game in the second half. It
was still a hard, physical football game in the second half, so that’s a credit to both teams
as well. But I think it will be something that’s looked at. I know there’s a lot of—it’s offensive
guys versus defensive guys when it comes to the QB sliding and getting out of bounds and
things of that nature. They’ve even modified the rule for sideline hits and things like that.
We coach our quarterbacks to protect themselves. Get down when they can. That was
obviously a second-down play, and it ended up being a third-and-inches play. We just
continue to coach our guys and show them ways to protect themselves and go from there.
As far as the punishment and all that, I’d leave that in the league’s hands.”
(On if he was surprised by Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans saying the Jaguars’ sideline
overreacted to the hit) “I was a little surprised. Look, I’ve got a ton of respect for DeMeco.
He’s a former player, I’m a former player. Emotions run high. I would say that if it happened
to their quarterback, I think the reaction would’ve been the same, quite frankly. But again,
look, this was three days ago and we’re onto Tennessee obviously and focused on that. But
I do think the reaction is a natural thing for any player, any team to feel.”
(On what growth he’s seen from Titans QB Will Levis from last season to now) “I think the
biggest for him, young quarterback, is the fact that he’s playing and getting the bulk of the
reps. He’s got a really good arm, he’s athletic. You go back and just watch, obviously, the
three games they won, but there’s a lot of games that he’s had that team in position to win,
much like us, so very similar situation. But he continues to improve, he’s a great leader on
that team. You see that. Somebody that too can throw the ball down the field. Good arm
strength. So, something you’ve got to be especially aware of.”
(On Referee Land Clark’s postgame comments stating that the officials do not issue
warnings during the game) “The officials told us that it was a no tolerance. I don’t
necessarily know the transcript there, what he was mentioning. Both sides were—it was
basically like, listen guys, we’ve got to keep our heads in the second half. And both sides
did.”
(On former Jaguars players saying they thought the team did not respond enough after
halftime) “I don’t know what that means. Listen, it’s a hard, physical, tough game to play.
You’ve got to be a tough, physical individual to play this sport—I don’t care what position—
to play football. We’re not out to hurt anybody. We’re not out to ruin careers. We’re out to
win a football game and play hard within the rules. That’s our job. That’s how we coach it,
that’s how we play it. Do we take it to the line? Yeah, we take it to the line, but more often
than not these games come down to just a couple of plays. Again, it was the case on
Sunday. We did not make enough plays to really help our team win. If they’re asking or
suggesting we go after someone, we’re not doing that. Flat out. We are not doing that. It’s
not how I coach. It’s not how I’m going to coach these teams, these players. We’re just
going to go out and do our jobs. Play hard, play fast, play physical within the rules.”
(On QB Mac Jones’s improvement and his growing comfort in his role) “I thought I saw a lot
of improvement. Somebody that really came in, and I think he’s learned from the two
previous starts that he had, and really just ran the offense. Ran it like he knows how to run
it, like what it looks like to him. I think that’s something we can build on this week. It looks
like with Trevor being in the protocol it’s that going route. But if he does play, then there’s a
trend in the right direction. We just want Mac to be Mac. Don’t have to do anything special,
just make the plays that come to him. Deliver the football where it needs to go, put us in the
right run if we need to, change protection. All of that stuff he’s capable of doing. I thought
he did a nice job of that Sunday. We had the two drives there for touchdowns, the two-point
conversion obviously. He sees the field extremely well. Great communication on the
sideline. All things that have shown us that he’s very capable to lead this team.”
(On the Titans’ defensive line) “It’s one of the best we’re going to see all year, quite frankly.
They’re big, they’re powerful. Their two tackles, [Titans DT] Jeffery Simmons is one of the
best tackles in the NFL. Sweat’s [Titans NT T’Vondre Sweat] another one that’s a rookie but
he’s learning. He’s a load. And we know Arden [Titans OLB Arben Key]. Arden is very
athletic. Speed-rusher and plays with a lot of energy. But this front is going to be one of the
better ones we’ve seen.”
(On why the Titans’ pass defense is top five in the NFL) “I think it’s a zone scheme until you
get to third down. They’ll mix some man-coverages on third. But really all eyes on the
quarterback, all eyes on the football. They do a great job of just kind of being where they
need to be. But again, it starts up-front. They’re very disruptive up-front. Landry’s [Titans
OLB Harold Landry III] another one that can get after the passer. They can play with five
down, they can play with four down, mix their fronts, pressures, timely pressures. It just
disrupts the timing of the quarterback-receiver. That’s what they do well.”
(On if there is concern for P Logan Cooke and LS Ross Matiscik’s health this week) “Both
are on the injury report obviously. Both guys won’t practice today, so we just need to get the
reps from that position. So, these two guys [P Matt Haack and LS Tucker Addington], we
brought them in to fill that need.”
(On if he will impose disciplinary measures on CB Jarrian Jones) “I won’t. I won’t do
anything with him.”
