Q. Trent, just talk about what your biggest objective was going through the roster particularly with your guards to -- not so much to which one you would select, but areas? What particularly with regard to both lines, having 21 there.
TRENT BAALKE: Well, I think you can never have enough bigs, number one, guys that can play. We felt really good about those 21 guys. Obviously well enough to keep all of them.
I think you're just trying to put the best 53 together. Sometimes you go heavy in certain areas; sometimes injuries play a part; sometimes availability plays a part.
We just felt those were the best 53 for time being. The roster is never done. We're going to keep looking, going to keep competing and putting guys in a position where they have to compete to keep their spots.
Q. How difficult was it making the final couple decisions?
DOUG PEDERSON: It's never easy. This is a tough day for all 32 clubs. You've invested so much time in these guys, right, in the development process. Like Trent said, it's not done. Obviously we get a chance to hopefully get some guys back on our practice roster. You know, keep improving the roster.
Q. Doug, you talked about those difficult decisions wind up being really hard when it came to the secondary, decisions you guys made there.
DOUG PEDERSON: Secondary?
Q. Yeah.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I think every position is tough. It goes without saying. I think there is obviously some veteran players that are competing in the secondary. We also felt comfortable with some of our young players and the development we had.
Again, it's just you find the best 53. We're not done obviously. We've got to continue to improve. But the guys we have we're confident in when we go play.
Q. Say more about Jarrian and De'Antre, players like that played in training camp, in the preseason games?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, that's a lot of it. I think it's a credit to the coaches, too, and it goes back to what I've been saying all spring and summer, is the development of our entire roster.
I think that's what showed up in these games. You know, these guys have earned these spots.
Q. ... (indiscernible) talked in the spring about no more reliance on free agency; I think 18 of the 23 guys in the last two draft classes made it through on the roster. Does that speak to this priority as well?
TRENT BAALKE: Again, you know, Mikey, you keep the best 53 guys regardless of age. Does that play a factor? Yeah, when things are equal or close to equal and you're looking at up side, potential, where they are currently.
So many things go into it. Like Coach said, everybody that's in those rooms earned it. Now it's their job to keep it as we progress through. They know it. That's just the business. We're all in it. It's what have you done for me lately?
Q. Where have you left it with CJ? I know it was released with the injury designation. Are you going to let him explore the market or is that a down-the-line reunion?
TRENT BAALKE: Well, the way that works when you have a guy that gets injured and you do an injury settlement with them, it's the length of the injury plus three weeks before we can get him back. Other teams could make a move earlier than that. We got to wait at least seven weeks before that becomes an option for us.
Q. Was it that significant of an injury that it just felt like that was the right move?
TRENT BAALKE: Well, it was a significant injury and going to keep him away from ball for a while, at least four weeks of the season. Could be longer; could be shorter. Depends on how quickly he heals and how the rehab goes, but that's the timeline right now.
Q. Trent, are there concerns that you're stressing the pass rush situation at all? Erick hasn't played. Coming back from injury. And Myles in this group. Obviously very top heavy, comfortable with Travon, Josh. Doesn't look like a lot of bodies there.
TRENT BAALKE: We feel good about the group. Again, we've got three guys that have played a lot of football. Erick is in good shape. Ready to go. We've been smart. He's been smart in how we're bringing him along. He's a pro. He knows his body well. You can see him out there moving around. He's moving really well.
There is always a chance for injury. I don't care how many guys you have, guys go down, the next man has to come up. We feel good about that rotation. Got some guys on the inside that can flex outside. There is some flexibility with the way the roster was constructed.
Q. With that group, what does it say about Cole and what he was able to do in pretty short order to be a part of that?
DOUG PEDERSON: It's a credit to Myles to really come in and learn the system, learn the defense, you know, show us his skillset and earn a spot.
Q. What do you like about Esezi? What did you see from him during training camp to keep him?
DOUG PEDERSON: For me too it goes back to last year, being having him here last year. What we saw every day going against our offensive line. He's a big powerful, you know, lengthy guy with some athleticism. That showed up in camp.
Just his skillset fits the scheme and he's done a nice job.
Q. Does that go to show how important guys are on this practice squad because they can be the next wave?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, like Trent said, next man up. If there is an injury, next guy up. We didn't have that last year, but he was ready to go.
Guy like himself that was on our roster competing every day last year came in this year ready to go, eager to make the team.
Q. What's the next several hours like for you guys? Do you guys got people you know you want back on the practice squad? Just sort of the waiting, hoping those guys get through the waiver claim? What was that like for you guys? Is it as nerve-wracking as Draft Day too, or no?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, you know, you sit here today and you let a number of players go, and at the same time you want to communicate with them and the guys that you want back.
But you got 31 other teams we say all along that are looking at our roster too, as we're looking at others. Obviously there is a plan in place. If we don't get the guys, we get the next guy. We'll fill out the practice roster with the best 16.
Q. As much as you're able to share the situation with Shatley, knowing longest tenured Jaguar, knowing he said this was probably his last year. Curious if there was anything you're able to share on that front?
