QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024
(On what he’s seen over the last two weeks of training camp) “Yeah, I think it’s been a really
productive training camp. Part of it is obviously, as a competitor, you want to win every play, win
every rep and have a great day walking off the field as an offense feeling like you had a good day.
We’ve definitely had some of those days, but we’ve also had days where defense has punched us in
the mouth a little bit, given us some tough looks, some stuff that is really going to help us. I think it’s
been a really good back-and-forth. It’s exciting for me, knowing the challenge our defense has
presented to us, it gets me excited for the regular season when we’re all in the same team, and
knowing that’s the defense the other team is going to face. I think that gets me excited. Offensively,
some of the things I know we want to work on whether its run game, pass game, just staying on
schedules, details, all these different things—that’s kind of generic, but the stuff that I felt like we
really needed to improve on from last year, including myself, I do think we’ve taken big steps in
those areas. Every day has not been perfect, not been clean necessarily, but a lot to learn from. I
think that’s what camp is about. You want that competitive spirit, and you want to go back and
forth. I think the guys have done a really good job of that.”
(On the defense having comparatively tighter windows this year) “Yeah, it’s really good to practice
against that. Not everyone plays that way, there’s different philosophies on defense. When you go
against our defense that does play that way, it’s very physical on the outside, there’s no air, there’s
no cushion for the most part. Obviously, they adjust, and they have different looks, but timing has to
be perfect, landmarks have to be perfect, communication between myself and the receivers or tight
ends or whoever, is critical because the windows are way smaller because they’re getting matched
on different things, or usually you’re expecting this play versus soft-coverage where you have some
space to run—different things. It presents challenges where it makes us look at our system too in
certain plays, like, ‘this play isn’t great against that,’ or maybe we want to motion it this way, or
whatever. I think it really makes you look at the full picture and see how you can get better because
you’re not just getting off-coverage where you can just run and get off the line and do whatever you
want. I think that is good for us to see, especially in camp.
(On how much he feels the biggest preseason victory would be to emerge healthy) “That would be a
huge win, is walking away healthy. No, I do think that the work is really important and making it
count. Getting good reps and learning from them, and making the corrections, especially for
younger guys—but not just younger guys, guys that are newer to the system or to the team, or
whatever it is. Just getting up to speed and correcting some of the mistakes that happen early on. I
have seen all the guys do that, including myself. Obviously, I’ve made some mistakes too in training
camp. That’s what it’s about, getting those things ironed out, whether it’s timing, whether it’s just
you’re going to have days where—some days just the ball doesn’t come off the hand the way I want
it to, and working through that stuff, the timing with the guys, anticipation, protection stuff up-front,
communicating with Mitch [OL Mitch Morse], who’s obviously new. I think that is a win too, is really
getting on the same page during training camp with all the looks. But, honestly, the most important
thing is staying healthy because you’ve got to have all your guys.”
(On how much of a fun time QB Mac Jones is having) “Mac is having a great time. I’m sure you guys
have seen. Mac’s fun to be around, man. He’s just bubbly, loves football. That’s probably the best
word to describe him – bubbly – loves football, loves being out here, the guys respond great to him.
But he also has great command. He’s not just a jokester, he’s serious and takes care of his
business, really smart player. I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled everything, obviously
coming into a new QB room, different role, and CJ [QB CJ Beathard]’s here too. The dynamic
between them has been cool to watch. Just to see how those two have really gone with the flow of
the situation. Obviously, everyone knows the deal. We’re all here to compete and do our best and
play our best. That’s plain and simple, but you can have fun and you can have a good QB room while
doing it. I think that that’s important to remember, not just as quarterbacks, but for every position.
When we step on the field, obviously everyone’s trying to execute and do their best to make every
play. I think we have a really good time in our room which makes it fun. We’re all on the same page,
and I think that is critical, especially as a quarterback.”
(On who, between him and WR Christian Kirk, initiated playing golf together every offseason) “I
don’t know who it was. Just both of us, we’ll say. It’s meant to be.”
