GENERAL MANAGER JAMES GLADSTONE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Q. What went into the decision to trade for QB Quinn Ewers, and did QB Carter
Bradley’s injury impact the decision to make the trade?
JAMES GLADSTONE: We were evaluating the quarterback position over the course of
training camp and the preseason games. We were exploring more than a couple different
options, of which Quinn came to life there Saturday morning. That was really the first time
we had engaged in conversations with the Dolphins. It didn’t take long to reach an
agreement. Ultimately, between myself and Liam [Head Coach Liam Coen] pouring into
some of the games Quinn had in his rookie campaign, felt good enough about the upward
trajectory and really what he showcased over the course of those performances, and trying
tap into that and continue to work with him and build with him into the future. As it relates
to Carter’s injury, it wasn’t a specific roll off of that as a next step, nonetheless, appreciate
what Carter did. For him to come back to his hometown and be able to throw a touchdown
and convert a two-point conversion, I know that was a really special moment to him. He
was doing it while that injury actually occurred prior, so he was battling through there.
Major props to him for coming through for the team.
Q. 11 defensive linemen on the initial 53. How did you arrive at that number which
maybe takes one linebacker away?
JAMES GLADSTONE: That’s exactly right. There’s a little bit of roster math that looks
different than last year on that front. So lighter at LB, but heavier across the defensive front.
We had a real good competition going there and brewing on the edges for our defensive
ends, and that consisted of a lot of young guys. They were doing their parts and earning
their paths. Ultimately, [DE] Zach Durfee went on IR with a designation for return.
Nonetheless, we’re certainly happy with what we’ve seen from that group in particular on
the ends. And [DE] Bryan Thomas Jr.’s emergence over the course of this offseason and
through the preseason games themselves has certainly lent us to keep him on the 53-man
roster.
Q. Was keeping QB Nick Mullens part of your deal too, to make sure you had somebody
to bring him along a little bit at the same time?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Yeah, Nick’s presence here, it means a ton. His familiarity of the
system, it’s like having another coach in the room. Certainly being able to understand that
he can operate our offense in the way that it’s intended to is something that we don’t want
to just separate from. That was a real conversation, an authentic conversation we had to
have with Nick, and appreciate very much the way we went about it and the
professionalism he showcased. He’s such a great teammate, such a great partner in this,
and is pouring right back in, starting out on our practice squad, and we’ll see how it all
unfolds here as we get into the season.
Q. Second year in a row getting the team down to the 53 number. How hard were those
last couple spots. Was it more challenging this go around since there are more guys
you brought in?
JAMES GLADSTONE: It doesn’t matter whether or not I was part of acquiring a player, the
more time you spend with them, the deeper the connection is. There’s a deeper-rooted
dialogue as part of these conversations. It’s not as surface level as some of them may have
been a year ago. But in the same breath, that day that we go through those roster
reductions is really met with a wide range of conversations. You’ve got some players who
are really excited and fulfilled with the fact that they earned a 53-man roster, and others
who may be facing a path coming to an end. So, vacillating between those two ends of the
spectrum and everything in between is certainly an interesting dynamic to walk through.
But can’t thank the guys that came through over the course of this offseason and training
camp enough, those that are still with us and those that are going in a different direction, to
get us to a place where we feel good about where we are heading into the season.
Q. Heading into Friday’s preseason game, was DE Bryan Thomas Jr. someone you had
set on in the 53, or how much did his performance on Friday really sell you that he had
to be on the roster?
JAMES GLADSTONE: There was still more to be done. I think he went out there and
continued to prove it. He left no doubt. I think anybody that was on that sideline or in those
stands or watching on TV could feel that. I think he himself probably felt that. It was shortly
thereafter, the next morning, that I walked past him and it was a very brief interaction. All I
said was, congrats, and he said, I really appreciate it. All I said was, it was earned, and he
said, yeah, I feel that. You could just sense his confidence on the grass that night, in the
locker room post, and that next morning, because that’s something that we preach and I
think our players certainly are coming to grips with it. When you earn it, you’re going to get
it, and we’re not afraid or going to shy away from the fact that, when that is something that
surfaces to the top, to pursue it regardless of where you started, regardless of how much
you make. We’re trying to win football games, and we’re going to do what we feel like is in
the best interest of the Jacksonville Jaguars and our team heading into 2026, and the best
11 are going to get out there.
Q. Did you have something in your head that you thought would be the 53 as camp
began, and how much did that change?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I did not. I can tell you that I like to keep things pretty fluid and organic.
As you inch through it you kind of set certain thresholds and dates on the calendar for
check-ins to begin building that out and shaping it and shaping some of the dynamics in a
more formal manner. But walking in the door at training camp, that wasn’t the case. All the
way up until the day we had to make the calls to players to bring them back into the
building and let them know that we were moving in a direction or not, it was something that
we kept on the table and remained fluid with from start to finish.
