November 1, 2024 • 10 mins
Senior Writer John Oehser gets Parker Washington in an exclusive 1-1 interview. WR Parker Washington speaks on the trust his coaches and teammates have in him with the opportunities that lie ahead. Washington opens up about the confidence he has in himself. Lastly, Parker talks about the qualities of mentor Christian Kirk including his professionalism and work ethic and the impact those have had on him.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, welcome into this week's Ozone podcast. And we're
touch tight on time with a weird schedule this week,
so I'll quickly welcome in Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington.
Thank you for doing this, buddy, I appreciate you. So
tell me about your opportunity this week. You've played before,
but this is clearly an extensive opportunity going forward with
Christian being out. Now, I do you Are you aware
(00:23):
of that opportunity and are you excited about it?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Definitely? You know, like I said, similar opportunities for my
rookie year. Sure, I feel like through this off season
I got more trust from QB one and my coaches
to be able to have more opportunity in game. I'm excited,
of course. I mean, I definitely see the opportunity. The
(00:46):
business don't stop, the team doesn't stop. We got to win.
So being ready to step up, that's my job, gotcha,
and I'm excited for this opportunity now.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Last year, though, when you stepped in, you had maybe
played three or four games, you were coming on of
an injury. You're a rookie. I guess the obvious question,
how much more prepared do you feel now? Than a
year ago, because in the NFL, second year versus rookie
is a big difference.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Definitely mentally, I feel like mentally that it's not the
issue for me. It is more physically, like you said,
coming off of injury. So I feel like just confidence
in my and how healthy I am and the growth
in that. I mean, that's big. And I feel like
it showed a little bit and glimpses here and there
this year. You know it's it's going to be broadcasted
(01:32):
a little bit more now, just with the opportunity ahead.
So I just got to be ready to step up.
But just it's just confidence. I feel like, just confident
in my confidence in myself to be too ready to perform.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell me about the second year jump. Everybody talks about it,
heard about it for years. Do you feel that it
is the game a little slower, just a little more
awareness out there?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Definitely? Definitely. I mean I know what I'm getting myself into. Okay,
that's how it goes as a rookie. You have no idea,
You have no idea. You know it's the NFL dream.
You know it's a dream. Now I feel like I'm
I'm here now, So it's I know what I'm getting
myself into. I have a better routine schedule like all that.
I mean, it all goes intoccount and I'm just excited.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
They tell me about Christian Kirk your emotions as a friend,
and I assume a little bit of a mentor when
he gets hurt last.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Week, definitely, And I was in on the play. As
soon as I seen it, I was like no, Like
I instantly just like took a knee by him, like no, no,
don't be too don't be too serious because I mean,
like just said, just right before my rookie year, I
had a similar injury, Like not similar injury, but I
had an injury that took me out for a while.
It's tough, and you know, I can definitely relate to that,
(02:47):
and you know, it's just a process. It's a journey
that you have to get through and go through, like
you got to get in shape again. You gotta make
sure everything's working the way it's supposed to. Worry, it's
just a process when you get injured and have to
be out for a long time. So I felt felt that. Man,
it was just a tough situation. But like you said,
I mean start to try and finish a game. I
hate that we didn't get a chance to win it
(03:08):
for him, But you know that's what it's about, you know,
doing that, for doing this for him and continuing to
make sure the Jaguars are handling business.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Got you. Now you've been compared with him because relatively
similar sized, similar position, it appears on paper, similar skill set.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
What is he taught you?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What have you learned from him? I would think just
sort of watching his approach every day is one of
the biggest things, right.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, definitely, I feel like, really not even just approach.
I would just say just his actual gameplay, actually the
routes and you know, just him being an the least
slot receiver. He has great qualities and great ways and
he's so savvy and it's just it's unique how you
run some of his routes. So you get a chance
to learn and just see and kind of like incorporate
(03:58):
that into your game, like you know, that's what That's
the best part. And just being able to pick and
choose what you want to add to your game. And
like I said, it's just a great opportunity. I feel
like for me, just in my journey, this was the
best place for me.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Tell me about the feeling on a Sunday when all
of a sudden, you're down and you have two wide
receivers playing and they tell you got to go twelve
the rest of the way, and you're one of the
guys who's sort of coming in. You're hearing that and
you've kind of got a lift, right, like you've got
to be a little a bigger role than you had.
I what's that moment like? And what are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
One play at a time, right, you know, just one
player at a time, Like I said, in those moments,
it was a lot of no huddle, so I was
just breathed one player at a time and just attack.
