HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025
(On DT Arik Armstead participating in practice) “Great to see Arik out there and Maason [DT
Maason Smith], but both guys have done everything they can in order to get on the grass.
So, to see them out there is a great sign. I’m really happy obviously for them to be out there,
and both guys have done nothing but work their tails off to get back. So, pleased about that
progress for sure.”
(On the injury report from Sunday) “Day-to-day. Those guys, Tyson [CB Tyson Campbell],
Travis [WR/DB Travis Hunter] day-to-day and Dyami [WR Dyami Brown] was just kind of a
little lower body stiffness, a little tight. We just didn’t feel like it was necessary to push,
especially to have him this week at Miami.”
(On speaking about the joint practice schedule with Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel)
“We spoke this morning. I mean, it’ll be very similar to our practices. They’ve already had a
few, especially a few physical ones, so not sure it’ll be maybe as much as we fully would
like in terms of that, because we’re on different schedules than them. They didn’t play their
guys and now may in this game, who knows? I’m not sure but I know they’ve already had a
few physical joints. So, we’re just trying to go down and get some really quality work against
another opponent, but the outline of practice will be very similar to our structure.”
(On whether the structure of the practice will make him want to play starters Saturday) “No.
That won’t change any of that. No. It’ll be good work against another quality opponent down
in the heat. So that won’t change. We’re still going to get good work in. Anytime you go in
joint, especially our guys not having one yet, I’m sure they’ll be juiced up to go against
somebody else. So, I’m not really worried about us not getting quality work.”
(On if the lineup for Saturday has been decided) “Not yet. No.”
(On trading for DT Khalen Saunders) “I think you just look at a guy that we played against
twice last year in Tampa that I’ve got respect for as a vet that’s played a lot of meaningful
downs in this league, has won Super Bowls. He’s been on teams that know how to win.
Also, there’s no question he can help us in the middle there at times. So, he’s hard to
double team and move in there at times, and also has some ability to kind of redirect and
has some initial quick. So, I do believe he’ll help add some meaningful competition and
depth in that room.”
(On when the trade came to his attention) “Man, like, last week sometime, I think, or at
some point early on. We just wanted to make sure things were progressing in the right
direction, obviously, on both sides for us and where we were looking at those two spots and
obviously, the ability, [OL] Jonah Monheim stepping up in a big way as a rookie recently and
Mekari [OL Patrick Mekari] can snap and has played center in game. So, we feel
comfortable with, if something were to happen to Hainsey [OL Robert Hainsey], you’re
never comfortable, but you do feel solid in terms of who can step up in there. Obviously,
that was kind of what went into it.”
(On how it felt to trade for a player they had just played in a game) “Yeah. It was different for
sure. I mean, shoot, you look at baseball, they trade in between doubleheaders. So, I guess
it is what it is. Luke’s [OL Luke Fortner] a total pro. I obviously coached Luke in college, have
a ton of respect for the human being, for the player. He was a complete pro about it. So, he
knew exactly what it was, and it’s a great op [opportunity] for him. They had their backup
center get banged up. So, it’s a great op for him to go over there and be the guy, the next guy
up.”
(On if signing OL Robert Hainsey has helped the offensive line as a group) “I would
definitely say so. I think if you look at our demeanor as a group has risen, in my opinion, in
terms of the physicality, the nature in which they have a sense of urgency play in and play
out. You can definitely see a little bit of a level of uptick out of that group. His familiarity
with the system is huge, not just for those guys up front, but the tight ends and the
quarterback. From a leadership standpoint, I think if you asked any of these guys out here,
he’d be one of the guys that they name as a leader on our offense.”
(On the injuries to OL Wyatt Milum) “He’s lower body, week to week.”
(On how that factors into plans moving forward for the offensive line) “It’s just next guy up,
really. I mean, the nice thing is we kind of boosted that group in the pro free agency and
throughout the draft. It’s a bummer because he’s been playing really well, and he’s just
continued to ascend, but, hey, it’s a great op for the next guys to be able to come in and give
us meaningful reps throughout this joint and in the game because they’re going to have to
play a lot.”
