JACKSONVILLE – The early offseason vibe remains the late offseason vibe.
Trevor Lawrence early Monday afternoon spoke to the media as the Jaguars' 2024 offseason program nears an end, reiterating what he and Head Coach Doug Pederson have publicly stated in recent months.
There's strong motivation around the Jaguars' these days, and the recent past is one reason.
"It adds a little chip on your shoulder," Lawrence said.
Lawrence, entering his fourth season as the Jaguars' starting quarterback, wasn't the only player offering those sentiments as Week 3 of Jaguars Organized Team Activities continued at the Miller Electric Center.
Veteran tight end Evan Engram, who led the Jaguars with 114 receptions last season, said while losing five of the last six games to miss the playoffs in 2023 isn't "lingering in my mind," there is a focus on correcting the "weaknesses that put us in that position.
"There's a fire lit under us," Engram said.
Engram, entering his third season with the Jaguars, is among at least 15 key players/contributors starters who have had key roles since Pederson took over as head coach in 2022. That core group includes Lawrence, wide receiver Christian Kirk, left tackle Cam Robinson, right guard Brandon Scherff, running back Travis Etienne Jr. offensively.
Defensive players entering a third season under Pederson include: Cornerback Tyson Campbell, safeties Andrew Wingard and Andre Cisco, edge defenders Josh Allen and Travon Walker, defensive tackles Roy Robertson-Harris and Davon Hamilton and inside linebackers Devin Lloyd and Foye Olukuon among others.
Engram said the focus among leaders as OTAs and the offseason program end "is eliminating the things that are in our control that bit us late last year."
"That's where my energy is and that's where I feel the leadership needs to work toward, too," Engram said. "Last year's over and done with. I do think as a franchise and as a team that's trying to go to another level, everything happens for a reason, and maybe we needed to experience that [last season], to get punched in the mouth and be humbled a little bit.
"Moving forward, it's controlling what we can control and making sure that's the best to its ability. I can almost guarantee that will happen."
Lawrence, too, spoke this week of a focused team throughout the offseason program. He was asked Monday during what likely will be his last media availability of the offseason if last season remained a real motivation or if it was a "non-factor" five months after the end of the season.
"I wouldn't say it's a nonfactor," he said. "I think it does add a chip to your shoulder when you finish the season the way we did. I've said it before: 'There's only one team happy at the end of the year. That's who wins the Super Bowl.'
"No matter what, you always have something that you're trying to reach and achieve, and that's the goal. For us, though, it has to be the same goal every week, to get that much better and put ourselves in a position to be playing meaningful games in December, January and make a push at the end of the year and just get better every week.
"When you look back last year, it's almost like we peaked a little too soon, and we didn't finish the season the way we wanted to. It's important to be playing your best at the end of the year."
QUOTABLE
- Pederson on Lawrence continuing to grow as a leader entering his fourth NFL season: "You kind of lump all the great ones and all the good quarterbacks in that boat They're good leaders in the locker room, off the field, with the coaching staff. It's not about necessarily being vocal. I played with one of the greatest in [Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback] Brett [Favre] and he wasn't a vocal guy, but he just led by example and spoke up when he had to. Trevor is very similar that way. He speaks when he has to, but just things we've seen this offseason have been very positive that way, and we just got to continue to grow in that direction."
QUOTABLE
- Pederson on the Jaguars' identity entering 2024: "You've heard the guys talk a lot about. We've talked a lot about it. You definitely want to be a physical football team. You want to be a smart football team. You don't want to beat yourself. Those are all I think three obvious traits that you want your football team to be, then ultimately schematically it just depends on how the season goes and what begins to unfold."
Embrace every opportunity. Check out some snapshots as the Jaguars continue to work at OTAs. 🔥
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson (31) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Lorenzo Lingard (35) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker (44) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive quality control coach Jamel Mutunga during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley (69) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Mitch Morse (65) and Luke Fortner (79) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (95) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Joshua Cephus (19) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars assistant linebackers coach Patrick Reilly during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson (26) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Caleb Johnson (57) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (2) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead (91) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Maason Smith (94) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Tyler Lacy (93) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) speaks to the media during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive linemen during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter (99) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Keaton Sutherland (78) and Mitch Morse (65) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Andrew Parker Jr. (58) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ty Summers (55) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor and tight end Evan Engram (17) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson (98) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebacker Myles Cole (59) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Andre Carter (97) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Trey Kiser (53) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive back Jarrian Jones (22) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coaches during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars vice president of player health and performance Jeff Ferguson during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Mitch Morse during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Myles Cole (59) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Brevin Easton (80) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell (21) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebackers Chad Muma (48) and Devin Lloyd (33) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton (52) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (90) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive line during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson (98) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Maason Smith (94) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Ty Summers (55) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs coach Kris Richard during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars outside linebacker DJ Coleman (54) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Trey Kiser (53) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Adam Gotsis (96) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 3, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones speaks to the media during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on May 28, 2024
