| December 13, 2021 |
On the emotions surrounding CB Jerry Jacobs’ knee injury after his standout performance this season as an undrafted free agent: “You feel awful because he really has, he’s improved so much, particularly from spring just to where he’s been playing lately. And really, before he got hurt, he had already been doing some good things. So, you hate it for him. You don’t want any of your guys to get hurt, particularly one of these long-term injuries. The other thing is I hate that it happened now in December. That’s probably a nine-month injury, somewhere in there. But the good news is it’s repairable. He’ll work at it, he’ll come back, and he’ll be better than he was. But yeah, you hate it. You hate it for him and for our team.” On LB Alex Anzalone’s injury status: “I would say that’s day-to-day right now.” On if the NFL has reached out with any further guidelines for the team’s COVID-19 and flu cases: “As of right now we’re just continuing normal procedures. We all had to test today and anybody that comes in the building has to test tomorrow and close contacts.” On how the team is motivated to finish the final four games of the season: “I think at this point now, you certainly find out who loves this game and there is something to be – you’re talking about silver lining, that’s where you’re at. We’re not playing for the playoffs, but you’re playing for the game. You’re playing for the love of the game. You’re playing for the name on your back and you’re playing for the guy who is next to you, no different than what I’m doing as a coach. I’m competitive and I still want to win. We’ve got a good opponent this week. People say they are the best in the NFC, and so this will be a great test for us, no different than what we said we wanted to do two weeks ago. We’re trying to find a way to win a game and we want to compete and have a chance to win it at the end. Nothing’s changed as far as that’s concerned and I don’t care who we have, we’ll go to war with the guys that we’ve got and it may be the same guys that you just saw yesterday and we’ll have them as prepared as we can get them and go in and see what we can do.” On if he has a read on if the players will continue to fight through the last four games: “Yeah, I do. Look, they fought yesterday. It just wasn’t good enough, but the effort and the intent and all of those things are there. So look, I think these guys, they understand what’s expected and I think there is enough pride in the vets that we have that trickles to the young guys. So yeah, I think we will. Now, we’ve got to be able to put together a good game plan and we’ve got to be able to adapt and function well with that game plan. And, certainly goes without saying, but one or two mistakes will be one or two too many against this opponent.” On if it is tough to assess the cornerback position for the future given the injuries suffered this season: “It’s not ideal, but I think that certainly you love what you saw out of Jerry (Jacobs). (Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy before he got hurt was making some strides. And so, I think it gives us at least a jump start on what we think we have in the room. It’s not ideal, but yet it’s not a lost cause either. Look, we just – and let me just say this, I know you are asking about the future, but I thought Nickell Robey (Coleman) went in there and freaking battled. I thought he did some real good things yesterday. We put him in a hard spot, but that guy has been there every day on practice squad just giving us a look. His attitude is great. He gets no reps defensively per se, and goes in there and did what he did yesterday. That’s a true pro. That’s a dude who loves ball and gives everything he’s got.” On T Penei Sewell’s performance so far this season: “It’s been impressive. I would say that the decision to select him where we did has been a good one, a real good one because he really has. He’s gone in there and had to move from right back to left back to right and he’s had some ups and downs and he’s on the upward curve, he’s grown, he’s taken it. It’s what you want. Any time you don’t have success you’re going to learn from it. He’s really done that and just improved. He’s played through injury, he’s smart, he’s tough, he gives all he’s got and he’s only getting better. So, it’s impressive. He’s impressive. He’s one of the better ones I’ve ever been around that’s for sure and he’s just a young buck.” On if having players staying home today is out of precaution: “Yes. Yes. We’re just trying to be as smart as we can, as diligent as we can be about this whole thing. Even if it means maybe we save one player from exposure to somebody else, we’re doing it.” On what stood out about RB Craig Reynolds’ performance in yesterday’s game: “I just think his consistency. He was steady. When you go into a game with a guy that hasn’t played for you and you have a lot of trust for him, that’s rare. And, I would say I felt that way about him. Like, I didn’t have one – just as a play-caller, I didn’t have one problem handing the ball to him. Like, I trusted him because I see it every day in practice against our defense. And, I see him take reps for us offensively because (D’Andre) Swift’s been down and Jamaal (Williams). So, he’s been doing things in practice for us offensively. He’s been getting reps and he’s smart. He doesn’t make mental errors, he’s got vision as a runner, he’s tough, he can protect, and he’s got a little something as a receiver out of the backfield. And, I would say what he did yesterday was not – that didn’t surprise any of us. I said that yesterday, but he did exactly what we thought he would do. I think had we had been able to hang in there a little bit longer and play a – we didn’t get behind, I think you would have seen a guy who would’ve rushed for a lot more yards than just what he did.” On if there are plans to keep RB Craig Reynolds on the active roster: “I don’t know. I mean, it’s certainly impressive to see what he did. (Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I will talk about all of that this afternoon and tomorrow. But I know this, we like him a lot.” On LB Josh Woods’ performance yesterday stepping up after LB Alex Anzalone’s injury: “Let me start here, when you lose a guy like Alex with all of the production he’s had, that’s a tough one. That’s a major gut punch, and it’s really no different than losing (Jalen) Reeves-Maybin. Honestly, that hurt pretty good, too. We’ve kind of adapted a little bit, but to lose Alex, that’s tough. But, I would say Woods went in there, he took over the green dot, and I thought for not having played as much as he’s played at the linebacker position, making the calls, I thought he played physical, he was downhill. Was it perfect? No, but I thought he went in there and represented himself and us pretty well. And, he’ll only be better for it, too. Like, I already know you give him another week of work and with the reps that he’s gotten at linebacker, he will be a better player next week at that position.” On if RB D’Andre Swift and TE T.J. Hockenson will return to play this Sunday: “There again, it’s hopeful, but we’ll just have to see. I know both of those player felt better today, but we’ll kind of have to take it day by day.” On how much tape he has watched of the Oregon and Michigan football teams over the last few weeks: “Zero.” On the defensive line’s performance in yesterday’s game and what he thinks can be corrected: “I would say Michael Brockers had some production and did some things. Other than that, we weren’t good enough up front. We need to play and can play so much better than we did. And, I’m not going to make an excuse as to why we didn’t, but I thought Brockers did some things and we have to be better next week and we will be.” |