Q. A little bit off-topic, but a couple parts to this. WR Parker Washington, how would
you describe the tone and the progress, talks between team and player?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Yeah, there’s been a lot of solid progress, a lot of good back and forth.
As I think back to this time last year, Parker was coming off a really strong training camp.
Over the course of the first half of the season, he had certain games where he really
showed up and made a significant dent, and it was a little sporadic. By the time midseason
hit, started to feel his presence more and more. Really down the stretch in those final four
games his impact was notable, and he’s carried that momentum through the offseason
program and into training camp. So certainly love where he’s at heading into the season.
Look forward to seeing that show itself once we get into games and for so many other
people to see it. Really in a good spot with that.
Q. Follow up on that, are both sides comfortable with talks going into the regular
season, and what is it about his makeup that says he can handle that?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Yeah, I think there’s a ton that he showcases on a daily basis about
who he is, how he operates, the focus, the determination, and the consistency. All that
stuff is rooted in his actions more than any words he speaks. In terms of any discussions
around contract extension or what his future holds, I think we’re certainly in a position
where we’re not going to stop talking and trying to figure something out. I think we’ve
certainly not shown any unwillingness to do stuff even during the course of the season, as
you point back to last year.
Q. But with the trade for OL Daniel Faalele a couple weeks ago, did the flexibility of
knowing you have top picks in the future kind of help you guys to make a move like
that? Does that show the value of what they can give you guys moving forward?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I appreciate the question. I think that’s something in the spring we
highlighted quite a bit about the idea of going down the compensatory picks approach and
not signing immediately some of the street free agents. Really where we were going to turn
our attention to was during training camp and the regular season, knowing that we had a
larger stock of future draft picks to utilize to answer any questions that we might need to in
those moments. Yeah, that gives us more flexibility to pursue those paths and those
options. I think that that’s an ever-evolving strategy as to whether or not you’re going to
deploy that one year after the next. It was where we found ourselves this past cycle, and I
think that’s why you probably saw some willingness there, not to say that we weren’t
unwilling a year ago, because we were. I think the equivalent of that was probably [WR] Tim
Patrick and using a sixth-round pick to get him from Detroit. We still have avenues for
pursuing those into the regular season.
Q. Is OL Emmanuel Pregnon a little bit ahead of schedule than you thought he would
be at this point?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think he’s in a really good spot. He has earned a lot of trust, a lot of
equity from both teammates and coaches over the course of the offseason and training
camp. It was really down the back stretch of training camp that you started to see his
superpowers show up and his flaws begin to diminish. I think he really settled in and has
put himself in a position to really help our team right off the bat.
Q. Speaking of the rookies, what do you think about the two WRs Josh Cameron and CJ
Williams?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Yeah, those guys have done a great job. I think that room as a whole
has done a great job together. All of them give a lot to the one beside them, and they’ve
done a great job of absorbing information, really soaking up and observing the way that
others go about business, and have tried to put that into action. Now innately, the two of
them are certainly in the category of rooted in intangibles, and I think that shows up in their
routines and their consistency. Other than that, it’s just getting out on game days and
performing in a way that their preparation allows them to, with a quieted mind. But they
certainly round that group out in a real way and have earned trust from so many in a rapid
manner. It’s not easy to do up until this point as a rookie, and I don’t think there’s anybody
that would talk about those two and flinch at the idea of really contributing over the course
of the season.
Q. How encouraged were you by QB Trevor Lawrence and WR/CB Travis Hunter’s
camps?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Both of them have continued to climb and get comfortable in their
roles and how they’re operating and how they’re moving. From a perspective, pointing to
Trevor, there have been quite a few more wow moments during the course of this training
camp that we may’ve seen a year ago today. I think that speaks to his comfort in testing
things and really not ever second-guessing himself because of his familiarity and
understanding of intent behind plays and what he can get away with, so that element has
certainly been something that I’ve been inspired by. I think that will show itself over the
course of the regular season as well, as he continues to build game chemistry with our
pass catchers, knowing that that spreads across receivers, tight ends and running backs.
I think from Travis’ perspective, I think that’s a great work in progress knowing that he’s put a
lot more focus on the defensive side down the back end of training camp stretch and still
getting his plays on offense but really settling in so that that defensive backfield can have
the continuity that it needs.
Q. What impressed you about a guy like CB Christian Braswell that he beat out a guy
like CB Jabbar Muhammad?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think there’s tough dynamics with a lot of those decisions.
Christian’s been there, done that, has a notable role on special teams come game day. You
talk about actives versus inactives, and what it is that is going to differentiate guys.