(On the injury to DB Caleb Ransaw) “Yeah. Same, week to week.”
(On what he liked out of QB Trevor Lawrence’s performance Sunday) “I thought, similar to
[Preseason] Week 1 where the ball was coming out where we weren’t really, especially in
this kind of setting, you’re just trying to get the ball out, keep it moving, completion mindset
throughout just to see us operate instead of sitting there and saying, we’re going to just
launch the ball deep and scheme some stuff up. It’s more about, hey, getting through
progressions, seeing the defense, seeing the coverages, making the proper protection calls
up front. We talked about the turnover, which is something we can’t have. We can’t have
two turnovers in the red zone and expect to win any game moving forward, but I was
pleased with his outing.”
(On his influences as an offensive play designer) “Obviously, working for [Los Angeles Rams
Head Coach] Sean McVay first and foremost, and then really just kind of buzz around the
league as well. We have such a good staff, I think offensively, we have a really great creative
mix of guys that have come from other places but have run similar concepts. Then, they do
a great job of bringing these things up, whether it’s in the red area, third down, guys that are
responsible for. Like this morning, I was watching Chicago’s offense in the preseason. You
just buzz around and see kind of what people are doing also and see if anything matches
and mixes that you can throw in.”
(On if he sees plays in practice that he will make sure to call in a game) “Actually, the one to
Trammell [WR Austin Trammell] today is one that we’ve hit a few times. We actually hit
Trammell backed up in there. Last week, coming out, backed up, we hit a big one. So, those
are the ones that you kind of look at and say, oh, does that fit? Not every play that we
necessarily run out here throughout the last, now, what, 20 practices almost is going to
specifically match Carolina’s defense. So, as you’re going through, and that’s what our
staff’s been doing, what that we’ve practiced more than a few times can carry over into this
game plan? Also, well, what are the things we haven’t repped enough of that we know are
good against this defensive structure that we need to get more reps of, whether it’s this
week and in the coming bonus days before we actually get into full game week.”
(On his confidence in the running game) “I think it’s definitely taken a step in the right
direction. The thing that you’re still not hesitant on, but you still have to wait and see, we
have not played against an opponent’s one defense yet. We’ve only gone against their twos.
So that is something we have to take into consideration for sure, but I do like where they’re
headed. We haven’t necessarily in the preseason games run a ton of our full offense, but I
do think that we’re hitting blocks in the zone game the way we want to for the most part.
The backs are getting a better feel for it and the receivers, that’s kind of the next step in the
run game production is, it takes all 11. Our wideouts have to take that personally and know
that the more that they get on safeties and block in the run game, now the better our play
action is because it looks and feels the same, and now it’s more physical. So, that’s the
next step in that progression.”
(On his expectations for WR/DB Travis Hunter in Miami) “I’ve got to see what he looks like
tomorrow. I think the goal is to try to get him out there for the joint. Like, that’s probably the
more important, if we have to be smart with him tomorrow in order to get him out there in
the joint, that would be the preference, just for that quality work for him, especially on both
sides. So, we’ll see about how he feels tomorrow and kind of make a smart decision based
on tomorrow.”
(On how quickly in the process he can see if a player has the edge he’s looking for) “I think
our scouting staff, it was obviously a mix when we went through this process. Still guys that
were here, some guys that James [General Manager James Gladstone] was able to bring in
from LA, and we took kind of what we call our Jaguar DNA and basically, that’s so much of
the information that you’re receiving, whether it’s from the college coaches, the GAs
[graduate assistants], QCs [quality control coaches], player development. You go to the
high schools. You get the teachers, the janitor. You get all this information, and everybody
kind of gets an aggregate score based on analytics. So that gives you basically their football
character. Then does that match their play style on the field? What is the play style
matched with their football and personal character? So much of that this offseason was
trying to continue to elevate that football character, how much you love and breathe and
eat and sleep football, and does that match their style of play? I think that thus far of the
rookie class that we did bring in and the pro free agency class, I do believe that was
successful in that area. I can’t say fully whether it’s a success in terms of their production
on the grass. I do believe, though that we brought in the right type of dudes.”