You know. I feel, like I said, it goes back
to being the confidence I was talking about. I say,
I'm confident in myself to go out there and step
up and be ready for those moments. And I had
(04:57):
a couple of catches, some good little route, still a
lot of growing to take place, but it was an
opportunity and I just wanted to see that.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
How much you were a big story during training camp
because it was clear the steps you would take and
you were getting open easier. You just looked different. Does
any of that sort of confidence carry over or is
that just sort of part of your growth? You know,
get I mean, I guess did that helped your confidence
a lot? And has it grown since then?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean definitely, I would say just from off season,
the training camp and just seeing the.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Work payoff, seeing it all the time, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Seeing that work payoff, that's what it's all about. And
you know, of course that could just create a confidence.
But most importantly, I was just out there just trying
to put my best foot forward and be the best
me I could be, you know, not worried about if
I'm going to play or what how you know, playing time,
what my number is going to be called. It's just
I just want to approach each day to get better,
to put my best foot forward, and just continue to
(05:59):
grow that way because it might not be right now
I'm about to get opportunity to start, but like then,
it's like I might not get an opportunity to start,
But that's not what it's about. I know that time
will come.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How much of a lift At the end of the
Green Bay game, the loss was disappointing, but the offense
put some stuff together and it felt productive and confident.
Did you guys feel that and can that sort of
carry over moving forward even though overall struggle.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, it's been you know, just this year, Loan's been tough.
But you know, I feel like we've took in small
small steps and it's kind of it's going into the
right direction and in that game that way. I know
we want to win, but just seeing how we could
still move the ball, I feel like that just brought
confidence to everyone, especially to Trevor. You know, that's what
(06:49):
it's all about. Making sure Trevor is comfortable and know
that we have its back. And I feel like through
that moment we did a pretty good job. You know,
we want to win, we needed to win, but I
feel like that should carry over and this I feel
like it's done a good job this week at practice
and you know, we just got to put it together
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Now, Christian was such a I hate the phrase safety
and app but there's a little bit of that. There's
such a good chemistry with Christian and Trevor. Is that
something you just kind of have to build toward in
your position and develop that trust over time?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Definitely, you know, and then having good conversation, getting on
the same page. You know, it's a it's an aspect
where you have to communicate in an aspect where you
have to go execute as well. So I feel like
it's it's just a balance between both and being on
the same page. And like I said before, when see
Kirk went down, and like when we were about to
(07:42):
go out on offense, I was just telling trials, just
how I got you right? I would say, just I
trust you, I hope you trust me. Let's go. And
I felt like him hearing that is always good. And
then then going out there and putting a good ride
out there and making a good catch. I mean, that's
what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I feel like I just got to you to carry
that on, and then the other guys around we just
gotta do the same thing.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
The last thing we do we call it the ozone five.
I'll call it the two minute driller today because we're
up against time. Uh five quick questions, A lot of fun.
Parker Washington, What was your last binge watch?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I watched Blacklist.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Good. That's a long binge watch. I didn't it takes
some time.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
The only show of that I didn't finish it, but
The only show I've ever finished is prison Break.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Okay, got you? You have no attention span, is what
you're saying.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
No, no, no, no, It's just every series that I
like it's just super long.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
It takes time.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
And I watched Friday Night Light. I finished that.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
That was good.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I like Friday Night Light. So yeah. I mean most
of the shows that I've fell in love with are
just super long. And I finished out of Max.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Okay, the last song you heard on the way in
this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You've already won.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
William Murphy first touchdown ever in your career, in your life,
in my whole life. Can you remember it?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Oh? I can remember it?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
It was flag football. I was like kindergarten. Oh. My
mom was screaming crazy. She was screaming crazy. It was
like a super long touchdown. The first time I ever
touched the ball I scored.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Did you know then you were bound for the NFL?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
No, I was just I didn't. I didn't. It's funny,
I didn't. I never thought NFL until I got my
first offer to Indiana a freshman year of high school.
Then I was like, okay, college, I was like, it
was just I was always yeah, I just I was
just always just in the moment, and I never looked
(09:33):
too far ahead. And I feel like that's helped me,
and it's helping me now too.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Got you your best touchdown.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Ever, my best touchdown ever. I gotta say that that
pump return because I just I just love I always
wanted to get a punker. That was my first time
ever scoring a punt return.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Really that high school of high school.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I got close. I got you. That was my first
time ever.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Probably too good to return them in high school, right,
you know, I mean I.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Was receiver, one of the main guys. But yeah, that
was my first time ever scoring like a special teams touchdown,
and it.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Opened right up for you. Hard had to work for it.
Final question, The person or people most responsible for you
being in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Definitely my parents, my sister, and then my trainer Alonzo
for it.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But your sister couldn't even get you with a bear.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
She did have that type of Yeah, she would love
to have me there, she would love to have me there, but.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Her pay grade definitely Park Washington, I know you're up
against time today. Thank you so much for doing this.
