HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
(On the release of S Darnell Savage) “Just at the end of the day wish him nothing but the
best and just at this time best for both parties, for him to have a runway to go and get on the
grass and wish him nothing but the best though.”
(On his conversation with WR Brian Thomas Jr.) “Just like anybody on this team, nobody
was pleased with the outcome and we had some good conversations, really good
conversations and everybody was frustrated, but at the end of the day, he’s got a great
opportunity to bounce back, as does the rest of our team and feel really confident about
that.”
(On the importance of getting Thomas Jr. on the right track) “Yes, it’s huge. I mean, you’ve
got a very talented player that we want to continue to try to get the most out of and put him
in a position to continue to be successful and continue to have his back.”
(On if they have found the sweet spot on how to divide WR/DB Travis Hunter’s practice
time) “I think so. You look at, I think we were very intentional last week, specifically about
some of the volume and mileage that we were looking at deploying and it showed up on
Sunday. There’s definitely things to clean up about that in terms of detailing the preparation
and making sure that all the formations, all the alarms, but we can help them too and
maybe simplify some of that stuff as well for him but very happy with where things were last
week in terms of our organization with him, his preparation and we kind of continue to do
that this week as we continue to just evaluate how many snaps and what it’s going look like
each week.”
(On if Hunter is spending more time on the offensive side) “It’s right now, honestly guys, it’s
pretty split up. It’s pretty 50-50 at the moment but the extra work that he’s putting in on his
own ,earlier in the mornings before meetings even get started, on his own, on both sides.
So, he does have to do, I don’t want to call it double time, but it is in a lot of ways, a little bit
of double time. So, I thought he had a really intentional week last week. The way that he
prepared, the way that he practiced was exactly what we’re hunting up, so was definitely
pleased and hopefully it continues to carry over.”
(On if he is worried the workload may tire out Hunter in the long term) “I mean, I think if
anything we probably have a little bit more encouragement and excitement about where
things went this last week in terms of being able to handle that workload. We’ve got to
manage it though, like it’s something we are constantly evaluating. We were just meeting a
minute ago with sports science, with [Director of Performance Science] Chris Bach about
that and with [Assistant to the Head Coach] Jay Kaiser about his schedule and about what
it looks like, what the mileage [is], what we’re hoping to get out of today, tomorrow, the
whole vision. So, is it a concern? No, it’s just something that we definitely need to make
sure we’re constantly evaluating and being able to tweak if necessary.”
(On the pass rush of the Houston Texans) “Yeah, those guys, obviously being in that division
in LA with San Fran, very, very similar structure, the way that they come off the rock, the
way that they want to disrupt. We have got to have another sound plan when it comes to
protecting the quarterback but also in the run game, manufacturing different ways to
manipulate those guys. Like I said, it takes all 11, but specifically the way that they want to
roll off and come off the rock and play. Talented, got a lot of respect for the way that those
guys play the game and can be very disruptive.”
(On how to use the Texans’ Week 2 game against the Buccaneers to gameplan the offense)
“And LA [Rams] week one. So we’ve got some good formations to work with, things that we
formationally, conceptually, things that we obviously have and want to sometimes deploy
that it really helps us get a good look at maybe how they’ll adjust, how they’ll play certain
formations, certain motions, certain concepts, what’s been helpful, what hasn’t worked,
things like that. Those are all very beneficial to have. So, it gives us just a little bit different
inventory, especially going into only having two weeks but those are two weeks of good tape
for us.”
(On the past losses and history with the Texans) “I think they’re aware. We’ve really tried not
to look back much at last year, whatever it is, we’re trying to really go forward and each year
is a new year. Each week is a new week. Look, I think these guys are aware of what is at
stake in terms of just the competitiveness between these two teams and that we haven’t
had a ton of success, but that’s the past and we’re looking forward and these guys, I think
have the right mentality the way that they’re approaching things, the way that we competed
in the first two games. Yeah, the outcome last week wasn’t what we were hoping for, but
these guys continue to play their tails off and are starting to continue to do it physically and
that’s going to be this type of game.”