(On RB LeQuint Allen Jr.) “That’s kind of, like, one of those guys that I’m talking about, and
that was an interesting study, in terms of making that decision in the seventh round. He has
brought all those things that I kind of just talked about. His give-a-crap factor is high. The
way that he performs on the grass, the way that he plays, the effort, the toughness, the
physicality, he’s still learning. So, every single day, he’s learning and growing, and that’s
beautiful to see from a guy that, he’s so urgent. Like, I think that’s probably the best way to
describe Q [RB LeQuint Allen Jr.] is his urgency is always kind of at a premium.”
DEFENSIVE END JOSH HINES-ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025
(On the defense’s performance at New Orleans) “I think we came out just as ourselves. I
think always that first preseason game when you know you’re not going to play as many
snaps, and then you don’t do any game study… So, it’s a little lapse, but I think going into
[Preseason] Week 2, we watched a little bit, it’s a little bit more scouting, a little bit more
comfortable with what they run, what we’re going to run. It’s kind of getting back into that
game feel and you can see how guys responded so quick. I love to see it. Offensively, I
thought they did a heck of a job. Defensively, I think we started off strong. There’re still
areas where I feel like we can improve. I think that’s everybody, but I like the way we started
and can’t wait to go to this joint practice and whoop on those boys down there.”
(On how much he gets out of joint practices) “I think it’s just about how you come out.
Who’s the aggressor? I think that’s really what it is. I know we’ve already got guys ready to
whoop somebody. It’s always good playing against somebody else. We can’t sack the
quarterback, but we can whoop the dude in front of us. I’m excited. Different look, different
sets, I can kind of work with a rush plan, working with my guys. I’ve been rushing with them
for years now. And then I go in a game, and I got one or two reps against the guy across from
me, but in those joint practices, I can kind of put it all together, rush with a plan and just
work on Defensive Player of the Year mentality.”
(On what he knows about DT Khalen Saunders) “He was a fullback. I know we went head-
to-head a couple of times. I know him and Tra [DE Travon Walker] went head-to-head a
couple of times when we played him a couple of years ago because he was their goal-line
guy. We were talking a little bit on those plays, but I know he brings a lot of experience, a lot
of good depth and we’re lucky to have him.”
(On how DE Travon Walker has handled being compared to Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson]
“He can speak for that. I don’t know how he feels about it. I see how he’s responding, but
how he feels about it, I don’t know if he’s pissed off, I don’t know if he’s happy, you know
what I mean? Because I had my comparisons coming out, so I have my fuel. So, I don’t
know if it’s fueling him. That’s just a question I feel like he would probably be better to ask
for that one. But I know he’s worried about himself, and I know he comes out to play every
practice every single day.”
[On his expectations for Walker this year] “Defensive Player of the Year. Yeah.”
[On if he and Walker can be co-Defensive Players of the Year] “No, no, no. It’s a mindset at
the end of the day. It’s one award, but we all should be out here striving. I feel like all 32
teams strive to win the Super Bowl; only one team can win. So, whoever has that mindset
each and every day, who can come out prepared, who can not beat themselves, who
comes out with a purpose, I think those are the teams that find success. For us, as a
defensive mindset, Defensive Player of the Year mindset, how well can I come out here in
practice to translate it to the game? That’s going to fuel my perfection. That’s going to fuel
my adrenaline, how I’m coming into the game. It’s the same way as Tra’s.”
(On how he’d evaluate the communication at New Orleans compared to the week prior)
“It’s a lot better. Again, we didn’t get any tempo, but we were prepared for it. Obviously –
you guys are seeing it – we’re practicing it every period now. So, we’ll be ready for that.
