| December 14, 2020 Opening Statement: “I met with the squad today, just talked to them about where we are as a team, and appreciate the way that we fought, and the energy and the effort that we played with yesterday. Told them that you still have a lot to play for – we expect no changes, we expect it to be the same way and looking forward to going to Nashville this week. Just a couple of injury updates here for you – we know Matthew (Stafford) took a hit in the game and injured his rib. You guys know how tough Matthew is, this will be a deal where we’ll take it until the end of the week. He’s a little bit better this afternoon than he was this morning, so we’ll see how it goes and how he can progress. Then the other one is Jeff Okudah, he’ll be having surgery tomorrow, so we will place him on IR somewhere during the week. So with that, open it up for questions.” On what he needs to see from QB Matthew Stafford to play Sunday and if he’ll have to hold him back from playing for health-reasons despite a desire to play: “Well for sure, that is definitely who he is. We’re going to use all the resources that we have at our disposal, which is the athletic training staff, we have doctors, and then obviously, he’ll have a big say in how he’s feeling. We’ll look at the test with our eyes, we’ll see how he’s performing. But it’ll be, basically, performance-based, and if he’s going to be able to function at a high enough level, one, to perform well, and two, to be able to protect himself.” On if QB Matthew Stafford broke his ribs: “Right now, the X-rays were negative.” On if he injured a singular rib or more than one: “That’s about as much information as I have. They X-rayed the rib area, and that’s where he’s feeling the pain in that side, on his left side.” On the most serious rib injury he ever had and how it impacts a quarterback’s performance: “I think the rotational part that we’ll have to determine how he’ll be able to feel during the week. I think it’s dependent on which side that it’s on, to be honest with you. On your left side, you use that a little bit more that your right side. So as I said, we’ll just have to monitor it and see how he’s feeling and see how much he can push through it or not.” On QB Chase Daniel and QB David Blough and the importance of this week of practice to get them more reps: “Well early in the week for sure, they’re going to be getting more reps as we monitor Matthew (Stafford) and see where he’s at. I thought Chase did a nice job coming into the game, and that situation is always a tough situation. He was able to get us down there and get us some points, made a big throw on that conversion to ‘Marv’ (Marvin Jones Jr.). David Blough, I mean, he played five games for us last year. He played at a high level. He’s only better from all the preparation that he has another year in the system. You’ll always see that guy working, he’s always right side-by-side with the other two quarterbacks and communicating really well. It’s a great room. There’s a lot of give and take there, a lot of information shared. Then you’ll always see that kid staying after practice. He’ll take a bunch of scout team reps, and he’ll stay after practice, and there’s a couple receivers that he’ll get, and he’ll take himself through another practice. I have nothing but confidence if we ended up going with David as well.” On his recent communication with QB Matthew Stafford: “I just wanted to make sure I touch base with him. I touched base with him in the locker room, and then I touched base with him when he got home, seeing where he was, talked to him first thing this morning – and more, it’s just checking on his health, nothing about the game, anything like that, just seeing how he’s doing, how he’s progressing, where his mindset is and those kinds of things. He’s a true warrior. That guy loves to play football, and it’s going to take a lot to keep him out.” On Titans RB Derrick Henry: “I haven’t been able to watch any Tennessee (tape) yet. We’re still finishing up today with the game last night. But obviously I’ve seen enough of him, of Derrick Henry, to know what he brings. I think he just had a game over 200 yards again – am I correct there? He’s big, he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s going to take a full team effort, you know the whole team, to tackle the guy. We’ll start working on that tomorrow, but it’s going to be another good task for us.” On the belief among the team of what there is to play for at this point in the season: “So you’re saying there’s a chance, right? That’s why we play these games. We’re going to get them playing, and just like I said when I started this thing, this is an opportunity for all of us. It’s an opportunity for all of us, whether if it’s going to be on this team, whether it’s another team – people are watching. They want to see how the Detroit Lions are going to be acting: if they’re just going to throw in the towel or if they’re going to keep fighting. If I have anything to say about it or these players do, we’re going to keep fighting – and 1% (chance to make the playoffs)? We’ll take it. I don’t even know if that’s right, but we’ll take it.” On CB Jeff Okudah’s rookie season: “I think he’s going to have a bright future. It’s been a tough year for him. He’s kind of in and out of the lineup a little bit with injuries, and that can happen with a young player. You have to get your body used to this grind and this type of season that you have in the National Football League. I think he’ll only be better for what he’s gone through this year. I expect him to go out and get the surgery, come back with a renewed attitude and a renewed effort to get himself in shape, to get himself ready to play and ready for this grind.” |