(On the balance of communication towards the team and emphasis on making plays to
win) “That’s a great point. You try to really, at the end of each game, man, guys, whether it’s
the refs, whether it’s the opponent, whatever it is, guys like that, we control our outcome in
so many ways. We try not to put it in other people’s hands. So, when our number is called
when the opportunity presents, we’ve got to make those plays. It’s the teams that make
those plays usually win the game and we’ve got to continue to learn to do that and to do it
out here in practice, to put your mind through those situations as the work week goes start
to visualize yourself making those plays and putting yourself in those positions but the
thing that I do feel is there’s a general confidence I think, from this group right now, even
after the result, at the end of the last game. Frustrating, disappointing but a great learning
lesson for us to be able to go and say, hey, look guys, we’ve got to take it out and we’re not
going to get a call, we’re not going to put it in other people’s hands. We’ve got to go take it
and it’s on us to go do that. Nobody else is going to do it for us.”
(On worries of retaliation towards LB Azeez Al-Shaair) “If that’s on our minds then we’re
probably thinking about the wrong things right now.”
(On how QB Trevor Lawrence will respond to Al-Shaair) “The way that he can show that he’s
continuing to respond is in his preparation, in the way that he’s surgical with his footwork,
with his reads, playing the position at a high level and continuing to get better week in and
week out, mastering their defensive scheme, knowing what’s going to happen, using the
formations and motions to be able to undress the defense, being and playing the
quarterback position at a high level and being a surgeon is how he can, if he feels that way.
He hasn’t brought it up or anything like that. So, I just think continuing to focus on him, on
us, on our guys, on our execution, that’s how you ultimately respond to anything.”
(On the screen game) “I think we have multiple different players that can catch them and
do something with them, which I’ve appreciated. Whether it’s the receiver position, the
running back position or even the tight end position that, we had some up last week just
didn’t end up getting to. I think with our OL [offensive line] being a little bit more athletic
and having the ability to run in space really helps and we’ve detailed the heck out of them.
There’s landmarks on every single screen in terms of where we’re trying to catch it, what’s
the timing of this screen? Is it a two-count screen? Is it a three-count screen? Is it a set and
go screen? We’ve tried to detail the heck out of those. Because every look and every screen
is different in its own entity and so whether somebody blitzes, we don’t block blitzers, we
just want to level up and go get our eyes inside this week, or hey, when they blitz, the next
player that you’re going to look for is now up or outside this week, trying to detail those
things up for these guys so that they’re prepared for any of those looks that can come up. Is
it a screen that we like verse zone better or is it a screen that we like verse man better and
some of those things and trying to set them up formationally.”
(On if screen game or running game is more important in this game) “Oh man, that’s a great
question. I think there’s a huge balance there that you want to have. You look at Tampa, I
think last week having that balance. Okay they ran for 170 yards and also hit some screens
that ended up being explosive plays and game changing plays. So I think that’s kind of the
balance you’re hunting up when you’re talking about trying to neutralize darn good rushers
and edge players to help these OL, like that’s another way that you’re helping the offensive
line to not just sit there and say, we’re going to drop back 40 times and put these guys in a
position to just go tee off and do what they do best. So, it’s the balance of, alright, ark them,
wham them, trap them, crack them, screen them, like that whole dynamic is something
that we’ve got to be detailed and intentional about this week.”
(On if he watches the game start-to-finish first when prepping for an opponent) “No, start to
finish first always. So it’s kind of their last game, start to finish just to get a flow of that
game, get a flow for the play callers on both sides and really in all three phases, get a feel
for within a game who is either side of the ball trying to go attack in certain situations,
seeing who performs on third downs in the red zone in crunch time, who can we go attack
in some of those moments? Then you kind of jump into the formation cutups, the personnel
cutups, okay, where are they at in two by two double, where are they at in three by one trips
or bunch? How do they handle one by three in slot formations? Then you get into the
motion tape. So, that’s kind of how we try to build the game plan and, and how we start to
visualize to attack our opponents.”
(On if S Antonio Johnson will be the third safety in three safety looks) “That’s the goal.
Antonio has flashed some really good stuff since we’ve all gotten here. Obviously
physically, big dude who can run and when Antonio’s playing confident and playing fast and
knows exactly what he is doing, man, he can be disruptive. He can impact the game for us
in a positive way. Now this is a great challenge and opportunity for Antonio and that’s what
we communicated to him was, man, we’ve got confidence in you, now, you’ve got to go and
take it and earn it and show it every single day because you have the ability to do so.”