(On if he’s gotten his handicap in single digits yet) “Yeah, I did at the end of this offseason. I’ll have
to check. I had a good last round in Tahoe which helped me. It’s like a high eight or low nine, or
something like that.”
(On how building rapport with Kirk off the field helps their on-field chemistry) “I think it helps, just
having a relationship with someone beyond football, and knowing them. Obviously, me and him and
Marissa [Lawrence’s wife Marissa Lawrence] and Ozzy [Kirk’s wife Ozzy Kirk], his wife, we’re all
close. I think that helps. When you know someone, and you can address them in a certain way just
because you really know each other and you’re friends. It’s not just, you’re my teammate and we
work together, and that’s it. It goes beyond that. I think it’s not just Christian, and I’m really close
with Christian, but there’s other guys too where I feel like this offseason we’ve really taken more
time to just go play golf or hang out or do whatever, just because that stuff’s important. Just to know
your teammates and to have relationships with them outside of this building only helps when you
come to work and when you have to sacrifice, and you’ve got to dig deep for the guy next to you. I
think that stuff really does matter. It sounds cliché, but I think it becomes a lot easier when you
really know the guy next to you.”
(On what he’s seen out of RB Travis Etienne Jr. through training camp) “He’s looked great. I’m just
excited every year, I mean he’s just gotten better and better. I think just as far as his vision and his
discipline in the run game, he’s taken even another step. I thought he took a huge step last year and
this year’s even better. His hands out of the backfield and just his route running, honestly, he’s done
a great job of just getting open and really expanding what he can bring to the table for our offense.
He’s not just a guy that, we’re going to run the ball, get him on the perimeter, and some of the run
game and getting him in space. He really is a guy that’s a threat down the field now. I feel like that’s
only going to help him, one, get the ball more and help our offense become more explosive because
now you truly have a fifth guy to defend in the passing game. I think it’s going to be really good for us,
really good for him. Obviously, that’s going to help. Travis is a guy you want to get into space as
much as you can, and I think being able to do that in the passing game is easier than always trying
to find it in the run game. that can be a little harder, and even on his body throughout the season to
take some miles off of him too. I think all the way around it’s been a really good training camp for
him, it’s looked good. Every year I’ve said it but it’s the best I’ve seen him look. I said that last year
and he looks even better this year, so I’m excited for him.”
(On what he’s seen from WR Elijah Cooks) “Yeah, Elijah’s made some plays. I think what everybody
sees Elijah is good at is being physical, going up, making the contested catches, especially in the
red zone. He’s done that. He’s made some splash plays. I think he’s getting more and more
comfortable in the system. Obviously, there’s always wrinkles that we’re adding. Training camp, we
do a lot of different things. We try stuff. Some stuff doesn’t work and we don’t do it anymore, and
some stuff, we just want to see how it looks. So, there’s always wrinkles, and I think for receivers,
it’s always kind of a learning curve of every day is really different in camp. You’re not game planning.
You don’t have, ‘this is our plan for the week, learn it and go execute it.’ During the season, it’s more
structured and you kind of know what to expect. In training camp, you’re just doing a bunch of
different things and you’re getting sometimes bad looks on defense because you’re not game
planning on defense. You’re not just trying to put in place just to beat them. You want to put in all
your plays so when you get to the season, you’ve ran them all. I think it’s more challenging for them
because there’s every play to pick from. Some of the details I think we need to get better, not just
Elijah, but just all the younger receivers and even guys that just got here. I think just hone in on the
details. And like I said to Mia [1010XL reporter Mia O’Brien] earlier, was when you get the press
coverage and you get stuff like that and it’s physical, they’re even more critical because timing is
imperative. I can’t be late on throws so you can’t be coming out of your route early. You can’t go too
deep, can’t be too short. Whatever it is, all that stuff really matters, and I think we’ve seen that
throughout camp which has been good for us.”
