HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023
(On injury status of TE Brenton Strange) “Yeah, it was just during our one-on-one. Ball was noncontact,
he just landed wrong on his foot. He’s been receiving treatment, feels better today. Got a lot of time
between now and Monday night, so we’ll see where he’s at.”
(On potential of RB Travis Etienne Jr. being able to play this week) “Travis, yes.”
(On if CB Tyson Campbell will be healthy this week) “Yeah, we’ll see. He’ll get another day today, he’s
been feeling good all week. I don’t want to push him too hard, but he’s doing well, we’ll get another
good day in today and make that determination this weekend.”
(On how the team has been handling the anticipation towards Monday’s game) “I think fine, just
business as usual this week. Practice, prep, study, all that. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
(On anything specific he tells players who haven’t played Monday Night Football before) “The last time I
checked, it was still 60 minutes. Put on a tee, you kick it off, you play football. Sometimes we make it
bigger than it really is, and listen, it’s a big ‘to do’ to play on Monday night. It’s exciting for everybody,
but at the same time, it just boils down to just doing your job, playing the football game and doing
everything you can to try to win.”
(On if there’s stress on staff to turnaround for another week after Monday night) “No.”
(On what stands out about the Bengals team) “Offensively, you look at them and they do a little bit of
everything. They’re going to spread the field, give you some empty formations, try to simplify some
reads possibly for the quarterback that way. Obviously utilize the running game, screens have been a big
part of this offense. [Bengals WR] Tee Higgins is trending towards playing and if they get him back,
they’ve got two big weapons to get the ball to, big play makers. You’re seeing that show up in these
games. Defensively, it’s a solid unit. You’re seeing a blitz package that we haven’t seen this season from
teams, so we’ve got to be prepared for that. They’re in a mixed coverage. They’ve got really good couple
of edge pressure guys again. It’s just a solid team, it’s a real solid team that’s unfortunate with the
quarterback being down, but still a really good team.”
(On talent of OL Walker Little to easily transition from guard to tackle) “I think for us, the versatility that
he has, has been beneficial for us. Right tackle, left tackle, left guard, left tackle, he’s bounced around
outside of playing center. It gives you a little comfort knowing he can play both spots. If something were
to happen, just like last week, he bounced right out to left tackle last week. It’s a credit to him, he
prepares that way. It’s just a matter of now going back to tackle, just getting used to being more on an
island, more space this week.”
(On his thoughts towards the ‘gritty not pretty’ saying of the team) “Yeah, I think it just shows that this is
a hardworking football team. Sometimes they say it’s an ugly win. At the same time, it’s hard to win
games in this league. These guys just continue to battle and fight for four quarters and all that. It fits who
we are a little bit with the mentality of the guys.”
(On if LB Foyesade Oluokun got him a ‘gritty not pretty’ sweatshirt) “I think so. I’ll have to see, it might be
in my locker back here.”