Whereas Jabbar, clearly a hungry player who has made his presence felt in a few different
settings, whether that’s our own internal practices, joints, or preseason games. I think the
fun thing about the cornerback position, in particular, is they all give up receptions. They all
have a chance at giving up points, so inherently they’re going to fail.
What I appreciate so much about the guys that sign up for that position and what Jabbar
did at the end of the New Orleans game, you go from a play where you get a reception
caught on you as New Orleans is trying to mount a final drive to win. Then you end up
getting a DPI, so back-to-back negative plays. Then we get an op [opportunity] where the
ball’s coming your way and you end up with a PBU, the buzzer sounds, and game’s over. He
looks around like why the heck would they even try me. That level of confidence to continue
to perform at a high clip despite negative plays having just happened is a really unique thing
that many that play that position possess, so that certainly stood out to me specifically
with Jabbar. Nonetheless, when it comes down to Christian, his experience, his comfort in
our system, all those things when we think about the game day active list really jump out
and lend itself to the decision to keep him in that place.
Q. You look at three defensive ends over the last couple years making it as undrafted
free agents, is that just like a super rare situation that’s happened here?
JAMES GLADSTONE: It’s not a position that typically lends itself to undrafted college free
agents making it on initial 53-man rosters or be performing in games through that.
So, yeah, to have that happen back-to-back cycles is unique. I’ve got to give a ton of credit
to our coaches and scouts who are paired together in that process and executing those
signings post-draft, prioritizing a list of players who they’re going to pursue. I think that’s a
very sound approach that we take, but it’s a collaborative approach, and it’s not any
different than in comparison to the decisions we make across the roster through other
avenues of acquisition, so I think it’s a reflection of that collaboration for sure. Those
individuals themselves and earning the ops, but at this point in time, I’ve got to say I’m
excited to see what the real output shows once we get into some true action. But yeah, I
don’t think that’s a normal result.
Q. How has OL Anton Harrison settled in at left tackle? If OL Cole Van Lanen wasn’t
injured, would you have made that move?
JAMES GLADSTONE: That’s a good question. Don’t know about the second part of that
question but I think that he is naturally someone who fits the bill for the left tackle spot, and
I think he would tell you that as well. It’s where he is most comfortable naturally.
I don’t think anybody would say that they’re concerned or have some sense of questioning
whether or not he can perform at a high level there or any different than he did at right
tackle. Cole, on the other hand, says something really similar. Look, I can do either.
Naturally, I feel best suited at right tackle, but from Cole’s perspective, he can play any
position across the offensive line regardless of what side it’s on. I think it’s certainly a new
take, but one that we feel really strongly about heading into this season.
Q. James, with a couple of the roster moves and DE Josh Hines-Allen reworking his
deal, how much flexibility do you have come the trade deadline to add veteran money?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think that’s a move to make so that we’re not forced to do anything
should we pursue an avenue. We want to make sure we have the flexibility we need to keep
things on the table as the season progresses. In the same breath, we’re always going to do
our part to consider all options, and through that lens not all those are going to come to the
table or to the public’s understanding. I think the understanding that we are always going to
turn over every stone is certainly going to be the case.
Q. Have the guys in the running back room shown you enough to feel really
comfortable this season?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Look, I don’t know if anybody feels what you might call comfortable.
There’s certainly still a sense of urgency that you feel across the team, the roster and each
position group. But I do think the combination of those guys is certainly showing itself in a
positive way. As I think back to New Orleans and the joint against them, to Carolina and the
joint against them and then Tampa Bay closing things out in that joint, our run game
certainly became a focal point in each of those progressively, and I think that’s a really
positive element, because a year ago we were in a position where we were relying heavily
on the run game during the course of the first half of the season. And so, to get out on a fast
start in that phase of the game will be really important. I think that that group of RBs right
now feels confident, but certainly urgently attacking the op[portunity] that lies in front of
them.
Q. When it comes to OL Cole Van Lanen, are you happy with the progress he’s made in
his recovery? The fact that he’s on the active 53 with no designation.
JAMES GLADSTONE: Certainly. I think he’s in as good of a spot as we could hope for.
Obviously, we’ve got about a week and a half’s more time to get him work in a more
authentic football environment, team settings, and those sorts of things, but he’s in a great
place.
Q. RB Ameer Abdullah, seeing what he did over the course of training camp, his
experience, what stood out to you the most when you see this guy can complete the
group?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think similar to some of the other comments I’ve already made, his
daily routine, his mode of operation. When you get a chance to see it firsthand, it’s no
surprise why he’s still in the league a dozen years later. He carries that routine out into his
performance each and every day in practice. We gave him a ton of work against New
Orleans in the joint; didn’t play him in the preseason game just being mindful of where he’s
at in his career. He comes out in the next against Carolina and just looks like he’s operating
it at a little different pace than a lot of the other guys that are playing against him. So, I think
he’s still got plenty left in the tank, but his knowledge base is certainly one that’s good for a
relatively inexperienced and young running back room that’s surrounding him. So I think
he’s certainly played his part up to this point and look forward to seeing how that unfolds
over the course of the regular season.