Again, if we don’t beat ourselves, man, we are a very dominant team on both sides of the
ball. And we want to keep proving that to ourselves.”
(On the attention to detail in practice) “That’s every day. How I come out, I come out and do
my pre-rep every day. Work on my hands, making sure I get my pass rushing right. I like to
cross-chop, I like to do inside, I like to just work a lot of different edges. So, just to come
out, I don’t really have that many two-rushes, especially on days like this. I can’t work
power, so I’ve got to work edges. If I can be able to make sure I’m working on my hands,
work on my finish, doing those little things, it’s going to carry over to when we put pads on
and we go full throttle.”
(On stunts are where his chemistry with the other pass rushers shows up) “Yeah, we like
stunts, but we like to rush straight, too. Don’t make this a story or a narrative, alright? We
like stunts. That’s one thing we do practice, so when we do do it, we don’t mess up. We’re
all on the same page. But at the end of the day, we’ve got guys that can go rush and go win a
one-on-one, and that’s our main focus and that’s our main purpose and that’s what we’re
going to do. The stunts are to switch it up, keep them off guard, but again, our main focus is
to go win the one-on-one, rush as one, rush four as one, rush and coverage matched
together and that’s where we like to succeed.”
(On if he’s surprised by the creativity of the Jaguars’ offense) “He makes everything look the
same I would say. They’re definitely going to prepare us for a lot of different things. Making
12 look like 11, doing a lot of different front variations, doing a lot of jet sweeps, run traps,
getting a lot of edge progressions, a lot of midzone. They do a lot of different things, and
then all that marries off the play action as well. Just how quick can we work and convert?
Because we’re going to see a lot of that, too. We’re going to see a lot of jump sets from the
tackles. How quick can we convert? We’re seeing it every single day here, so once we get
into the game, we’re already going to have that natural feel. Once they go four open, man, a
variation of a lot of different things. I feel like they’ve been running the ball extremely well.
Credit to them, too. When they make a play, man, I hate that they make plays on us, but I
also love to see it. I love to see the competition each and every day. I think both sides of the
ball compete with each other, but to see them make a play. To see, ‘Okay, that was a good
play; they got us on that one.’ I hate it, but it’s good to see that our offense can find ways to
be successful, too.”
(On what he’s seen from S Andrew Wingard) “A guy that makes a lot of plays. Being where
he’s supposed to be. The communication has been awesome on the back end with him.
Has the experience, seen a lot of ball. That’s my ‘19 brother. There’s only two left. We say it
to each other every time we see each other, so I’m happy that he finally gets to have that
opportunity to really be out here and perform at a high level. You can see he makes plays
every time in practice, too. It’s not just a fluke that he had the sack; that happens in
practice as well. So, it’s cool to see.”
(On whether the defense has an identity) “I know we have an identity in each room, and I
think when we come onto the field, we’ve got to be the aggressor. If that’s up front, they
cannot run the ball, and when they do pass the ball, we’ve got to make them pay. So, I think
our identity is just to be aggressive, come out and swing first, swing last mentality. Just play
for one another and communicate at a very high level.”
DEFENSIVE TACKLE KHALEN SAUNDERS
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025
(On when he was told he was being traded) “Man, it was I want to say like 7:30 something.
We had just got done with the game against y’all. I got home, I was actually playing some
Fortnite, and I had got a call from Coach Moore [Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore]. I told
the guys in the party, ‘hey, hold on real quick.’ Muted the mic and took the call and he was
like, ‘I just wanted to be the first one to tell you – the business of the game and stuff like that
– you’ve been traded.’ Obviously, heart drop and all that and I’m like, ‘where to?’ And he was
like ‘Jacksonville.’ I’m like, ‘the one we just played today.’ It was a surprise. I, obviously, am
really happy to be here, but yeah, that’s how it was. It was almost instantaneous the joy that
came in. I’m like, wow. It’s fast moving, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
(On the Jaguars defense) “I always keep an eye out, watching around different defenses.