(On the abilities of RBs Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten) “Yeah, I mean two guys that
both can, we’ve had success running the football with and then both guys that can catch
the football and do something with it as well. Tuten on the one screen, it’s maybe a two,
three yard gain and he splits through and Anton [OL Anton Harrison] had an unbelievable
block on that play. The effort that he showed on that screen that kind of got out Tuten on
our sideline was great effort, but it’s the ability to say, okay, you can put either one in maybe
different spots in some ways, but both can catch it and do something with it. I can’t coach
that. So you can try to design to put them in a position to go get them in space and do what
they do best.”
(On if WR Parker Washington will play a bigger role on the offense) “Absolutely, absolutely.
Parker has, you guys saw it all through training camp, and the way that he’s continued to
ascend and perform, whether it be out in the practice field, in the meeting settings and
then on Sundays. So that was something that when we went into last week, we wanted to
get him a bigger role and to get him going. Didn’t do a good enough job of that in Week 1.
Week 2 and that’s just a great example of a guy staying the course and yeah, it didn’t for him
personally show in the stat column on, week one against Carolina, right? So how does he
work the next week? How does he respond, how does he handle it? And then he goes out
on Sunday and makes plays and makes some huge plays for us. So, he’s absolutely earned
a bigger role.”
(On his evaluation of the kicking, punting and return game) “Needs to be improved. We’re
going to evaluate the kickoff return thing and just see. How many other guys we’re going to
look at competition back there. We’ve got to do a better job communicating as an off
returner. I mean, last week that guy was putting him right on the goal line and those are
brutal because you’re sitting there and you teach these guys to catch a kickoff in a
staggered stance, and so, well, where’s the one foot versus the other? That’s got to have
great communication and trust between those two back there. So that’s something we’re
evaluating this week and I mean, Houston has a very good special teams unit, physical,
aggressive, fakes. They have speed down the field in all phases. So, this is a great
opportunity for our unit that, coming off the heels of not our best performance and not the
standard, to bounce back against a great team.”
(On the kicking game and adjustment to the new kickoff format) “Have a ton of confidence
in Cam [K Cam Little]. I mean, obviously he’s been lights out making his kicks and that
operation. Continue to take that confidence in the kickoff and yeah, it’s a work in progress.
So, nobody was ultra thrilled with some of that execution. Cam’s one of the first guys up
here on Tuesdays on the off day coming in to make sure that it’s getting done right and
getting fixed. So, got a lot of confidence in that group and Heath [Special Teams
Coordinator Heath Farwell] and Luke [Assistant Special Teams Coach Luke Thompson] and
those guys in there and fully anticipate those guys bouncing back this week.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
(On the importance of getting a bounce back win this week) “Yeah, it’s really important.
Especially, a division opponent here at home. So, it’s all the motivation you need.
Obviously, a big week for us and looking forward to it.”
(On if there is more emotion going into this game) “There’s always emotion going into every
game really, but especially versus the Texans, division opponent, a team that we’ve kind of
been up and down against in the past. If we’re just being honest, haven’t had a ton of
success against. So, it’s always a game that I’m wanting to get after them and a game we
want to win, especially because it’s a division opponent and it’s a big one for us.”
(On what the offense has corrected in pre-snap motions) “Just details. I think
communication, whether it’s making sure I’m really clear in the huddle with all the different
tags and formations and adjustments and then also guys just standing in the huddle for the
entirety of the call and making sure we’re hearing all the little additions, especially on the
road. That was our first road test, and you get some noise and it’s little easier to let some
little things slip as far as details go in the huddle. So, I think it’s just a good reminder for us
that we’ve got to be sharper. And then just overall operation, moving a little quicker so we
have more time at the line of scrimmage and we’re not rushing.”
(On if it has been easier to prepare for the Texans after watching them play similar offenses
the past two weeks) “Definitely. You know what you’re looking at and I guess a lot of people
do similar things offensively. There’s different systems, but it definitely helps when you’re
watching a team that’s the same system. You can see what they’re doing and you know
exactly what it is and what they’re trying to accomplish. I think it’s good for our game
planning just to see it, so having those two opponents was nice for us.”