TRENT BAALKE: Not at this time. You know, he had a really good run here. Is that run over? That remains to be seen. Just hard to stay in this league a year much less ten, so hats off to him and what he's accomplished.
You never say never.
Q. (Regarding special teams.) How valuable is that for you, Coach, to have guys who have been through some fires here before?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think it's very valuable. Both have been staples on special teams, and that's -- I think it's a credit to them, but I think it's a message to the young players on our roster, that if you want to play in this league and you want to play on the club, you bust your tail on special teams.
And both of those guys have kind of come up through that. Have done a nice job. They've earned their spots.
Q. Tough to overtake those guys, too; been in that role for a long time.
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, it is. It seems like every year you try to find that next guy. These guys, they're pros. They know how to come in every day and work hard and they're diligent about their craft, you know, and have earned the spot.
Q. The new rule, being able to test it and guys returning from IR without having to put them on the 53-man roster, what flexibility does that give you. And how welcome of a change is that?
TRENT BAALKE: Well, I think it's a very positive change for the league. You get a total of eight throughout the course of the year that you can designate for return, so that's define an advantage. You don't have to play the roster gymnastics like you used to with veteran guys, cutting them and bringing them back. Just made sense to do it, and I'm glad the league went to that.
Q. Doug spoke to this yesterday, but Trent, is this as good as you feel about the overall depth since you've been here?
TRENT BAALKE: Is that for me?
Q. Yeah.
TRENT BAALKE: Coach and I were talking. We feel good about the 53 guys. You know, you're only as good at what the record you put out there is, so that remains to be seen.
This group of guys, they work hard. They're great teammates. They love coming to work every day. So from that standpoint, we feel really good about the locker room.
How good it ends up being, we're going to find out 18 weeks from now.
Q. Doug, if you don't mind, a little bit more on Shatley. You've been one of those guys that's been in the league for a while. I think Mitch Morse called him the patriarch of that room yesterday to us. Was that a hard -- is that a little bit more difficult of a conversation than maybe even some of the other ones? How do you feel about it?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, it is, you know, because of his tenure and his commitment, the longevity that he's had here in Jacksonville. It's always hard. It's tough when they've been a staple in the community and on your team and in your organization for as many years as he has.
I just appreciate his hard work. He is another one of those guys that he kept working his tail off, right? Then we'd get an injury in the offensive line and he would go in. He just Mr. Reliable. It's tough to make those decisions.
Q. Speaking of the offensive line, Cole as well as Javon, Doug, how did they earn a roster spot on the 53?
DOUG PEDERSON: I just think Cole has had a really good training camp, and he, again, earned a spot, right? Javon has really proven too, over the course of when we got him to now, the improvement, right? Just a young offensive lineman that you still want to invest some time and continue to work, because there is a skillset there that is very usable, and we feel comfortable with that.
Q. Trent, how good do you think you guys have built special teams? Drafted kicker Logan has been one of the best. All the other core guys that were just mentioned, how good is that unit?
TRENT BAALKE: I think we feel good about a nucleus of guys, core group of guys. There is never enough depth. Obviously when you go with as many bigs as we did, it thins out that core a little bit.
So we'll continue to look at that and what we need to do to potentially beef that up. Again, the roster is never completely set. You're constantly looking. Heath and Luke do an outstanding job coaching those guys and getting them ready to play.
Sometimes you got to have guys that are starters step up and step in and fill roles, so we're going to look at all our options. Again, that's what you do, you just keep looking.
Q. For clarification, the two guys you put on IR today, does that count against the eight you can bring back?
TRENT BAALKE: It does, counts against the eight, so total of eight. Those two count, so we're down to six.
Q. Do you have any update on Keelan in particular? Knowing it's four weeks minimum, what's the sense of that injury?
TRENT BAALKE: He's still dealing with the toe. How long that takes, we're going to bring him back as quickly as we can. Those things can be tricky especially for that position when it's the big toe.
We are going to be smart with it. We got to get him rolling at some point here.
Q. Doug, how much of a transition for Trevor is not having CJ in the room? Is that different?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, CJ has been -- he's been really good with Trevor. You know, obviously it'll take some getting used to and adjustments.
Mac is definitely -- his veteran presence, played a lot of games, just like CJ has, and those two have a really good relationship as well. We've seen it; I've seen it. I've spent time in this room and see the dialog that goes on not only in there but on the field.
It'll take an adjustment period but they're pros. Mac supports Trevor and we just roll.
Q. How much does -- when you went through it from the players' side, so when you're sitting there talking to these guys, do you flashback on your own experiences?
DOUG PEDERSON: I do. I mean, I was released six times. Yeah, six times in this league as a player early on. It does. It still bothers you. I had my own son. I had to cut him twice. So it bothers you.
You do flashback to those times. You just feel for the player. But at the same time, I also encourage them, too, that's not the end, right? There are other clubs looking and needing to fill out their rosters and practice squads and all that stuff.
It's not the end. Could be the start for many of them.
