Despite losing starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a concussion, he suffered one the Jaguars nearly staged a comeback at home against the Texans on Sunday, only to lose their 10th game of the 2024 season, .
Below is everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville's latest loss.
On QB Trevor Lawrence's injury and whether Pederson was able to talk to him after the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I haven't spoken to the doctors yet. I saw him at halftime. He was moving and everything. We'll be fine. He will of course respond to the protocol. I haven’t spoken to him here after the game.”
Where the hit Lawrence ranked in terms of “dirty” hits for Pederson was:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Well, it's a game that obviously no one in our league wants to see because you see what happens after the fact and it just escalates. I have a lot of respect for Coach Ryans [Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans]. I know he doesn't train his team that way. We don’t coach our team like that. It's really unfortunate. It's unfortunate. I'm just glad Trevor will be okay. Of course it will be in the protocol, but it’s just an unfortunate move.”
On whether Pederson has considered shutting Lawrence down for the season:
DOUG PEDERSON: “It's 30 minutes after the game, so I haven't thought about it yet.”
On Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack accepting a head coaching job at Kennesaw State University:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m happy for Jerry. It is a great opportunity for him to become the head college football coach at Kennesaw State. I just thank Jerry for what he's done here. He really changed the running back room and did some really good things for us. Wish him all the best. I'm thrilled. I’m excited to see him continue his career as a head coach.”
If it was difficult to decide whether to take the onside kick or not at the end of the game:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Of course I thought about it, but we still had a few timeouts and still had some time on the clock. Just the decision to go deep, bring our defense back to the forefront and try to get one more stop. We talked about it quickly, but we decided to go deep into it.”
What it was like to watch Lawrence go down after the big hit:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I was happy to have Trevor back out there this week starting for our team and leading our soccer team. That was always the goal, for us to shoot for the Houston game and get him out. Here too it is unfortunate. It's a game that really has no place in our league. In my opinion, the officials did a great job and tried their best to gain control of it and all that. Again, put Trevor in a comfortable situation, get him back out, try to get some momentum on offense and obviously that's what happens. It takes the wind out of your sails a little bit, but also on the other side Mac came in and got us back into the football game. I’m very proud of that too.”
On the question of whether the aftermath of the attack was just a byproduct of what happened:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yes, you see that at all levels of football, right? When the quarterback gets hit to that extent, it just escalates. Obviously, Jarrian [CB Jarrian Jones] On our side, he can't do what he did either. This is also unacceptable. I know the league will likely fine both players and perhaps a few others as well. Again, if you see it, yes, it does. Plus, it's a divisional game. It's a division game and it's an emotional football game anyway, but at the same time you have to be the bigger person. In situations like this you have to be the bigger man. It’s lucky no one else was left out of the game.”
On the inability to leave the field on third down:
DOUG PEDERSON: “As a player you have to understand the situation above all. From a schematic perspective, we look at it as coaches and make sure we put our players in situations where they can be successful. Of course, we'll watch the tape tomorrow and I'll probably be able to give you a better answer tomorrow. If you just know and understand the situation, you do everything you can to get off the field. Credit Houston for executing that play and staying on the field.”
Jaguars offensive player Walker Little receives a contract extension today:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Excited for Walker. It's a great opportunity for him. I think it just shows the commitment of the organization and the type of player that really locks him up. I think it's a little reassuring for him too to know that he's here for the long haul. I'm happy for him and his family. It’s a great opportunity, obviously great for the organization and our team, and he’s really excited about it.”
