Allen, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, spoke to the media at length Sunday. And while he talked goals extensively, his major focus was a recent announcement from he and his wife, Kaitlyn, that their son, Wesley, is recovering from cancer.
Wesley, 7, was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia after he developed a fever and began bleeding from a tooth a few days before the Jaguars’ 2024 regular-season finale in January.
“Our main goal was to make sure Wesley was healthy first,” Hines-Allen said. “We wanted to make sure that he was in a good position for us to speak about it, because I know once the word gets out that he’s in remission, it’s going to be more uplifting, more positive.
“So, our goal was to really wait until he got healthy. The timing was just perfect, and we’re here today talking about it.”
Hines-Allen on Sunday also discussed support received from coaches and teammates since learning of the diagnosis. He missed the Jaguars’ Week 18 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he said the support from that season’s coaching staff through this season’s – as well as from teammates and the entire organization – has been constant, important and “super cool.”
“They text me dang near every day, especially during the offseason: ‘How’s Wesley?”’ Hines-Allen said. “Not even ‘Josh, how are you doing? How’s your mental?’ It’s ‘How’s Wesley?’ They message family first at all times and they really truly mean it. The last staff, they did as well. When I told [Former Head Coach] Doug ‘Pederson], they said, ‘You’re okay. Take your time.’ Even coming in here, [the new staff], for them to embrace me as, ‘How’s Wesley? How’s your family? How’s your wife? How’s your family doing?’ Then it’s, ‘How’s training?
“They really truly care, not just asking to ask, just asking to really see how I’m really feeling.”