HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024
Going into the break for you guys, do you want your players to get a little bit of break, relax a little bit
or would you like them to stay active?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes and no. You know, definitely want them to get away and relax and enjoy this last,
little bit of summer before we start. But at the same time, the message is to continue to work out,
continue to run, continue to review the information that we gave them this off-season, so that when
they come back they come back ready, come back in shape, mentally and physically ready to go for
training camp.
How have you felt about the young players being able to take advantage of a few extra reps with
coaches?
DOUG PEDERSON: Good. Yeah, good.
When you look at WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s situation where he’s got somebody like WR Christian Kirk, WR
Gabe Davis, how much do you think that helps make the process go so much better for them if there
are guys, not only veterans, but willing to be really good mentors?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it’s a good transition to have the veteran leadership in those rooms, especially
in this situation with Brian being the draft pick and being in that room as well. I think it makes his life a
little bit easier from the standpoint of just the comfort of the guys around him. Not saying life on the
field is going to be easy, but I think just that transition from college to the NFL, what it looks like to be a
pro with guys like Gabe and Christian in that room. Even a guy like [WR] Tim Jones who has been around
for a few years now. There is another guy that has great leadership ability and understands what it takes.
He’s been a guy that has to work every year and fight and scratch and claw to make the 53. I think for
Brian to be able to see all that maybe puts his mind at ease just a little bit as he transitions now to camp,
which ramps up even more.
WR Gabe Davis got the same benefit when he in Buffalo. We all know that receiver — if there is any
position in the NFL that’s had a reputation as kind of diva-ish, it’s been receiver over the years. It
seems like you’ve got a room where that is not the case.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I don’t feel like we have that type of room. You know, guys are unselfish. They
compete. They cheer for each other and it’s not an I need a football, I need every target mentality in that
room at all. And that’s a good thing, because he comes into a room like that and gives him a lot of
confidence just to go out and perform and do what he can do.
In years past you may have given second year guys off, whether that was OLB Travon Walker and LB
Devin Lloyd, this mandatory minicamp they were part of the veterans. Why the decision to across the
board have all the second year guys back, including from OL Anton Harrison on down this week?
DOUG PEDERSON: Anton, a lot of the vets that are here being, in Anton’s case, the injury. So, they’re not
medically cleared to leave yet. You know, until they get medically cleared that’s why those guys are here.
Guys like [DT] DaVon Hamilton and Anton and [S] Darnell Savage, Gabe [WR Gabe Davis], all these guys
are still here this week. Roy [DL Roy Robertson-Harris] is here. Otherwise, they would’ve been the guys
probably on the surfboards right now. Bu then, too, second year players who maybe didn’t play a lot last
year and coming into their own a little bit. So just wanted to give another three days of just development
and growth.
What have you seen from S Darnell Savage this week? Seems like he’s getting closer and closer to
being back.
DOUG PEDERSON: He is. He’s getting a lot stronger. Getting more reps with the defense. He’s showing a
lot of good things out there, and just he’s in a good position now. I think when he comes back for camp
he’ll be ready to go.
You’ve had an off-season now with QB Mac Jones. Overall impressions of how he’s embraced his early
time here?
DOUG PEDERSON: Done a nice job. Came in early, and he’s one of those guys that wanted to be in the
building and just learn. You know, just another good piece to add to our roster, especially to that room.
He’s done a nice job. He’s obviously the only quarterback this week that we have, and it’s good for him.
He can get all the reps that he can and put himself in a position to really compete during camp.
There is a report that WR Hakeem Butler is going to work out with you guys this week. Is that
accurate? Do you know about that?
DOUG PEDERSON: We’ve talked about it. We’re down obviously couple receivers with David [WR David
White Jr.] going down last week. We’re definitely looking to fill you couple spots before we head into
camp.
