Opening Statement: “This is a talented team we’re getting ready to play and it’s a physical team. They’re well-coached, so we know they’ll be ready to go back at home at their place. So, we’ve got a lot of work to do to get ready for this one.” On what QB Jared Goff’s week of practice will look like with his oblique injury: “We’re taking it day-to-day. He’s going to sit today and then we’ll reassess tomorrow and see how he’s feeling.” On who will take the first-team quarterback reps with QB Jared Goff sitting out of practice today: “I think right now it will be (Tim) Boyle, but certainly (David) Blough is going to get some reps, too. Those guys have got to be ready to go and then if Jared can go, he’ll go.” On how QB Tim Boyle has looked in practice coming back from a finger injury: “Good. He looked good. He worked his way back in there. There again, it was scout team is what he was doing, but he looked good. I mean, he looked comfortable and he was throwing it well. You can tell he’s – the finger looks like it’s good. He’s recovered.” On if the team will measure reps in practice because of the short week in between this Sunday’s game and the Thursday Thanksgiving game: “It’s a thought, but I think more importantly it’s like we have to use every resource that we have and do everything that we need to, to prepare to beat this team. And so, yes but no because I think if we worry too much about two games in 10 days, then we won’t have enough focus on this opponent right now. We have to find a way to be competitive and try to pull out a victory here at Cleveland. To me, that’s the sole focus. We’ll worry about next week, next week.” On how QB Jared Goff could manage to play with the oblique injury: “I think some of it will – yeah, there’s pain management to it and then some of it will just be if we can get it to calm down a little bit to where it’s more manageable where he feels like he can step into the throw and really put a lot of zing on it. So, I think it’s two-fold. It is the pain, but it’s also calming it down to where the pain doesn’t affect the torque that you’re trying to put on the trunk. I think that’s – as fast as we can get it to calm down, the better he will be.” On how WR Josh Reynolds can help the offense: “Look, he’s a long, linear guy. He has length, he’s got speed and he’s kind of a build-to-speed guy, but you see when he can get a step into his route, he’s pretty good. And he’s pretty fluid downfield, tracks the ball pretty well. So, I think he can help us in some of our 1-on-1 matchups, get a ball out there and let him go attack a corner 1-on-1. That’s kind of how we’ll try to use him a little bit as well. But, we also want to be smart. I mean, we don’t want to throw him into the wolves either, but he’s certainly going. We’ll get him in and get him going.” On why it was important to make the change from K Ryan Santoso to K Riley Patterson at kicker: “Sometimes you don’t know what’s going to happen until you get put in a situation like that, high-stress, pressure, and so we just felt like we needed to make it and give another a guy chance. I just think it’s important. That’s all. Kind of hate it for him, but at the same time, that’s the nature of this business. Sometimes you only get two chances and you’ve got to perform if that’s your job description. We’ll give this guy a go. We like him, he’s young, and we liked him coming out and see how he does.” On CB Amani Oruwariye: “There again, he’s kind of our – he’s our greybeard back there. I mean, he’s not old, but he’s got the most experience of anybody we’ve got back there. He’s been playing solid back there. He’s been doing a good job and I bring it up again, I mean, even on the one the other day where it was the penalty – that ball was right in his arms by the way – he turns and gets knocked down and it ends up the ball finds him and there is something to that. But, I think he really has elevated his game and I loved the way he played with confidence the other day. I mean, he was up there, he was competitive, he was in their face. The early penalty didn’t affect him. He went right back to work and I appreciated that. That’s what you’re looking for.” On if it is easier to prepare for a short week before Thanksgiving after already facing the Bears this season: “It helps a little bit because you’re familiar, but they’re familiar with you, too. But, it does just from a game plan standpoint. We know what they run. We have an idea of some things that work against them. We’ve seen their structure of defense for a while. I mean, hell, our defense is that structure. So, it helps and then having faced them, our defense, one time with (Justin) Fields and now having some good tape to watch, I think it does help.” On Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant’s