(On if there will be anything ‘special’ going up against the Kansas City Chiefs and Chiefs’ QB Patrick
Mahomes) “Yeah, I mean anytime you have an opportunity to go out there and play and they’re
keeping score and I’m not wearing a red jersey, I think there’s a little extra on it and you want to play
well and you want to perform and you want to win. I mean that’s bottom line, preseason game
whatever, you still want to win and it’s a good challenge for us. They’re going to play their guys too,
so it’ll be a good challenge for us and see how we stack up early. Obviously, this is Preseason 1,
there’s a long ways to go before Week 1 but I think it is important to kind of test yourself and see
how you look against a team that has been the standard the past few years and shouldn’t take it
lightly. It is just a preseason game but you’re playing, they’re keeping score, you want to win it so I
think that’s the mindset and coach actually just mentioned that after practice. We understand what
we want to do and what the goal is.”
(On how rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. has grown during camp) “Yeah, we’re asking him to kind of do
everything just to see. You get a new guy and you want to see how he runs certain routes, what he’s
good at, put him in different positions and just see how he responds, and I think he’s done a great
job of kind of adapting and changing his role from day-to-day or even from play-to-play. I think he’s
done a great job of learning that because that’s something that you don’t really do as much in
college. The schemes are just way different, the offenses are way different. He’s a really smart guy,
like I’ve said in the spring, so he’s picked it up quickly. I think now he’s getting to the point where he’s
starting to play faster. No matter how smart you are, how quick you pick up the offense, I remember
being a rookie and I know it, but you’re still a little bit slow when you’re playing, you’re thinking,
you’re still breaking the huddle, you’re thinking about where you’re going, what you’re running, and
then right before the ball snap you’re like, ‘I know what I got.’ But as he has progressed, I think you
can see it clicking more where he has more confidence. He’s breaking the huddle. He’s going right
to where he knows he’s supposed to go. Some of the routes have just been a little sharper as we’ve
gone on which has been great to see. I know the more we work him and he’s in the system he’s just
going to continue to get more confident. That’s like anybody. But I think right now he’s done
everything so far. We’ve kind of put him in different spots and seen what he’s done well, what he’s
worked on, whatever it is. We think he can really bring to the table and it’s expanding that and
getting better at those things, and putting him in a position to be successful, especially early. Get
his confidence going early. I think that’s going to be important. But then from there, I think the sky’s
the limit for him. Once he starts playing really fast he’s going to be great.”
(On if any young guys that he doesn’t usually get many reps with that have stood out) “There’s a few
guys. I don’t want to leave anybody out, but I’ll just give you one. [WR] Parker Washington has
looked great. We’ve talked about it before I think, but from last year to this year, such an
improvement on just the way he’s played. For him to have a full offseason where he’s healthy I think
has been good for him, too. I mentioned that last time he started off a little injured and it was hard
for him to kind of get going because it was straight into training camp and he had to roll and didn’t
have OTAs to get settled in. So, to see him this year, it’s been cool to see his transformation and how
good he looks, honestly. I’ve been really impressed. He’s a guy that you see him, he’s a slot receiver,
but he’s played outside, he’s moved around, he can kind of do everything. He’s great after the catch,
too. That’s going to help us a lot. So, that’s a guy I’d probably say that I’ve noticed the most, but
there’s a bunch of guys that are making plays. I don’t even want to start naming. I won’t name them
all, but definitely, Parker has looked great.”
(On if he’s looking forward to Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor calling plays from the sideline) “I
mean, to be honest, I don’t really care that much where he’s at. I think it cuts down some of the
communication time. I guess that would be accurate. But either way, I can get on the headset quick
or I can tell Mike [Quarterbacks Coach Mike McCoy] if I’m thinking of something to tell him. So, that
communication has always been good. Doesn’t change much. It’ll be cool to see him down there
and interact with him. I think it’ll be good for him to get a feel for just the team. Some games are just
different. The feel at the beginning, you feel as players and coaches on the field, but I’m sure it’s
different from the press box or the coaches’ booth. I’ve never been up there, so I don’t know. I would
assume it’s different. You’re kind of detached from the energy and the atmosphere of the sidelines.