I appreciate you joining the ozone podcast.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I appreciate you appreciate that
All right, welcome into this week's Ozone podcast. And we're
touch tight on time with a weird schedule this week,
so I'll quickly welcome in Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington.
Thank you for doing this, buddy, I appreciate you. So
tell me about your opportunity this week. You've played before,
but this is clearly an extensive opportunity going forward with
Christian being out. Now, I do you Are you aware
(00:23):
of that opportunity and are you excited about it?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Definitely? You know, like I said, similar opportunities for my
rookie year. Sure, I feel like through this off season
I got more trust from QB one and my coaches
to be able to have more opportunity in game. I'm excited,
of course. I mean, I definitely see the opportunity. The
(00:46):
business don't stop, the team doesn't stop. We got to win.
So being ready to step up, that's my job, gotcha,
and I'm excited for this opportunity now.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Last year, though, when you stepped in, you had maybe
played three or four games, you were coming on of
an injury. You're a rookie. I guess the obvious question,
how much more prepared do you feel now? Than a
year ago, because in the NFL, second year versus rookie
is a big difference.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Definitely mentally, I feel like mentally that it's not the
issue for me. It is more physically, like you said,
coming off of injury. So I feel like just confidence
in my and how healthy I am and the growth
in that. I mean, that's big. And I feel like
it showed a little bit and glimpses here and there
this year. You know it's it's going to be broadcasted
(01:32):
a little bit more now, just with the opportunity ahead.
So I just got to be ready to step up.
But just it's just confidence. I feel like, just confident
in my confidence in myself to be too ready to perform.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell me about the second year jump. Everybody talks about it,
heard about it for years. Do you feel that it
is the game a little slower, just a little more
awareness out there?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Definitely? Definitely. I mean I know what I'm getting myself into. Okay,
that's how it goes as a rookie. You have no idea,
You have no idea. You know it's the NFL dream.
You know it's a dream. Now I feel like I'm
I'm here now, So it's I know what I'm getting
myself into. I have a better routine schedule like all that.
I mean, it all goes intoccount and I'm just excited.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
They tell me about Christian Kirk your emotions as a friend,
and I assume a little bit of a mentor when
he gets hurt last.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Week, definitely, And I was in on the play. As
soon as I seen it, I was like no, Like
I instantly just like took a knee by him, like no, no,
don't be too don't be too serious because I mean,
like just said, just right before my rookie year, I
had a similar injury, Like not similar injury, but I
had an injury that took me out for a while.
It's tough, and you know, I can definitely relate to that,
(02:47):
and you know, it's just a process. It's a journey
that you have to get through and go through, like
you got to get in shape again. You gotta make
sure everything's working the way it's supposed to. Worry, it's
just a process when you get injured and have to
be out for a long time. So I felt felt that. Man,
it was just a tough situation. But like you said,
I mean start to try and finish a game. I
hate that we didn't get a chance to win it
(03:08):
for him, But you know that's what it's about, you know,
doing that, for doing this for him and continuing to
make sure the Jaguars are handling business.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Got you. Now you've been compared with him because relatively
similar sized, similar position, it appears on paper, similar skill set.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
What is he taught you?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What have you learned from him? I would think just
sort of watching his approach every day is one of
the biggest things, right.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, definitely, I feel like, really not even just approach.
I would just say just his actual gameplay, actually the
routes and you know, just him being an the least
slot receiver. He has great qualities and great ways and
he's so savvy and it's just it's unique how you
run some of his routes. So you get a chance
to learn and just see and kind of like incorporate
(03:58):
that into your game, like you know, that's what That's
the best part. And just being able to pick and
choose what you want to add to your game. And
like I said, it's just a great opportunity. I feel
like for me, just in my journey, this was the
best place for me.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Tell me about the feeling on a Sunday when all
of a sudden, you're down and you have two wide
receivers playing and they tell you got to go twelve
the rest of the way, and you're one of the
guys who's sort of coming in. You're hearing that and
you've kind of got a lift, right, like you've got
to be a little a bigger role than you had.
I what's that moment like? And what are you thinking?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
One play at a time, right, you know, just one
player at a time, Like I said, in those moments,
it was a lot of no huddle, so I was
just breathed one player at a time and just attack.