Q. James, how comfortable did TE Nate Boerkircher look in terms of the role you
envision for him?
JAMES GLADSTONE: Yeah, I think he’s slotted right in as expected in 12-personnel
groupings. You’ll see him out there with Strange [TE Brenton Strange] right away. Really has
come into his own and is showcasing his personality. You can feel that tight end room,
especially between him and Tanner [TE Tanner Koziol], really bring some youthful energy,
and I think that’s a good thing. It continues to make it so that we have position groups that
are built in depth that aren’t just young or old or veteran and youthful. I think that
combination of those two in conjunction with Brenton and Quintin [TE Quintin Morris] is a
really good pairing.
Q. The LB Ventrell Miller-LB Branson Combs competition, how pleased are you with the
way that played out?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think it’s really exciting to know that neither one of them, if thrust into
a full-time role, is going to be in a position that we feel like there’s a void. At this point in
time, we’re really excited about the progression of each and knowing that Ventrell’s walking
in the door with a more experienced standing. I think that will certainly show itself in a
positive light. And Branson continuing to take steps knowing that his contributions on
special teams are still going to be something that really adds value on a game day
operation.
Q. In January you talked about your vision for WR/CB Travis Hunter. I think he was in
rehab at that time. How has that vision evolved or has it evolved at all now that he’s
back on the grass and with the team?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I don’t think that vision has shifted in any way. I think the great part
about having him on our roster is that as dynamics shift over the course of an offseason or
over the course of the regular season, you get to use him in different ways. As it stands, the
composition of our roster would indicate, hey, defensive output full-time is going to be
where we see him contributing in the most ways, and then supplementing that on offense
in the instances that it makes sense to be in as productive and efficient as we can be while
also threatening any defense that lines up against him when he’s at wide receiver is
certainly something that we’re looking forward to.
Q. A former general manager here said that rookies are not drafted to play immediately
unless they’re a top pick. I look over the roster here, and you have six or seven guys
who could really be major contributors. Has that changed? Even with 19 returning
starters, has the game changed where rookies are expected to be this early on? Or is it
just kind of set up that way because of the decisions that you’ve made?
JAMES GLADSTONE: That’s an interesting question to dive into. I do think that every player’s
path is going to be quite a bit different, whether they’re first round, seventh round,
undrafted college free agent, second-year player, third, fourth. I think, when they’re under
that rookie contract, you can see a number of guys that just last year, as they were entering
their third seasons, really began to come into their own whereas before that, there were
guys who in their second and first, were already proving who they were. So I don’t know that
you can tag a really concrete answer to that. I think everybody’s going to show up at
different intervals and different ways, and they’re not all going to look alike in terms of their
contributions. Certainly feel good about where we are in terms of the rookie class, the
volume of guys that are going to be getting hats on game day, walking into Week 1 as it’s
projected, and certainly can’t wait to see what that ends up showing up like and looking
like. But in terms of the progress up to this point, I think there’s some really positive
elements to it.
Q. For S Caleb Ransaw, how important was it not just for him, but from you guys’
perspective, just to see him preseason getting those game-like reps?
JAMES GLADSTONE: That was critical because I think you can fit him in essentially as a
rookie this year without any real action a year ago. So, to be able to put him under the lights
and be able to get the pads pop and tackle again, I think that’s a really helpful piece of the
puzzle and a necessary piece for his sake. I think he’d tell you as much as well. That safety
room as a whole, it’s reliant heavily on [S] Eric Murray and [S] Antonio Johnson leading the
group with a bunch of younger guys behind him. So, look forward to their development not
all that different than what Antonio was able to showcase last year. At this point a year ago,
he was one of the best gunners that we had on the team and potentially across the league
and continued to level up his play and get comfortable in the defensive system to a spot
where he’s getting his hand on the ball a lot, be used in a variety of alignments, and really
became a weapon through that lens. His progression is something we’re really looking
forward to, not any different than those guys that are behind him, just on a different
timeline.
Q. Is that one of the best parts of this job, seeing stories like S Antonio Johnson and
even LB Branson Combs going from practice squad last year to on the 53 this year?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think that’s certainly an element that brings some fulfillment with it.
Obviously, we’re focused on winning football games, but that’s an underlying piece of the
puzzle that you certainly look at and can get a little grin or a smile to your face when some
of that stuff shows itself.
Q. OL Patrick Mekari is obviously out the first four weeks. How confident are you,
maybe not Week 5, but a couple weeks after that, he can become an option?
JAMES GLADSTONE: I think he’d be quickly thereafter the threshold for return to get in.