ability to develop young defensive backs: “Look, AP’s been great and it was one of the reasons that we wanted him here. He’s always been able to develop young talent. I brought it up when we hired him, he’s developed a lot of young talent, guys that nobody’s ever heard of, but then he’s also been able to take some of these really elite guys like (Jalen) Ramsey and (Aqib) Talib and those guys and get some of the most productive years out of those guys as well. So, he understands personalities, he knows how to teach, he can reach different, all different walks of life with those guys in there. Man, he keeps it interesting, engaging and he’s high energy, he’s passionate. Look, I think that is a credit to him, he and (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG both, but when you go through the number of cornerbacks we’ve been through – it’s no different than watching (Mark) Gilbert go out there the other day. Gilbert was not afraid. Gilbert was going in there to compete and I think that’s – it says a lot. All of those guys have gone in there and mixed it up from Bobby (Price) to Jerry (Jacobs) to (Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy to Gilbert. So, that’s a credit to him.” On CB Mark Gilbert’s performance Sunday: “There again, I just bring up – so much of it is when we got him a few weeks ago, you look at the movement skills. You look at kind of the attributes he has to play the position. You’re like, ‘OK. This guy’s played corner.’ It’s a little different than when Bobby (Price) – Bobby had just come from safety and so Bobby’s got a lot of talent, but he doesn’t have experience playing outside. Well, this guy, he looks like a corner, plays like a corner, he’s done it, and so you love the potential. Now, it’s just, ‘OK, how does he respond when he gets thrown to the wolves?’ And that was our first taste of it and I thought he responded nicely. It was like, ‘Well, they’re going after him.’ But he’s also like, ‘I know you. I know exactly what you were going to try to do to me.’ Honestly, that’s what you’re looking for. You want to know a guy is going to go in there and not play scared. Like he’s just, ‘You may get me, but every play it’s going to be hard.’ Those are the things – you don’t know until you put him in those situations, so that’s a good sign.” On CB Mark Gilbert forcing a fumble after allowing a reception: “Absolutely, that’s a huge play. You can go in the tank and it’s over and I’m jogging around, but him to catch back up and punch that out, look there again, that’s one of the reasons why we did not lose this game.” On his comfort level in giving RB D’Andre Swift more carries: “It was good. It was good for him to get that. I don’t think you typically see or think that way with him, but it was good that he got a load because I think – look, here’s what sometimes gets lost and we’ve got to remember it as a staff, he’s a second-year that didn’t play very much last year. He’s still learning. I mean, he’ll be the first to tell you, there are runs on that tape where there is so much meat on the bones left. He could have had even more than he had and he knows that. But yet, the growth that you saw and his vision and being able to read these plays and then do what he does once he’s able to break a tackle or get in space, that’s all him. But, I don’t think you typically – that wouldn’t be the first thing I would think is he’s going to get 30, 35 carries. A lot of that we thought Jermar (Jefferson) was going to help and we were – those guys were going to share the load a little bit. Well, it didn’t work out when Jermar went down and then Swift’s hot and it’s hard to take out a hot hand.” On how RB D’Andre Swift is feeling after his increased carries Sunday: “He’s good. He’s good. We’ll limit him a little bit, but he’s good.” On S C.J. Moore and S Jalen Elliott representing the Omega Psi Phi core values of manhood, perseverance, scholarship and uplift: “It means a ton and those two guys that – there’s a number of guys that I would point out. Those two guys – hell, Godwin (Igwebuike) is another one. These guys, you talk about guys that do everything right. They come into work, they don’t have a bad day, they’ve got a smile on their face, they listen, they work, they’re competitive, and they’re unbelievable human beings. They’ll do anything they can help the person next to them or help somebody that is in need. You would love to have a team full of those guys. So, I’m glad we’ve got them, and it does, it means a ton because ultimately that’s the type of culture we’re trying to build and you talk about, ‘Where does it come from?’ It comes from people. It comes from good people, and so how do you find the most productive players you can that carry those values? You get that, and now the sky is the limit.” LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET November 17, 2021 On how he is feeling after his oblique injury: “Pretty sore. I think I mentioned it when I spoke with the radio on Monday, a little more sore than I had expected I think, but I’m alright.” On if him trying to play Sunday will depend on pain management or functionality: “It’s more functionality. The pain is whatever. I can mask that. It’s being able to function fully. We’ll see.” On if his functionality has gotten better since sustaining the injury Sunday: “It has gotten better since the game. Will it be better by Sunday? I don’t know. We’ll see. Hopeful.” On how important it is to him to play every week: “I think your number one ability is availability and I’ve always taken pride in that. Had to miss one game last year with my thumb, was able to come back the next week and play in the next game. But, I take pride in it and I think it’s important for the quarterback to display that and if I ever feel like I can’t physically do my job, then I can’t be out there. Until then, I think I can be out there.” On what the treatment routine entails for an oblique injury: “A lot of rest. A lot of rest, let it heal. It’s about all you can do. There are some different mechanisms to kind of strengthen some stuff around it, but just rest.” On how he can give the team confidence if he has to miss the game Sunday: “I don’t think there is much to do there. I think those guys are confident in themselves. They are ready to go if they need to fill in. I think be the best leader I can be in days like today when I’m not out there.” On if the offensive game plan would be limited if he were to play Sunday with his oblique injury: “No, if I were to play it would be full go. There would be no limitations. I think last week – I don’t know if the game plan was adjusted based on the weather or based on my injury. It’s a better question for (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) probably. There were definitely some limitations there that I can kind of – I don’t know if I realized in the moment.” On how he judges if he is functional enough to play: “If I can throw it as hard as I want to and it doesn’t pull on me, then I can go. If not, then I can’t.” On the difference between his thumb injury last season and his oblique injury now: “Very different. I think the thumb was – well, the thumb was broken. The thumb was a bone. This is a muscle, so it’s different in that regard. The oblique, unfortunately, is so critical to the throwing motion, whereas my thumb I can kind of get away with it and do some different things. Until this kind of calms itself down, I kind of need to just let it run its course.” On his confidence that he will be able to play Sunday: “We’ll see. I don’t know. I’m usually a fast healer, but again, we’ll have to see. Tomorrow I’ll have a better indication than I did today and Friday is the same way and as we go on.” On the challenges of facing Browns DE Myles Garrett and DE Jadeveon Clowney: “Knowing where they are obviously. Both of those guys have had their times and had their moments when they’ve been as special as anybody and still are. So, we’ll nudge them and do our thing when we need to, but at the same time, we trust our tackles and think we match up well.” On how he can help QB Tim Boyle get ready if he needs to start: “Do everything I can. I think he’s going to get his reps throughout the week, but the little things that maybe I’ve picked up along the way from having as much playing experience as I do to lend to him would be the best thing I can do.” On Browns QB Baker Mayfield: “I think Baker is a great player. He’s developed tremendously. I think what (Browns Head Coach Kevin) Stefanski is doing with him and the rest of that offense is really good. He looks comfortable. Looks like he’s settling in and he’s a tremendous young star for our League and somebody who will continue to ascend.” On how he knows the line between trying to play and potentially suffering long-term effects if he pushed through the injury: “Like I said, if I feel like I am not able to perform my job, then I shouldn’t be out there. Until then, I’m going to fight and scratch and claw to be out there because I believe in myself that way.” On if it is tough to admit when he feels he is not able to play: “It is and that’s why a lot of this decision for this week – it’s hard for me to say, ‘Hey, I can’t go,’ when I want to try to fight through it. But, I also have to be honest with myself and by Friday or Saturday, whenever that comes around, and be able to make that decision.” On if the short-week turnaround before the Thanksgiving Thursday game will affect the decision of whether or not he will play: “No. It’s week-to-week.” |