You know. I feel, like I said, it goes back
to being the confidence I was talking about. I say,
I'm confident in myself to go out there and step
up and be ready for those moments. And I had
(04:57):
a couple of catches, some good little route, still a
lot of growing to take place, but it was an
opportunity and I just wanted to see that.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
How much you were a big story during training camp
because it was clear the steps you would take and
you were getting open easier. You just looked different. Does
any of that sort of confidence carry over or is
that just sort of part of your growth? You know,
get I mean, I guess did that helped your confidence
a lot? And has it grown since then?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I mean definitely, I would say just from off season,
the training camp and just seeing the.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Work payoff, seeing it all the time, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Seeing that work payoff, that's what it's all about. And
you know, of course that could just create a confidence.
But most importantly, I was just out there just trying
to put my best foot forward and be the best
me I could be, you know, not worried about if
I'm going to play or what how you know, playing time,
what my number is going to be called. It's just
I just want to approach each day to get better,
to put my best foot forward, and just continue to
(05:59):
grow that way because it might not be right now
I'm about to get opportunity to start, but like then,
it's like I might not get an opportunity to start,
But that's not what it's about. I know that time
will come.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How much of a lift At the end of the
Green Bay game, the loss was disappointing, but the offense
put some stuff together and it felt productive and confident.
Did you guys feel that and can that sort of
carry over moving forward even though overall struggle.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, it's been you know, just this year, Loan's been tough.
But you know, I feel like we've took in small
small steps and it's kind of it's going into the
right direction and in that game that way. I know
we want to win, but just seeing how we could
still move the ball, I feel like that just brought
confidence to everyone, especially to Trevor. You know, that's what
(06:49):
it's all about. Making sure Trevor is comfortable and know
that we have its back. And I feel like through
that moment we did a pretty good job. You know,
we want to win, we needed to win, but I
feel like that should carry over and this I feel
like it's done a good job this week at practice
and you know, we just got to put it together
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Now, Christian was such a I hate the phrase safety
and app but there's a little bit of that. There's
such a good chemistry with Christian and Trevor. Is that
something you just kind of have to build toward in
your position and develop that trust over time?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Definitely, you know, and then having good conversation, getting on
the same page. You know, it's a it's an aspect
where you have to communicate in an aspect where you
have to go execute as well. So I feel like
it's it's just a balance between both and being on
the same page. And like I said before, when see
Kirk went down, and like when we were about to
(07:42):
go out on offense, I was just telling trials, just
how I got you right? I would say, just I
trust you, I hope you trust me. Let's go. And
I felt like him hearing that is always good. And
then then going out there and putting a good ride
out there and making a good catch. I mean, that's
what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I feel like I just got to you to carry
that on, and then the other guys around we just
gotta do the same thing.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
The last thing we do we call it the ozone five.
I'll call it the two minute driller today because we're
up against time. Uh five quick questions, A lot of fun.
Parker Washington, What was your last binge watch?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I watched Blacklist.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Good. That's a long binge watch. I didn't it takes
some time.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
The only show of that I didn't finish it, but
The only show I've ever finished is prison Break.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Okay, got you? You have no attention span, is what
you're saying.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
No, no, no, no, It's just every series that I
like it's just super long.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
It takes time.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
And I watched Friday Night Light. I finished that.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
That was good.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I like Friday Night Light. So yeah. I mean most
of the shows that I've fell in love with are
just super long. And I finished out of Max.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Okay, the last song you heard on the way in
this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You've already won.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
William Murphy first touchdown ever in your career, in your life,
in my whole life. Can you remember it?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Oh? I can remember it?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
It was flag football. I was like kindergarten. Oh. My
mom was screaming crazy. She was screaming crazy. It was
like a super long touchdown. The first time I ever
touched the ball I scored.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Did you know then you were bound for the NFL?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
No, I was just I didn't. I didn't. It's funny,
I didn't. I never thought NFL until I got my
first offer to Indiana a freshman year of high school.
Then I was like, okay, college, I was like, it
was just I was always yeah, I just I was
just always just in the moment, and I never looked
(09:33):
too far ahead. And I feel like that's helped me,
and it's helping me now too.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Got you your best touchdown.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Ever, my best touchdown ever. I gotta say that that
pump return because I just I just love I always
wanted to get a punker. That was my first time
ever scoring a punt return.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Really that high school of high school.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I got close. I got you. That was my first
time ever.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Probably too good to return them in high school, right,
you know, I mean I.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Was receiver, one of the main guys. But yeah, that
was my first time ever scoring like a special teams touchdown,
and it.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Opened right up for you. Hard had to work for it.
Final question, The person or people most responsible for you
being in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Definitely my parents, my sister, and then my trainer Alonzo
for it.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But your sister couldn't even get you with a bear.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
She did have that type of Yeah, she would love
to have me there, she would love to have me there, but.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Her pay grade definitely Park Washington, I know you're up
against time today. Thank you so much for doing this.
I appreciate you joining the ozone podcast.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I appreciate you appreciate that
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