So, we’ll see how that changes things if it does at all. I don’t really know. It doesn’t change what I
have to do, so I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest.”
(On the connection between him and Morse and what he brings to the offense) “It’s been great.
Mitch is a stud. Just a great leader, honestly. I think a guy that, like I said before, has proven himself
in this league. He’s a great player, leads the right way. What I love about him is his attitude. He’s not
afraid to work. It’s not just a Debbie Downer ten-year vet coming in here like he doesn’t want to
practice. He’s excited to go out there and practice. I love the way he leads the guys. He
communicates. There are times when he’s wanting to get some extra work on some snaps, and I’m
like, dude, he’s been snapping for, who knows, millions of footballs in his career. Little things, he’s
just always wanting to get better. The communication has been great whether it’s out here or in the
meeting rooms. Obviously, our system is a little bit different than what they did in Buffalo, so there’s
been a lot to communicate through and he’s done a great job. I love where we’re at, so keep working
that, but he’s been awesome and much needed up front just as far as how he leads. I think it’s been
awesome.”
(On what he’s done on the field that he’s proud of in his first three years) “No one’s asked me that. I
appreciate that. I think I’ve—I know I’ve gotten better every year. There’s been times, there’s been
plays where it doesn’t look like it. You’re going to have bad plays in your career and that’s going to
happen. But I know I’ve gotten better every year. I think, obviously, we talk about the stuff I need to
get better at and those things I know I need to get better at and I’m working on them moving
forward, but as far as just accuracy, giving guys a chance, throwing the ball downfield, that was
something I didn’t do well at all my rookie year and I think I’ve gotten better at that. I think just
knowing the system, making the smart play, that’s been a big improvement for me. Staying on
schedule is something I’ve learned to do, especially last year. Taking the early, easy completions
early in games or if it’s first, second down, second-and-long, just getting the ball in play. Whatever
the situations are, I think I’ve gotten better situationally, but I can still improve. There’s been times
last year where I didn’t play well situationally where I made some mistakes or turned it over or
whatever. There’s always—everything is a learning experience, but those are some things just to
think off the top of my head. I wasn’t really thinking about it.”
(On if learning to not always go for the big play and just taking the completion on first down is a
learning curve) “Yeah, I think that’s something you definitely have to learn, but you still have to play
aggressive. You can’t take that killer instinct out of you. I think it’s something that makes players
great, the ability to know when to take those shots. It’s a calculated risk, and sometimes you
miscalculate. In hindsight, it’s not the right decision, but I always want to prepare myself for every
situation, and then in the game, I want to just play. I don’t want to overanalyze it. I don’t want to
think. I don’t want to check a ball down and think, ‘God, I wish I would have thrown a shot.’ I don’t
throw the shot and be like, ‘Man, I wish I would have checked it down. There’s just going to be plays
where you’re not always going to be right. So, I think the biggest thing I’ve gotten better at is being
able to move on to the next play. That may be the most important thing playing this position in this
league that you have to be able to do. Sometimes it’s harder than others, but I think that’s
something where I’ve gotten better, but I’ve got to keep getting better because that always is a
challenge. There’s going to be some bad plays in there and you’ve got to move onto the next and
make the next one right.”
HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024
(On what he says to young guys getting ready for their first NFL action) “Yeah, I mean, really
just tell them to enjoy it, absorb, take in everything. Obviously, first time for all these guys to
play in an NFL football game and it’s exciting for them. But at the same time, I want them to
go out and play well, calm them their minds, but at the same time have fun, enjoy it.”
(On injury updates for OL Anton Harrison, OL Cam Robinson and OL Ezra Cleveland) “Ezra
and Ton won’t play, just precaution, just keeping them out, but Ton is doing well. The other
ones on offense… [RB] Keilan Robinson won’t play. There’s four guys… Ezra, [OL] Steven
Jones, those four on offense. Everybody else is good to go.”