(On if there is concern about the players’ motivation in the final stretch of the season with
no playoff incentive) “I don’t, because that’s up to me. That’s up to me to make sure that
these guys don’t throw in the towel, wave the white flag. So that’s on me to make sure that
doesn’t happen. I won’t let that happen. And too, we’ve got great leadership in that locker
room, and I’ll lean on those guys to help me with that.
(On more specification on Cooke and Matiscik’s injuries) “Both are lower body.”
(On DT Maason Smith’s performance and if him and DT Jordan Jefferson will see the field
together) “That’s a possibility. Maason really showed some good athleticism, some good
strength. I’ll tell you what, it’s tough playing D-tackle in the NFL. You get double teamed a
ton. You get reached a little bit, but he played and he did some good things. He’s going to
continue to get better as not only this season goes on but into the future. Is there a
possibility these two play together at some point? I think that’s real and something that
we’d probably want to see here in the next couple of weeks.”
QUARTERBACK MAC JONES
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
(On gaining confidence since getting back into the lineup) “Yeah, I always say every game is
different and at the end of the day you want to be in it at the fourth quarter. Defense did a
good job just getting us the ball back and giving us a chance at the end to get there. That’s
part of it, just playing as a team—special teams, offense and defense. We’ve just got to get
there each game and try to play in the fourth quarter to win.”
(On what it means to be himself on the field) “I think it’s pretty straightforward. The people
that know me know I love this game. I love to have fun, and I feel like I did that at times on
Sunday. I’m going to carry that to the next game here and hopefully the guys around me
know that. I think since I’ve been here, they know when I’m in the huddle it’s about having
fun and letting loose. That’s what I’m going to do again.”
(On how much he’s comfortable playing up-tempo and how it is connected to the team’s
success) “I think it’s definitely different. I always say, ‘a play is a play.’ Whether you’re going
fast or slow, you want to have a really good play on. In that situation we were going up-
tempo, and it was working. It depends on the game. Sometimes it’s a substitution thing,
sometimes it’s maybe it’s not as much blitz when you’re going fast. A lot of teams are
catching on to that. It’s kind of been a trend in the NFL since I’ve been. When I was a rookie,
we went up-tempo a lot and stuff like that. Everyone does it but it just depends on the week
and the scheme and everything. I enjoy it but like I say a play is a play and I don’t think it
should affect an offense either way. You should execute that play, whatever the call is. It
could be a call on the huddle, it could be up-tempo.”
(On his observations of QB Trevor Lawrence having to leave the game vs. Houston) “Yeah, I
mean, Trevor is a very tough person, and I’ve learned a lot from him just from the way he
leads and how tough he is. For him to be in that game fighting every play is awesome.
Honestly, the play that happened is really unfortunate for everybody, but I know Trevor is
doing a little bit better which is awesome and that’s all you can ask for. We definitely had
his back and now it’s time to continue to play for him and move forward. I talk with him as
much as I can. Like I said, we’re always together from like 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. We’re definitely
together a lot and I feel like we’ve become really good friends. I’m always there for him.”
(On if he knew QB John Wolford) “Yeah, he was a Bishop Kenny [Bishop Kenny High School,
Jacksonville, Fla.] legend. He’s a little older than me, but I remember watching he would
throw for like 875 yards a game or something at Bishop Kenny. But I don’t think they ever
beat Bolles [The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla.]. They wouldn’t play us when I was in high
school. But I’ve known him and he’s a great player and good to have him on our team and
he’s played a good amount of football. It’s just kind of funny, we were laughing this morning
at like 6 a.m., like, who would have thought we’d have been here in the locker room? It was
kind of funny.”
(On if he did something big for National Signing Day) “Oh that’s today, huh? Not really. I
think we just did a little ceremony. It’s a great day for athletes. Kind of opening up that next
phase of their life and I know it’s a lot different now than even when I was there, but I
definitely love that day because I look back on it. I went to Alabama and stayed there and
finished there, so hopefully a lot of guys can have a little bit of stick-to-it-ness.”
(On what he’s seen from the Tennessee Titans’ defense) “They’re really good. They’ve got
great players. Been fortunate to play against some of those guys over there, but
statistically, they don’t give up a lot of yards and their yard per play is really low. They do a
great job, pass defense number one, I think. They have a great defensive line obviously and
the scheme is really good. A little bit of the Ravens scheme too with some blitzes and
things so it would be a big challenge. They’ve been playing well on defense, so I’ve been
really impressed with the coaching and the players over there.”
JAGUARS MAKE ROSTER MOVES
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have claimed WR Josh Reynolds off waivers, the team announced today. Additionally, the team has placed QB Trevor Lawrence on the Reserve/Injured List.
Reynolds was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 112 games (54 starts) with the Rams (2017-20), Titans (2021), Lions (2021-23) and Broncos (2024). His career totals include 232 receptions for 3,116 yards and 20 touchdowns. Reynolds has also appeared in nine postseason contests, making five starts and registering 19 receptions for 318 yards and a touchdown. In 2024, he played in five games (one start) for Denver and posted 12 receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Reynolds attended Texas A&M from 2014-16 where he played in 38 games (36 starts) and totaled 2,788 yards and 30 touchdowns on 164 receptions.
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