(On finding out he would be the starting quarterback) "[Head Coach] Coach Marrone called me in late last week and told me the news. [He] said to get ready and they were excited for me. [I] talked to [Offensive Coordinator] Coach Gruden and [Quarterbacks Coach Ben] McAdoo] and I'm excited. [I] can't wait to get out there and get to just play football, get to be out there with the guys and I'm real fired up."

(On if he thought playing in the NFL would happen in his career) "It's something that I've always dreamed of since I was a little kid and something I've always really strived for. [I] battled through some things and I've had my journey just like everyone else has, so it's something I take pride in, the journey that I've had and the road it took to get here. Like I said, I'm just excited. I'm proud to be here and ready to get out there and play for the Jags."

(On not being phased becoming the starter as a rookie) "I think playing the quarterback position, I think you have to be pretty even keeled. It's what I pride myself in is just being composed at all times. I think that's something the team really looks to and guys really respect. I just try to approach it day in and day out as a first-year guy coming in and preparing like I'm going to play and whether I am or not, I'm going to prepare that way so when my time comes, I'll be ready."

(On not having preseason games to get game experience) "I think everyone that's playing their first year, they're dealing with it right now, so it's my job to just get ready and go out and be prepared. This year's a little different for everybody, I'm not the only one. I have to get prepared and be ready for my first snap out there and hopefully I will be."

(On if he's been thinking about what this weekend will be like) "I'm taking it day by day for sure, taking the first team snaps out there in practice and just trying to do the best I can today and tomorrow and getting the team ready to go. I'm sure afterwards, I'll be able to reflect and look back and take it in a little bit, but right now I'm just focused on today and trying to improve and get ready to go."

(On his impact on the opening game script) "I think it will be the same as it is every week. Like I say, I try to be really involved, even throughout the beginning of the year when I knew I wasn't going to be playing, just trying to help anywhere I can and give my input and I'm sure that will stay the same this week. They'll talk to me about what I like, what I don't like, and we'll kind of reconvene at the end of the week and we'll put a good script together."

(On his comfort level with the wide receivers) "I'm real comfortable with them. I throw with them on routes on air every day, all through training camp and now. I feel like I have a good feel for them, good chemistry, and excited to get out there and play with them."

(On the dynamic between the quarterbacks when he was named the starter and if there was any awkward tension) "Not at all, not on my end. Gardner [Minshew II]'s a great dude, great leader for our team. The first time I saw him afterwards, I ran into him on my way into the building and the first thing he said was, 'Let me know what you need. Let me know what you need to get ready to go and I'll help you'. And same with Mike [Glennon], Mike's been the best mentor that I could ask for, prior to this week even. He's really helped me come along and study the game and understand the game and that hasn't changed. Our first meeting in, he actually called me beforehand and said, 'Let me know what you need.' So, both of them have been real supportive, hasn't been awkward by any means. They're great teammates."

(On preparing mentally without preparing physically with the first team before this week) "You have to find a way. You have to find other ways to get that done. Something I've done since the start of training camp is [that] I make little voice memos on my phone. I record myself saying the script and just practice it over and over, that way I'm hearing it like a play call, spitting it back out. Some of our plays can get up there in the things we're trying to do and so I think that's important to be able to say it with confidence. [It's] something I've practiced, so I think this week in the practices that we've had and walk throughs going on with the guys, I feel confident that I can step right in and call the plays because I practiced on my own."

(On if he called any plays during training camp) "I didn't get a ton of reps, but I was in there calling the plays the first week we were out there walking though in training camp. With the rookies, I was calling it. The reps that I did get in training camp [I] was calling it, but I definitely haven't had the opportunity to go out and call the whole playbook and really be in there with the guys. This will be the first time, but so far this week, it's felt good. I felt confident, so I'm ready to go."

(On when he noticed that RB James Robinson was special and what it will be like to play with him) "I knew he was special the first couple days. He was real smooth, real focused. He came in, and traditionally from what I've experienced in college and junior college, the road I went, the running back is always the last person to learn the play book. They're always asking, 'What do I do? What do I have here?' We stepped into rookie camp, we'd never even met in person, and he knew everything. He knew where he was supposed to be, knew the protections, he knew it all. Once we got pads on, watching him in the blocking drills, I was like, 'Man, this guy's going to be special.' He's stepping up and not only can he run the ball really well, he's blocking linebackers, stepping up in the hole, so he'll do it all. He'll run out of the backfield. I knew pretty early on he was going to be special and he has been and I'm really excited to get to play with him. It will be really cool."

(On his comfort level with the offensive scheme and Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden) "I feel really comfortable. I feel really comfortable with it. I've really tried to dive in as best I could, hoping that this time would come whenever it would and thinking I have to be ready when it does. I really tried to dive in, so I feel real comfortable. I think me and [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] have a real good relationship. He's a real open book kind of guy. He's going to converse with you and let you know what he thinks. He cares about what you like and dislike. I think we have a great relationship; I feel good about it. Like I've said multiple times now, I'm just real excited, ready to get out there and get to play."

(On the similarities his journey and fellow QB Gardner Minshew II's journey to the NFL) "We've talked about it a little bit. We've had a couple conversations. I remember one we had at the hotel over dinner, kind of just talking about our paths and the journeys we've taken and it's really cool. I remember a couple years ago facing off against him and watching him for Washington State and how much success he had. It's a small world. It's crazy how our paths have now crossed. I think our different journeys and our roads, all the different steps that we've taken has helped us both. Now, being together, I think it's helped us even more. We push each other pretty well and I think he has a lot of knowledge to bring to the table."

(On the wide receiver he has the best rapport with) "I couldn't pinpoint just one. I think we have a good group of guys. I think obviously DJ [Chark Jr.]'s super talented. We have some good rookies, Laviska [Shenault Jr.] and Collin [Johnson]. Obviously Keelan [Cole Sr.] does a great job. [Chris] Conley does a great job. I think across the board we have some good guys. I have good chemistry with all of them, so I couldn't just give you one."

(On if there's a receiver he's had extra reps with) "I think the rookies. I think Collin [Johnson]'s a guy I had a lot of reps with just because of where we started out, Laviska [Shenault Jr.] as well, so I might have a few more reps with those guys. But like I said, I've been able to go in routes on air with everybody, with the vets and with the young guys too, so I feel real confident with all of them."

(On the voice memos he used to practice play calls) "It's just something I was sitting at home during quarantine and trying to figure out how do I do the best way of trying to learn this remotely. I think I had my brothers calling plays to me for a little bit. I had my girlfriend callings plays to me for a little bit. They don't exactly know how to spit it out the right way and the right verbiage and stuff, so finally I'm like, 'Alright, I have to find a different way' and it just made sense. I started recording myself and I think it's helped me get to this point now, being out in practice today and stepping in the huddle and being able to make those play calls and having the guys look to you and being able to say it with confidence. I think if you can't say the play call, there's not going to be a lot of confidence flowing around and so that's kind of the first step and something that's worked for me."

(On if he can compare the feeling of his first start this weekend to anything else) "I don't know if I can make another parallel. As a kid, I wanted to do this my whole life. I dreamed of playing in the NFL and getting that opportunity to step out there will definitely be a dream come true. I don't know that I could really compare it to anything I've experience this far."