(On who won’t play on Saturday on defense) “[DT] Jordan Jefferson, [DE] Arik Armstead,
Dewey [S Andrew Wingard] and Sav [S Darnell Savage].”
(On who will be calling offensive plays on Saturday) “For preseason, Press [Offensive
Coordinator Press Taylor] will do it for preseason.”
(On if the offensive play calling for the regular season is still to be decided) “Yes.”
(On how long it will take S Darnell Savage to get to full speed) “Well, he’s practicing full
speed. It is full-go right now. We’re just limiting his contact. We’re hoping maybe next week,
Tampa Bay, but again, I’m not going to rush him. It’s still early in camp, but he’s doing a
great job with it. I know he wants to get out of that red jersey and be in a white or a teal
jersey, but he’s doing good. It’s still precautionary.”
(On if Savage likes wearing the red jersey) “No, he does not. He may say that, but he does
not.”
(On if pulling starters after the first quarter is becoming commonplace in preseason
games) “I don’t know. That’s just how I’ve treated it. I know that’s how coaches treated it. I
think it’s important that these guys play, especially early. It doesn’t have to be a lot or a long
time, but you want them to get out there and knock that rust off, get that game feel, play
against starters and go execute. Like I said, it’s not long, but it’s good for those guys to get
out there and do that.”
(On if how long the starting offense plays depends on how well they do) “It’s possible.
There’s no set number.”
(On comparing DE Josh Hines-Allen to former NFL DE Reggie White) “I mentioned that a
little bit.”
(On the similarities between Hines-Allen and White) “I just think both attention to detail,
how they worked before and after practice, how they led their teammates. It meant a lot to
Reggie. It means a lot to Josh. Those were a lot of the same similarities that I saw or I have
seen in Josh. Not necessarily, I’m not comparing them physically and all that. I’m just
talking about some of the intangibles that sometimes people don’t see, but they both are
instrumental as far as leadership roles go. Those were things that I saw in Reggie, and I see
in Josh.”
(On comparing Hines-Allen to a Hall-of-Famer) “Yeah, but if you want to be a Hall of Famer
as a player, I think you want to aspire to be like that. You have to have these types of role
models and people that you look up to and pattern their career after and things like that. I
think that’s something that Josh aspires to do.”
(On how much QB Trevor Lawrence and WR Christian Kirk spending time together off the
field matters on the field) “Yes, I do. Plus, they live in the same neighborhood. They do a lot
of things together, their families. I do think that the more you spend time with people, that’s
why I do things like in the offseason with the team—the more we can do things together and
share experiences together, I think it just becomes a stronger bond with individuals and
with your teammates. You begin to sort of understand the other person a little bit more,
how they think, and it shows up on the field.”
(On where Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen will be on Saturday and if he has a
preference) “That’s a good question. I’ve got to ask him. With him in preseason, Press is
going to try it on the field. I know that. I told him he’ll like it. He’ll like it down there. Yeah.”
(On what the benefits are to being on the field versus in the booth) “Well, one is you get to
feel the game. Two, you’re with the players. And three, you get to make the corrections right
now, communication-wise. You feel connected to the football game a little bit more. I’ve
been in, early my career, I was in the box as well, and you’re kind of removed, and it’s a little
more challenging up there.”
(On if he thinks the phrase “you play like you practice” is accurate) “I mean, it’s very few
that the light just comes on when the lights come on. I do think you play like you practice. I
believe that. The more time on the grass during the week that you practice and play—and
it’s all preparation, it’s all preparing for a game. When you are prepared, you go play well.
But when you don’t put in that time, sometimes it’s hard. Some of the more talented
athletes can probably get away with it, but not everybody can.”
(On if he thinks communication as far as play calling is better on the field or through a
headset) “The headset is the headset. It’s the times when the players are on the sideline.
That communication is vital.”