And, man, these guys attack. Obviously, knowing we got some really great edges, and then I
had to look up and see who we had inside. And actually the guy, [DT] DaVon [Hamilton],
that you guys have already, we actually are represented by the same guy. So as soon as I
got the news that I was getting traded here, my agent reached out to me and sent me,
DaVon’s number and was like, ‘he’s a really good guy, great teammate,’ and stuff like that.
So, I kind of got to introduce myself to those guys earlier today. I feel like we’re already
getting off on a good foot and forming a great bond.”
(On his Super Bowl pedigree and mentoring younger players) “Yeah, it’s crazy you ask that
because I really feel like a young guy myself still all the time. I have to remind myself that
I’m going into year seven. And like you said, I’ve obviously had a little bit of success and
team success. One thing that I’ve learned through those experiences is that it takes
everybody. It’s not just the 11 that starts the game. It’s not just the 22 that’s going to be
starting the game out. It takes everybody from roster spot one through roster spot 53. That’s
one thing I think that I’m trying to just echo and bring. Also, one thing that is a strength of
mine is just locker room unity in general. I’ve always been a locker room guy. I always kind
of have people gravitate towards me in that regard. Being friendly and stuff like that. I think
when I first got here, my man, E-man [DL Emmanuel] Ogbah, he pushed me in the back and
was just excited to get me back on his team from our years with the Chiefs. So that’s just
kind of some of those things that I’ve learned from the Chiefs and throughout my career as
far as winning, but the most important thing is that it takes everybody. And I think that once
we have everybody on board and with that same mission that creates a very powerful
team.”
(On coming from a 3-4 defense and how different the Jaguars scheme is) “It’s very different.
Yeah, as you said, they were running the 3-4. I played the 3-4 a little bit in college, but this
was a little bit more of an advanced 3-4, obviously, that they were in. But being able to
come here and a little bit more of a 4-3 flavor of defense, I actually enjoy it a lot because I
feel like I’ve played 4-3 a lot more in my career. I like to be on edges as far as being able to
play in that one-technique and that three-technique. And even, I like the way that we play a
2i here because, some people want you to play a 2i, ball hand down and different types of
techniques. And, I actually really appreciate that we get to play the technique the way we
do here. So, I’ve been enjoying that for the practice that I’ve got to participate in. I think that
they have a great plan. It just comes down to us executing it and, being players and being
what they brought us here to be. So, I’m obviously continue to learn it. I haven’t by, no
means, learned it all at all, but I will obviously continue to try and get it down.”
(On when he arrived in Jacksonville) “I got to town yesterday around two. I did all my
physical stuff and then I spent a good three, four hours with the coaches trying to get as
much defense in as I could, but it helped a lot, though.”
(On his first impressions of Defense Coordinator Anthony Campanile) “Oh, I love him. Man,
he’s a good guy. He knows what he wants. That’s the most important part I feel like. When
you have a coach who specifically knows what he wants on each play. There’s a reason
behind everything and I love that because I’ve always been trying to get the philosophy
behind the play calling. And then on top of that, I like that because I’ve played so many
positions in my football career that I can kind of relate to different stuff. Usually, you got the
guys who only play O-line and D-line pretty much their entire career. Like, I played every
position except for cornerback, I think, in my career. So, I like to have the why, and it helps
me actually execute my job as well. But yeah, Coach Camp [Defense Coordinator Anthony
Campanile], he knows exactly what he wants. He knows how he wants to execute it even
down to like where he wants us to step and the technique he wants us to go with when
we’re moving and stuff like that. I like that very particular detail because, it makes it easier
on me.”
(On when he played quarterback) “I played quarterback a little bit in middle school. I’m
pretty sure I had got some wild snaps in high school too.”