(On his connection with WR Brian Thomas Jr.) “It’s football. It doesn’t always go perfect.
Obviously, we would’ve loved to start off hot these first two games and have our connection
be ripping and me finding him everywhere and him having a great year and all those things.
But we’re in a week two, everybody, so I think we can all just take a deep breath, give B.T. a
little space. He’s going to be just fine. I’m not worried about him at all. Just something we’ve
got to continue to work at and we’re going to have a good plan for him each week to be
involved. He’s too good of a player to not be involved and make those plays down the field
that we all know he can make. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him and I’m excited
for just another opportunity for him this week to get going.”
(On if he will say anything to Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair at the coin toss) “Not outside of a
normal what I would do [if] whoever was out there for the toss.”
(On Al-Shaair not reaching out to him after the hit last year) “I’m past that. I’m way past that
at this point in my life, so it’s not something I’ve thought about since then. Everybody’s
different, it’s football, it’s a violent game and obviously it’s unfortunate when things like that
happen and I don’t want to get into all that again. We’re past that. So I’m not going to look in
the rear-view mirror.”
(On if the hit is hard to watch) “I’ve seen it so many times now. Seen it a lot now, so. Just
after it happened last year and then obviously kind of going back game planning now.”
(On WR Parker Washington’s progress) “I’ve played with him now going on three years.
You’ve always seen the ability and the skillset, the explosiveness, the talent with the ball, in
and out of brakes, all those things. You’ve kind of seen that there but I think the speed at
which he’s playing at now, because there’s confidence there and he knows what he’s doing.
There’s conviction. When he is running a route, he has a lot of confidence in what he is
doing because he knows exactly where to be, when to be there, knows the scheme, knows
the coverage. I think just seeing how much he’s grown mentally in the system and just
understanding coverages, leverage technique. I think he’s taken huge strides from the past
few years, and I have so much confidence in him when he is out there and I know what I’m
going to get and he’s a guy that I have a lot of faith in.”
(On if he knew Washington could jump that high) “He can jump. Yeah, he went up and got it.
I’ve seen him do it a few times. He’s had a few like that in practice and one against
Cincinnati a couple years ago.”
(On the team having the top ranked rushing attack) “Yeah, it’s really valuable. If you can run
the football, it opens up a lot of things for your offense, for your team. I think just overall,
controlling the game being able to run the football is a huge part of it. I feel like our
possessions have been a lot longer, been a lot more productive. It’s just helped us all
around, I think. Just being able to run the ball consistently and it’s only two weeks, we got to
continue to build on that and do it over a season, but it helps a lot.”
(On if the growth of the run game was quicker than he expected) “I thought we did some
really good things in camp and I know we have a good defense, so seeing some of the
things against our defense and feeling like our run game is really progressing and it’s
looking pretty good. So, I’m not surprised necessarily. You always want to see how it
unfolds though when the bullets start flying and you get in the real games and you want to
see it kind of I guess confirmed in those settings and it has been. So, we just have to
continue to play with that mindset.”
(On the keys to being a successful screen team) “Yeah, those are just tools for our offense
to change the look for the defense. It really is getting the ball in space. It’s big play potential
plays that are easy to kind of manufacture. Obviously, you don’t always hit them all like
huge plays but when you do they’re great and then you’re always going to get a positive. And
I think we’ve done a good job mixing those in and that just can slow down some of the pass
rush things. It makes the D-lineman think a little bit more. Helps the guys up front in the run
game, pass game, all those areas.”
(On if the screen concepts are different than before) “Yeah, a little bit. I think there’s some
nuances to every offense’s screens. Some of them are very similar, but I’d just say definitely
in the variety in certain things and obviously game plan is different. Things change every
week.”
(On if he has spoken to Texans WR Christian Kirk) “Yeah, I’ve been texting with him a little
bit. Obviously, when he hurt his hamstring a couple weeks ago, just checked in to see what
was going on there and talked to him a little bit throughout the offseason just checked in to
see how it was going over there and kind of vice versa. Just talking. Obviously, we’re close
friends, so we keep in touch. I haven’t talked to him this week. I’m shunning him for this
week, so I’ll see him. It’ll be good to see him out there. Obviously, you guys know how I feel
about Christian. Other weeks I wish him better luck but not this week.”
