Read the full transcript from WR Kevin Coleman Jr.'s postgame media availability on August 22, 2026
Take us through that 30-yard catch?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: Going through the phase, first drive, I had dropped the ball. He went at me twice. I felt like I had two missed opps, so when that play came, it was another opportunity. I knew it was one on one. QB looked at me, said to me something and I knew I had to win because when the QB sends you something, you know the ball could come your way. The line did their job, QB threw the perfect ball and I just made the play I was supposed to make.
How does it feel to be back out there? I think you led the team in targets with five. So just how did it feel to be back out there?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: It felt great. A dream come true of course, just being on the field playing here, but it just felt great being out there."
What has the past week been like? Because you come back from a brief injury and have two touchdowns in one practice, come down with the catch against the Giants in joint practice and have this catch here. So can you just assess the whole week that you've had?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: I was just coming back and building on what I left off at. Not coming back slacking and knowing I have to go out there and compete and get better. Just coming back, I was just super happy to be back. I don't like missing practice. I don't like missing anything. I never really missed anything, but just coming back, I had to be real focused. Even when I was off the field, take a lot of mental reps. So it was just getting back out there, being physical. Got to practice a little bit with the joint practice. I was excited to go out there and compete versus another team, but it was just it was just about getting better."
You're one of three wide receivers in this rookie class. What do you think of the potential of you guys with Caleb Douglas and then Chris Bell also now coming back?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: Yeah, we have a lot of potential, but we're just worrying about each and every day. Our mindset is getting better each and every day. We know it was three guys selected. We have a room full of talent. We just try to get each other better each and every day. Two guys I already knew before getting drafted, so we got that chemistry and we got that love for one another."
The rookies will definitely be relied upon heavily this year. Just what's your take on that and how are you preparing yourself for that moment?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: We ain't looking at no age out there. We came here. We got a job. Like you said, from undrafted to not drafted, we all came here to play ball and to compete each and every day and get each other better and take this place to a place where we want to go and just follow Coach Jeff. Coach Jeff is planning and just do everything we can to execute it."
What's your relationship with TE Seydou Traore?
Kevin Coleman Jr.: Ziko (Seydou Traore), I played with him at Mississippi State my junior year. That's the guy we put countless hours in together. I'm talking about from showing up at 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., we're staying at the facility all day, bringing our dogs to the facility, catching JUGS, catching 200-plus JUGS, having different, just having life conversations. So it was just a blessing as soon as he got drafted after me, just to know that guy was going to be on my side again."