(On if playing the reigning Super Bowl Champions is a good barometer to see where his
guys are at) “Yeah, and obviously I’m not gauging it based off of that, but at the same time, I
want to see execution. I want to see guys playing hard and fast, and just doing what we’ve
done for the first two weeks of camp. I think in preseason, the outcome… Yeah, everybody
wants to win the games. That’s the bottom line. I think it’s more still evaluating your roster,
especially when you get past your so-called starters. But with the first group going against
another first group, you want to see execution. Very few mistakes, Mas [missed
assignments], because you’re running your training camp plays, and so that way things can
be some—again, you’re not game-planning anybody. So just going out and doing your job.”
(On if they will be the first team to show their hand on what they will do kickoff-wise) “Well,
we’re going to put it down on the tee and kick it into the box and see what happens. But I
think this is going to be obviously a big weekend. There’s going to be a lot of tape after this
weekend to dive through. I still don’t think a lot of teams are going to show what they’re
going to do schematically. Even some teams don’t even put their starting returners back
there in preseason for risk of injury and stuff like that. But it’ll give you an idea of maybe
how to prepare, how to plan and what to look forward to.”
(On what he’s seen from CB Ronald Darby) “I think he’s done a great job coming in and
really understanding Ryan’s scheme and how [Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks Coach]
Cory Robinson is coaching him over there. It just kind of fits who he is. He’s done a nice job
and definitely in the offseason when he was available to go get, it was good. Looking
forward to him playing Saturday night as well.”
(On how he assesses the depth of the roster and how that is shown in preseason games) “I
think the depth is good. One of the things that we’ve as coaching staff focused on in camp
this year is getting those young guys, those depth guys more opportunity in practice to see
what they can do. And again, these games are important for that, but I think the depth has
been good. Offensive and defensive lines, there’s depth there. When we’re healthy and full
strength, there’s depth there. Young guys in the secondary have really impressed and
improved, even some of the young receivers. It’s exactly what you want as a coach to make
it hard at the end of camp with these depth guys that are pushing and challenging for jobs.
It makes it harder on us to make tough decisions.”
(On how much weight he puts into the early depth chart) “Not a whole lot. You obviously
have an idea of who you’re starting five might be. Your defensive line, all that kind of stuff,
quarterback. But after that, there’s still some great opportunities for guys to compete and
challenge, make the 53 and make the practice squad. You’re seeing with practice squad
now how those guys get elevated and activated each week to play. You might say practice
squad, but those guys are a play or two away from being in a meaningful game as well.
Right now, it’s early as far as the depth chart goes. We’ll see when these games start
playing out, it’ll start to solidify itself as we go.”
(On which position group has been the most competitive) “The D-Line has have been real
competitive amongst themselves. Real competitive. I can say the same for the offensive
line. Every position group really has challenged themselves. The coaches have done a great
job of creating that competition amongst the groups. When we go offense versus defense,
you’re seeing some of that transpire in practice. That’s encouraging because that goes to
the roster, the depth question, and being able to fill in that bottom third, let’s say, of your
roster.”
(On DE De’Shaan Dixon’s injury) “ACL. He’s done, unfortunately.”
(On if Dixon will be placed on IR) “We’ll make a decision and we’ll have to fill that spot. He
was having a good camp too. It’s unfortunate. I hate it for him.”
(On if there’s a difference between preparing a preseason depth chart and a regular season
depth chart) “No, I mean, you’re dealing with 90 guys, and you try to get everybody in the
game. You can only put 11 out there at one time, but again, as we get further into this game,
that’s when we start rolling players in and getting them in, and want to give everybody an
opportunity to play.”
(On how he will manage game reps for QB Mac Jones and QB C.J. Beathard) “Yeah, you
can’t. C.J. will go second in this game. Mac will go third. Again, you’re hoping that each one,
if C.J. is at the end of the first half, obviously, he gets maybe a two-minute drive. Mac,
maybe at the end of the game, or a four-minute drive thing, some of the things we’ve
worked on in practice. You can’t control it as much, but that’s going to be the rotation for
this game.”