Q. Have you been forgiving...
DOUG PEDERSON: No comment.
Q. One other point of clarification. I know you guys waived wait Patrick Murtagh injured; would he revert back to the pathway program or how do you go?
TRENT BAALKE: Well, he reverts back to -- counts against the 90, right? He's on IR for the season; season-ending injury. So we'll rehab him and try to get him ready for next year.
Q. Would he count then as the Pathway program?
TRENT BAALKE: No. That opens up a spot. We can now have another one, yes.
Q. Trent, what did you think you were getting when you traded for Mac? What do you think you got now that he's been here?
TRENT BAALKE: We all felt it was -- obviously the staff was heavily involved in it, the coaching staff. We felt like we were getting a guy that's played high level football in this league. Sometimes things turn a different way. They go through a bad stretch.
But Mac is in a real good place. He's a good football player. Loves football. Loves being in the building. He's an energizer. We got exactly what they thought we were going to get.
Q. Did you not get pass rush help that you thought you would get out of Gipson? Was the offer just let's just go ahead and...
TRENT BAALKE: I think a lot of things factored in there. Trevis did a nice job for us. He had a nice pre-season, nice off-season, training camp. Obviously did well enough that multiple teams were interested in him.
You know, we just felt really good about where Myles was at and where we think we can get him, and the compensation factored into it.
So there were a lot of things at play.
Trevis did a nice job and I think he'll do a nice job for Seattle.
Q. How valuable was Savage's ability to play nickel. Safety, two back? Giving you a lot more flexibility making decisions on the back end there?
TRENT BAALKE: Yeah, I mean, the more guys can do, the more flexible your roster is, the more things you can do numbers-wise and where you count guys and stuff like that.
So does give you flexibility. You're always looking for guys. O-line, D-line, multiple position guys, linebackers that can play two positions and special teams. The more they can do the better off it is for us in terms of the roster building.
Q. Back to Myles, was there a moment where maybe I compared to where he was when he got here in May to where he is today, for either of you, that you were like, okay, he could be on the 53-man roster, he can contribute here?
TRENT BAALKE: I think if you look at just the first game he played in as a young guy against Kansas City, there will be some growing pains. Always is with rookies and especially get into the regular season games and heat up a little bit.
You're going against the ones and things change. He's going to have to be able to adjust to that. I think you saw you recall on it's hard to find 6'6" 280 pounds that runs 4.6 and has 36 7/8 arm length. They're not just dropping off trucks every day, so...
Q. Head coaches worry all the time about everything. Does having a rookie kicker add any anxiety for you?
DOUG PEDERSON: Let me think back. I think I had a rookie kicker in '17. (Smiling.) So, no.
Cam has done a great job. He's earned it. Strong leg. Accurate. He's done a nice job with the new kickoff rule and keeping things in that landing zone. We're just excited of his growth and development.
Q. Doug, you practice what you preach in terms of development stuff the entire off-season, camp, and what the roster looks like. The league is not very patient. Will you guys have to practice a little bit of patience, kind of what Trent was saying, and the growing pains at times?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, but at the same time, when you look at the -- I think when you look to the starting 11 offensively, starting 11 defensively, there are some veteran guys that have played a lot of football. You know, okay, Brian Thomas on offense might be the only really only one, right, that's young back there.
Defensively, you know, you're rolling some veteran guys in that defensive line. You've got some veteran linebackers that have been here. Then there is those one-offs, like the Ventrell Millers who have really developed and can give you some time, not only defensively but on special teams.
Secondary is another place. Antonio Johnson, the steps he's made. Tyson Campbell, the addition of Darnell. There is enough pieces that are you going to have a few pains here and there? Probably. I think these guys have played enough football and feel comfortable in the scheme that it's going to be, you know, better than not.
Q. The versatility of some of the interior defensive lineman and maybe linebackers have an impact on how the edge room was shaped?
TRENT BAALKE: Yeah. Like I said earlier, there are guys on the inside, in that the inside seven that can move, especially in run down situations. They can flex out. So that ability, that versatility does help us certainly.
Q. Speaking of that group, Yasir, from where he was, the role he played this time a year to where he is now, Doug, how would you describe that?
DOUG PEDERSON: He has improved tremendously. You know, from on-the-ball outside backer, off-the-edge rusher, which he's proven to do in camp this year, to a stack backer to special teams.
Again, one of the young players that when you talk about development and growth, he's really taken that to heart and put himself in a really good position to help us, special teams and also on defense.
Q. ... (indiscernible.) How did he stand out and what can he do on the offensive line if need be?
DOUG PEDERSON: Cole right now, you look at it, as well as he's played, I mean, he's your fourth tackle, right? I mean, that's a good thing to have, right? To have that depth - Trent alluded to it earlier - to have that kind of depth in your offensive line, find another team that has four tackles and can play either side.
So we're very blessed obviously to be in this position, and he is definitely had a tremendous camp and has done a nice job.
Q. (No microphone.)
DOUG PEDERSON: I don't think he did. He kept him outside. He stayed outside, yeah.
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