Opening Statement: “Good week of practice. It’s been two good days. There again, we know this is an opponent that’s going to be ready to go. They’re back home, very talented. So we’ve got to be ready, but I like where we’re at right now.” On QB Jared Goff’s injury status: “He’ll throw today, just see where he’s at. Until we know more from there, we’re planning on (Tim) Boyle and then certainly (David) Blough is ready.” On if QB Jared Goff is close to being ready to play in Sunday’s game: “It’s tough to say. There again, he’s basically sat for two days, and so we’ll know a lot more today. He said he felt better today, so we’ll see what it looks like, see if he can get out there and move around a little bit.” On T Taylor Decker’s injury status: “I think he’s good. I think it was not as bad as we thought it could be. So, I think it is – I think we’re fine. I think he’s going to be good to go. Look, he’s tough, man. He’s going to handle this well. He got it checked out and should be good.” On if T Taylor Decker will practice today: “Yes.” On the challenge of facing Browns RB Nick Chubb: “I would say it’s very similar to talking about Najee Harris last week. This team, they’ll try to run this offense through Chubb. I think he’s a special player. I think he’s – if there is such a thing as being underrated, he is maybe one of these underrated backs in the League. You can argue he’s the best or top two or something. I just think this guy is – he is, he is a special back. And so, we know they’re going to give him the ball, he’s going to carry the load. We stated even the other day, even in the games where they haven’t won, they’re averaging over 25 carries. So, they’re going to commit to it, especially in the conditions we’re getting ready to face. I know this, if we don’t populate, if we don’t have population around the football with this guy or we don’t try to wrap up and buy some time for our teammates to get there, this guy will make you look bad. But, we understand that, too. Our defense knows that.” On if the team can build off of the defense and run game from last Sunday’s game against the Steelers: “Yeah, you’d like to think so. You’d like to think that it’s something that we can continue to do that – there is something to be said about that recipe giving you the best chance to have success. I bring this up again, our defense came up with turnovers, too. That’s got to be very much a part of this. We have to have some turnovers and we’ve got to protect the football just like we did last week offensively. That’s as big of a part as anything is in all of this.” On the defense’s ability to stop Steelers RB Najee Harris and his hopes to repeat the performance against Browns RB Nick Chubb: “I would tell you I was happy because I think that sometimes when you talk about these guys, to say, ‘Stop them,’ is easy to say, but that’s not always easy to do. So, I think contain him is big and I felt like we contained Najee (Harris) last week. I think we have to try to contain Chubb this week and if we do that and get some turnovers, we’ll have success.” On if starting QB Tim Boyle opens up more of the offensive playbook: “That’s tough to say right now. You’d like to think that, but I think some of that is – let me say this about Tim Boyle, he lacks zero confidence, I can tell you that. He’s got plenty of confidence, and so that’s a good thing, but I can also – you know what I mean? So, we’ll see where this game goes. If he’s our guy and see where the weather takes us, see where he takes us, but I know this, we have to be smart with him and let him work into a rhythm.” On how QB Tim Boyle has looked in practice: “Good. I would say Wednesday he looked a little rusty, which you would expect. He came back yesterday and looked better. I would expect he looks even better today. I would say he’s on track.” On if QB Jared Goff will split first-team reps with QB Tim Boyle in practice today: “There again, before we even – we’ve got to see how he can throw before we start giving reps and we’ll know that before we get into the live reps of practice, and if we feel like he can throw, then we’ll give him some reps. But otherwise, it’s hard to try to split those reps until you feel like, ‘Alright, this guy can do it. He can throw.’ So, I think that will be predetermined before we get to the live stuff.” On when he will make the decision on who will start at quarterback Sunday: “I think I need to make that today. I do.” On why he plans to decide the starting quarterback today: “I just think when you start talking about quarterbacks, it’s a little different. It’s like, ‘Well, this receiver here could play.’ Those are hard enough. When you talk about a quarterback, I think it needs to be, ‘These are your reps. You’re locked in. You’re ready to go.’ That’s all.” LIONS QB TIM BOYLE QUOTE SHEET November 19, 2021 On what it would mean to him if he got his first NFL start on Sunday: “Opportunities, especially in the NFL, come very few times unfortunately, but that’s the beauty of the NFL. It’s so competitive. It’s been a long journey, just kind of reminiscing on my story of starting football when I was six years old and here I am as a 27-year-old still blessed to have this opportunity, it really is. It’s about preparation and always staying ready. I’ll be ready to go.” On how he mentally processed his thumb injury and surgery: “It was initially tough because you work and you’re on a new team. I feel like I was getting into a stride in training camp and preseason. I was really getting comfortable, and then all of a sudden you kind of have this kind of freak thumb accident that happened in the last preseason game that kind of threw my plans and my schedule and my throwing hand. I’ve never had an injury to a throwing shoulder or hand before, so it’s been kind of weird from a mindset standpoint. But, after my surgery, I kind of attacked my rehab and (Coordinator of Rehabilitation/Assistant Athletic Trainer Tom Colt) TC, one our trainers, got me right. (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell fortunately allowed me to stay in every single meeting. I was on the sideline for every game. I traveled to away games, so my mind has been in it. I’ve been staying in the playbook. I’ve been sharp helping Jared (Goff) prepare. From a mental standpoint, I don’t feel like I’ve really skipped a beat. It’s more so getting out here and every rep I’ve had this week has been extremely valuable.” On if he feels like he did before his thumb injury and how he felt in practice this week: “Like I told you guys, this is kind of my first time getting these first-team reps all the way through the week. In my past in Green Bay, if Aaron (Rodgers) took a practice off because he was banged up, I took the reps. Having the one reps all week really is so valuable for getting yourself ready physically to play to answer your question because when you’re kind of a backup and you’re sitting back there, you can kind of take the mental reps, but physically doing it and feeling it out and seeing the defense is so valuable. I feel great, hand is 100 percent, legs feel good, arm feels good, so I’m ready to go.” On if Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp has given him any advice: “She’s just happy. I’m always happy to see her. She’s always an awesome presence around here and I’m glad she comes to practice all the time. But, no advice. It was just excited and happy and let’s go get the first win.” On the challenge of facing the Cleveland Browns and their pass rush: “To be quite honest with you, I’m worried about us. We have two first-round tackles and whoever plays I have ultimate confidence that they’re going to block their edge rushers to answer that question. But, I’m not really necessarily focused on them. I’m focused on our execution and scoring points and getting our first win.” On how long it took for his injured thumb to feel back to normal: “From a week standpoint, I really started feeling good and able to throw probably eight, nine weeks out of it. So, I’ve been getting some good throwing in and I’ve been doing that with the training staff and the strength staff and the medical staff perhaps. And, it’s been good, but last week I was able to practice, they started my clock, which was awesome. But, like I said, every rep this week has been so valuable kind of getting my timing back, getting my feet back, and kind of getting back in football shape physically.” On how he is forming a quick chemistry WR Josh Reynolds: “It’s giving him opportunities at practice and figuring out his timing. If I had a mirrored concept where I could have thrown to Kalif (Raymond) over than Josh in practice, you throw it to Josh because I feel like I have a good rapport with Kalif already. So, it’s just those things in practice, those little minor details that you really want to focus on. We stayed after practice a few times and kind of got some timing of some routes that he’s going to be specific on. But yeah, he’s super talented, he’s a big dude, he’s fast, he’s long. At first, it was challenging to figure out his speed because his stride length is so long, so he gets to his point really quick, but we’ve got it now. He’s a great addition to the offense.” On if he has let himself think about what Sunday would look like pregame if he were to start his first NFL game: “I gave myself – and that’s kind of the thing, every week you kind of have to, even as the backup and third-string my rookie year, every week you mentally have to put yourself in a position to – alright, all of a sudden your number is called, here you go, you’ve got to play football. To answer your question, I like living in the present, but you’re always ready to go play if your number is called.” On how he will approach Saturday to help calm himself: “I’ll meditate, I’ll breathe, talk to my family, I’ll study and go to bed. Easy. It’s football. I’ve been playing since I was six. It’s an awesome opportunity, but at the end of the day, I can’t psyche myself out. I’ve got to go react and play football.” On if his jersey number 12 is symbolic of anything: “I’ve always loved 12. Being a Tom Brady fan growing up, having the same initials, the TB12, not that I’m ever comparing myself to Tom Brady. I’ve always loved 12 being a Tom Brady fan in New England being from Connecticut, and then obviously going to Green Bay and being around 12 (Aaron Rodgers). It’s just a good quarterback number. So, it was available here. I knew Jamie (Collins Sr.) at the time wanted eight, so it was perfect.” On Buccaneers QB Tom Brady’s TB12 diet: “Oh yeah, I couldn’t do it. I’m not there. It takes a lot of discipline.” On the pieces of advice QB Jared Goff has given him this week: “Just be myself. I think that’s the number one thing. Just do what got me here, but he’s kind of given me his insight on what he’s done in the past, preparation, certain plays, stuff that even from this year that he’s seen just from a timing standpoint. Just little tidbits that he’s given me has been extremely helpful and he’s been awesome this week, so I’m grateful for him.” On what he envisioned his first NFL start to be like as a kid: “I don’t really think I envisioned myself starting in the NFL. It was always a dream. You don’t really think about it until it happens. You think about all of the ups and downs. You’re playing youth football and it’s fun and it’s exciting. And then it’s middle school, it’s fun, exciting, it’s a game, it’s a sport. And then high school it’s a little more competitive and you’re a good high school player. And then my specific journey, it’s college and I struggled. It’s confidence. It’s leaning on family. It’s transferring and having an OK season and kind of picking myself up kind of plugging along. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of how I handled my journey. When it comes down to it, just like your profession, you’ve got to be ready when your number is called and I’m going to be ready.” On which of his attributes he believes led him to being in the NFL: “I think the number one thing – and this is going to carry with me for a while – it’s just believing in myself and not relying on external factors to build my confidence and always having that steady confidence about my game and what I can do on the field. In a tough part when adversity hits is just persevering and just telling yourself, and I’ve told this in a few media sessions, just thinking positive. Like, good things happen to good people who work hard and I’ve always told myself that. I feel like I’m a good person. I try to spread kindness, love, and do my thing. Reflecting on my journey, it’s been perseverance and self-confidence. On if he thinks potentially starting is only for one week or if it could lead to starting the rest of the season: “I’m worried about Sunday. I’m worried about Sunday.” On how QB Jared Goff has balanced being disappointed in his injury and his enthusiasm to help the quarterbacks prepare if he has to miss Sunday: “Jared’s been awesome. He’s been awesome. He hasn’t skipped a beat at all. Obviously, there are emotions with getting hurt and doing treatments all day and there’s a psychological effect, but he has not skipped a beat in the meeting rooms. He’s still his normal, up-beat, smart – like, you said, he’s a tough son of a gun and he really is. He’s a valuable member of our quarterback room from his experience standpoint, even David (Blough). David’s got some starts under his belt. It’s just the culmination of all of that love in that room and trying to just make sure that everyone’s ready in that room has been awesome. I really am so grateful for Jared. He’s been awesome this week and he’s been coaching me this whole week. He’s been in his hoodie and it’s been trying to stay warm, but it’s been constant coaching and constant little tidbits that he knows that he’s used in his past to try to help me along in my career.” On if he and QB Jared Goff’s relationship is like New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Buccaneers and former Patriots QB Tom Brady: “You can say that, which is very much appreciated. It really is.” |
