WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (9.4.23)
What’s kind of your mindset now that week one is here?
“Excited for the season, ready to have a great week this week with my teammates. Get everything dialed in and get ready to go.”
Last season, you really showed your ability to make those difficult, contested catches. What have you worked on coming into this season to elevate your game even further?
“Really just trying to get better in every single way. Whether that’s at the catch point, whether that’s my knowledge of the game, knowledge of defenses, situational awareness. Really just trying to add a lot of things into my toolkit.”
Donovan, having Marquise (Goodwin) back and on the field, what has that meant to you?
“It means a lot. Marquise is dope, brings great energy. He’s a savvy vet, has a lot of experience. Just a great dude.”
Were you surprised he was able to come back so quickly? Not that you’re obviously happy to have him back.
“I mean, definitely happy to have him back. Definitely happy to have him back. Anytime he’s out here, it’s great for the group. It’s great for everybody just when he’s on the field.”
Does he calm down for a minute? He’s so excitable when he’s out here. Is it the same in the meeting rooms and locker room?
“He’s got a lot of good energy.”
Cincinnati lost both their safeties, and obviously, Jessie (Bates III) was a big-time player for him. How different are they in the back end of their defense from what you’ve seen so far on the film?
“It’s a different group, definitely, but we’re going to focus on doing what we got to do. We’ll study them, study their tendencies, and do what we have to do as well.”
I know we asked you about Deshaun (Watson) way back at the Greenbrier, but as you’ve spent the whole entire training camp with him, how have you seen him progress and come along throughout this preseason?
“He’s just continuing to get better, continue to be the leader of the team, and just every day he’s out here encouraging the guys, and we see his efforts, so it elevates the team.”
Donovan, I know throughout your career you’ve made a lot of big plays against the Bengals. Just how much do you look forward to this rivalry matchup?
“I’m excited to play in the NFL every week I get. It’s definitely a special one, you know, going into week one versus Cincinnati.”
How much is a fast start been stressed, given that you play all three (AFC_ North rivals in the first four weeks?
“Definitely. We’re definitely looking forward to having a fast start, putting our best foot forward.”
Watson has indicated he’s, like, looking forward to all the offense finally going in for the real game now that this is over with. Can you just press a button and execute all those plays that we haven’t seen at a moment’s notice?
“It takes work. It’s going to take patience. It’s going to take effort, discipline. That’s things that we’re working on this week and every week.”
Are you excited about the stuff that we haven’t seen?
“Absolutely. Absolutely.”
Have you had to sort of learn how to adjust it all to the style of ball that Deshaun plays in terms of on the site adjustments or just kind of stay in peripheral vision and those kinds of things? And if so, how do you feel like you’ve come along in that way?
“Yeah, he’s very dynamic, can make a lot of different plays on the field. So us as receivers, our job is to get open for him and match his skill set.”
You seemed to develop it last year – was one of the guys that really seemed to connect with him when he got back on the field. What did you kind of attribute that to? That trust level that he had with you last year?
“Just continuing to work, continuing to make plays in practice. His trust in me, my trust in him trusting me. Knowing where I have to be each given play, and my trust in him knowing where he’s going to put the ball each given play. Knowing he’s coming to me gives me a lot of confidence and it’s good for the team.”
Even sometimes last year, when you wouldn’t connect on a pass, he would make it a point to keep looking for you, I guess. How much did that help, that chemistry building from your end?
“It helps a lot knowing he’s continuing to look at me, continue to look for me. Me making plays just helps elevate the team.”
How do you stay ready for the no-look passes and some of the cool things that he can do?
“Yeah, just got to be ready. Got to have great awareness.”
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