Q. How has it been, Arik, the last few weeks. You haven't been able to be on the field, but what have you been able to accomplish being on the sidelines a bit?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: I've been able to accomplish a lot the past few months. As soon as I signed I came out for OTAs, and it's just been great getting adjusted here in Jacksonville and me and my teammates. And my family is here. And we're getting settled in.
From a football perspective, just being in the meetings, being able to be around the guys, learn the scheme, providing (indiscernible) and still continuing my process of getting back out on the field, rehabbing and all that. It's been amazing being here thus far.
Q. What have you been able to see, because as a player on the field practicing you might see something differently than when you're able to sit there and get a bird's-eye view kind of? And what do you see from the defense and just the team in general?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: We have a talented group. I wouldn't have came here, signed here if I didn't feel like I was coming to a team that has a real opportunity to win a Super Bowl. And I think we have all the pieces to get it done, and I'm excited to get out there and be a part of that journey and that process of getting there.
But, man, we have an amazing team, and I love what we're doing defensively. I don't know all the offensive schematics, but defensively I love what we're doing and what we're trying to get accomplished out there and the style of play and that standard we're trying to set.
Q. How much do you feel like you need to do or want to do before the regular season to be ready? Or do you feel like some of the preseason stuff is unnecessary at this point in your career?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: As long as I'm feeling good, you know, I'm ready to go. Definitely want to continue my process of getting back, getting back out in practice and playing some football before we get ready to go week one.
Q. If it's up to you, do you want to play in the preseason before just to knock the rust off?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: No, I'm just going with the process that they have for me. And I'm feeling great. I'm getting better and better each day. And I'm going to continue with the plan and get myself ready in a position to be out there to help my team win. So that's what I'm doing currently.
Q. Along for the ride now?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: Yeah, it's been great being a teammate with Gip for a couple of years. He's a great dude. Having another familiar face to the group. He's an excellent player, excellent guy. He's going to help our team a lot.
Q. The locker room gets a little louder with him in there, right?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: I don't know, Gip, Gip has shown out a lot over the years from what I heard. So he just be chilling now for real.
Q. You're a veteran presence, obviously. Do you have a favorite piece of advice you've given to somebody here in your time here at camp in Jacksonville?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: There's a lot of things that I've learned throughout my career. I feel like I've been in a lot of different situations -- good teams, bad teams, dealt with injuries, dealt with overcoming a lot of different things. Just whenever I see a guy struggling in a situation just trying to help them out, give them advice and whatever that may be.
But the main thing I just remind everybody is that this is not -- you have a short window in this NFL, our careers aren't long. So you want to take full advantage of everything and give it your all and work on your craft, work on your game, really take ownership over what you want to get done with your career as an individual and team-wise, as a team, too, because it's always changing.
And this season we have one opportunity as this group as a whole to make our impact and let people know what we're about. And then it's over with.
We've got to take advantage of us being together in this opportunity that we have is just kind of my experience of being around this league and seeing how it changes from year to year.
Q. This defense slumped at the end of last year. What was the biggest attraction for you and how much of it was a combination of Travon and Josh and what they could do as a pass-rushing combo?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: Coming here, I was looking at the opportunity from a whole, looking at not just our defense but the rest of the guys as well, too, on our whole team. Like I said, we definitely have what it takes to get it done. And I'm excited to be a part of, you know, this next step in this journey and bringing here consistent winning.
I don't really know what happened last year. You know, last year is last year. It's a new year, like I said. Everything is changing year to year. We have an opportunity now to do something special with this group that we have. And I'm definitely excited about it.
Of course, Josh, Travon -- not even just Josh, Travon, all the other guys, too, Roy is a great player. Big Ham is a great player. Speaking up front, Led, Lacy, I'm probably missing some, but we have a good group that can play elite ball.
Q. Has your approach to the (indiscernible) preseason changed over the years?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: No, not really. I just want to put my best foot forward. Get myself ready to have a dominant season is always my goal. And throughout the years there's different situations that arise, like the one I'm in now. But this isn't uncommon for me, having to get myself ready with a little bit of limited time.
But my goal is to feel good and get off to a good start in the season and prepare to have a dominant season, but also at the same time realizing that it's a 17-game season. And my goal is always to be my best when my best is needed, and I think I have a great track record of that.
Looking at the season as a whole, I want to get off to a good start, obviously. But obviously I want to be there for my team when they need me the most in December and January and February. So that's always been my goal.
Q. How about these joint practices? Do they show you anything as a player, as a team that a preseason game might not?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: I think joint practices are good. Just to break up the monotony of camp and go against some different guys. Being a part of this for a lot of years, guys get tired of going against each other. So bringing in a new team, being able to hit somebody else than your teammate.
And also, too, I think it's good from a schematic standpoint, going against different offenses and different defenses and we approach things a little differently.
So it's a good opportunity for us to get better and work on what we're trying to accomplish as well.
Q. I know you said the Jags have you on a plan for your come back. But for you, what would be your goal to be fully ready to go and no limitations on yourself?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: I mean, my goal is always to be there to help my team win games. So definitely week one is a goal for me. But I'm going to continue to take it day-by-day and continue with the plan that they have for me. And I'm feeling good, everything is trending very positively. So that's amazing.
And like I said, I want to help my team win games. I definitely want to be out there as much as possible, but I'm going to continue to stick with the plan that they have for me.
Q. During this time when you're not on the field as much, I've seen you around kind of helping guys. How important is that from a guy from your perspective, who has the experience but also stepping into a new team, to have that leadership off the bat even though you're not always on the field, right?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: It's a new experience for me. I was one place for nine years and so this is a new experience for me. So navigating that of being new but also having the respect and trying to be a leader and help people with the knowledge that I have has been a great experience.
For me, getting me out of my comfort zone, it's been amazing. We have a lot of great teammates. I was excited to help them in as many ways as I can. Now I'm excited to get back on the field and help them on the field and lead more by example, as well.
Q. Now that you've sort of been around Josh a lot more, you've seen him practice, what sort of stands out about him?
ARIK ARMSTEAD: I've known about Josh since he entered the league. I think we considered drafting him when he was on the Niners. I did my research, and man, he's been an amazing player since he stepped into this league, and he adds so much to a team, not only what he's able to do on the field, but the type of guy that he is.
You could tell he was raised the right way. And all those different things that, all his different life experiences, help him be a great person to our organization and also on the field. He's an amazing football player. I can't wait to take the field with him and the rest of the guys.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports