On the likelihood of QB Jared Goff playing on Sunday: “I would say highly unlikely with where we’re at right now. He didn’t clear this morning, so I would say it’s looking doubtful.” On if CB Amani Oruwariye’s injury is considered a long-term injury: “We’re getting him looked at. That happened on the last drive of the game, and really he didn’t even know when it happened. So, we’re getting it checked out and we’ll see where he’s at. So, he’s kind of up in the air right now.” On how CB Amani Oruwariye’s injury happened: “It just ended up – it was kind of a ligament and a bone as well. But, we’ll see. I mean, I would say look, it’s probably not looking great, but we’re still hopeful.” On if surgery is an option for CB Amani Oruwariye: “Could be. Could be.” On if a decision has been made about RB D’Andre Swift’s status for Sunday: “No, today will tell a lot. I would tell you the last two days – he looked pretty good Wednesday, looked even better yesterday, but it’s about the contact. So today, we’ll just kind of assess and I feel like determine that after today. There again, I just know he’s improving. That’s what I would say.” On his comfort level in CB Ifeatu Melifonwu’s ability if CB Amani Oruwariye is out on Sunday: “Well number one, Amani still has one good hand, so he can still catch with that hand if he needs to pick, and he can cover, he’s got his feet. But, as far as Iffy, I will tell you what, it was good to see – he didn’t get a lot last week, but there again, we’ve had him – he had already come back to practice before COVID and then you saw him this week getting his legs back under him. So look, we feel pretty good. It will be – there will be some things that will come up, but I feel like he’s moving pretty good and he’s conscientious and if he gets an opportunity, then he’ll go make the most of it.” On his expectations for QB Tim Boyle if he plays on Sunday: “Look, I think that – I expect to get a guy who is going to be able to function in our offense. He’ll be able to move the ball. He’ll be a general for us out there. He’s going to get us in the right play. He’ll make the right decision. That’s what I expect. Like, I feel very confident in that. The communication will be really good. He’ll be able to get those guys going in the right direction and then we’ll see from there. It’s just about getting him in a rhythm after that.” On if there is value in QB Tim Boyle having the experience of playing against the Browns this season: “Absolutely, it’s huge, especially at that – well any position, but especially at that position. I mean, it’s one thing if you play and look, he’s got some time under him just for the fact he’s not a rookie and he’s been behind Aaron Rodgers. But man, to be able to play in a real game in a season when real bullets are flying, it’s third down and I’ve got to make these checks on the fly and different coverages and different fronts, to be able to have to go through that and now literally understand what that’s like when it’s real pressure I think is really beneficial. I know it has served him well. It will serve him well.” On his memories as a player playing on Christmas weekend: “I always appreciated it. I liked it because you felt like you were – while everybody else is at home enjoying their whatever you have, the treats, the candy, the presents, the gifts, the time, your family is really here and it’s with the guys and you kind of appreciate that and you’re all in it together. It’s pretty cool to play at home, but it’s even better to play on the road during that time because you feel like you’re kind of – it’s just you. It’s just you guys. There is nobody else, nobody cares about you. So, I don’t know. There is something cool about it and you know everybody is going to be watching. I just always appreciated it. I liked it.” On if the team adjusted the practice schedule because of Christmas: “I did. We tried to – it wasn’t much today, but we started 30 minutes earlier and then tomorrow, we backed everything up a couple of hours so some of these guys, the players and staff that have young ones, they can at least wake up with them and maybe open a gift or two before they have to come in and we’ve got to travel. But yeah, I do, and I think it is important. I believe in family and a happy family makes you a lot better player and coach as well. It’s just the right thing to do.” On if he has a favorite gift he has received on Christmas: “I can’t think of anything. For years, I always got underwear as my gift in my stocking. That was always a staple from Dad or from grandparents. That was what I always remember. Not that that was a favorite, I’m just saying that’s what I always got. Now look, I love Christmas. That’s my favorite holiday as a matter of fact and nothing is better than the tree and the ornaments and I appreciate that, man. I like it. I like old Christmas music, too.” On if he thinks the movie ‘Die Hard’ should be considered a Christmas movie: “Is that not a huge debate or what? I actually – yes, I do. I do as a matter of fact. I will watch it every Christmas. That and ‘Christmas Vacation’ are my two staples.” On the difficulty of balancing player evaluations early in the season with player evaluations near the end of the season: “As it pertains to each individual player, I think what you see late in the year is pretty telling to me. I think there is more value in what you see late in the year than you see early in the year. Now, there are a couple of different cases, ‘As a guy, did he have an injury?’ But, I think what you’re looking at is – what you want to see is the growth from the early part of the year to the late part of the year. What does that look like? And so, I feel like this is a good thing. And look, I bring this up again too, where we have had – as tough as it’s been, the good thing is we’ve been able to evaluate a number of players on our roster, a number of free agents that, ‘Hey, we really like this guy. He looks pretty good on scout. Let’s get him in the game.’ Or, ‘We’ve got to use him and let’s see what he looks like.’ Not everybody gets that, is able to do that or get that. And, I bring back up again the fact that we kind of got forced into it somewhat, but for Will Harris to go play cornerback, we’d have never known that had we not had the slew of COVID and injuries and everything that transpired and it’s like, ‘OK, well.’ You’re figuring some stuff out. You’re finding things out you wouldn’t ordinarily find out. But no, look, you do take the totality of the season by the player, but I think you need to see vast improvement at the end of the year than the beginning of the year.” On how his evaluation of QB Jared Goff has changed over the course of the season: “Well look, I always felt like it was – for me, for him, I always felt like it’s hard to evaluate him until I feel like everything is right to an extent, and you can do a fair evaluation of where you think he is. And so, I feel like that’s come about over the last, really, call it probably four weeks, three or four weeks. And so now, it’s starting to come a little bit more into focus. I feel like there is a much clearer picture and for different circumstances, for different reasons, a number of different reasons. And so, I like where he’s trending right now. I like where he’s trending.” On if his belief in QB Jared Goff has been validated over the course of the season: “Well, the Goff I know is what we saw in Minnesota and last week with Arizona. And, that’s the player that I see, and I think there are a number of reasons why that player possibly wasn’t there early in the year, it’s not just him. I think there are a number of reasons that are all-encompassing, including us as a staff. So, that’s why I’m saying I like where he’s trending right now and I think we’re starting to figure things out pretty good.” On if the team is open to coaching the Senior Bowl if they were to be invited: “There again, that’s – I’ve thought about it and actually (Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I have talked about it, but look, I would be open for it. We would be open. I think the trick is – and both Brad and I feel this way – yes, there is an advantage. But, you also have got to be careful that you don’t get swayed by that either. Like, sometimes – it’s no different than going, ‘We’re going to go look at these two receivers. You’re going to go look at this receiver who you think is a top-10 pick, but you don’t look at this one where you’re getting anchored by looking at that one live.’ So, there is a little bit of that, but to answer your question, yes we would be open to it.” |
