Head coach Brian Daboll

DABOLL: So, (cornerback) Rico Payton, we're going to open up his window. Got a number of guys that won't practice today. (Offensive lineman) Jermaine Eluemunor, (wide receiver Jalin) Hyatt will be back out tomorrow, he had wisdom teeth taken out. (Tight end Daniel Bellinger) Belly, (defensive lineman Chauncey) Golston, (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott, still in concussion protocol. (Cornerback) Art Green, (safety Jevón) Holland will do stuff today, (cornerback Paulson) Adebo will do some stuff. We'll see how much they do. They'll be out here. I think that's it roster wise. Anybody got any questions on that?

Q: Is Jermaine's serious?

DABOLL: Jermaine's got a pec.

Q: Concern that that's a serious thing? Like long term?

DABOLL: I don't think it's long term. But it's not good enough to practice today.

Q: Not a torn pec is what I was asking.

DABOLL: No, he's got a sore pec.

Q: With Skattebo, it seems like the outlook for him long term is fairly positive. Does that sound right to you?

DABOLL: Yeah, he's a couple days out of surgery. Again, he's got a road ahead of him to rehab. He just got the surgery. I couldn't answer that.

Q: Any other surgeries scheduled?

DABOLL: No, just the one that he had. He's been in, I've seen him wheeling around.

Q: It just seems like when you see that, that was obviously a tough injury to see visually. The idea that he could be back to start next season seems pretty, relatively speaking, positive.

DABOLL: You have to ask the doctors. I think he's a couple days out of surgery.

Q: You haven't asked the doctors?

DABOLL: I don't think they can give me a six-month or eight-month prognostication. He's just getting done with surgery. He's got his leg all wrapped up. We're just going to help him rehab and he'll be out here as soon as he can.

DABOLL: Okay, so big week with the 49ers. A lot of good football players. They just played Houston on the road. Offensively, obviously, (San Franciso 49ers head coach Kyle) Coach Shanahan has been there for a while. Got a lot of respect for him and how he's done his business the years that he's been a head coach and a coordinator in this league. (49ers quarterback) Mac (Jones) has played for them. (49ers quarterback) Brock (Purdy) has played a couple games here, so we'll have to evaluate both of those guys. Starts with (49ers running back Christian) McCaffrey. He's a dynamic player. I'm sure they'll look at a lot of things that have happened over the last couple weeks in terms of running the ball or matchup-wise with him. They do it with everybody, but he can align as a receiver, a running back. He's a very talented player. (49ers tight end George) Kittle is back. Another really talented player. (49ers tackle) Trent Williams.

Defensively, I think (49ers defensive coordinator) Coach Saleh does a tremendous job. Those guys play extremely hard. Turn the football over. They're number one in the league in causing forced fumbles. They play fast. Their speed is apparent in how they play, which is a testament to Coach Saleh. We have to do a good job this week of getting ready for another good football team.

Q: You mentioned McCaffrey. Obviously, that brings up this run game you mentioned you guys have been dealing with. How does he present several challenges, just kind of what he can do so much with his versatility?

DABOLL: Yeah, he's one of the better players in the league in his position. He's a mismatch in the passing game, a mismatch in the running game. They run a wide variety of run schemes. He can run them all. They put him on a wide variety of routes, receiver routes that receivers would run, running backs. He can do pretty much everything. He's a very valuable piece for their offense. He's extremely good.

Q: How do you go into the week thinking about their quarterback position? What's your approach to that? How do you go about that?

DABOLL: Well, I think Coach Shanahan has run his system for a long time. Mac's done a good job replacing Brock. Brock has obviously done a good job since he's been there. Again, there's so much to prepare for relative to the different things that they do. You just study both guys. The system is pretty expansive. They do a lot of the things that are difficult to defend.

Q: You mentioned that the Niners defense does a really good job at forcing fumbles. With Jaxson in the backfield and (running back) Devin (Singletary) and (running back) Tyrone (Tracy), what's the most challenging thing that they will face in regards to pass rush and the run defense?

DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say the receivers too. I just think the way that they attack the football and the effort and style that they play with. It's the all gas, no brake style, if you will. I've known Coach Saleh for a long time, and I just think he's a really good football coach. Those guys play hard. His fingerprints are all over it. We're going to have to do a good job of finishing plays because they rally to the football. They do a great job of punching it out. Great technique at the top of holding on to the football. They're long inside. They do a really good job.

Q: The Niners didn't have a very good game last week against Houston. They got on them pretty good. Is a team even more dangerous coming off of a game like that?

DABOLL: I think it's the NFL. Again, the first half, you watch some of the things. They've been hit on a couple big plays. One out of the backfield, it was cover one. Defender lost his man, so he ran for 50. (Houston Texans quarterback C.J.) Stroud made a really nice throw on one of the downfield throws. I thought they did a really good job in the red zone and some 3rd and 1s but could have got out of hand there and it didn't. It was a competitive game until the end relative to going into the fourth quarter. It's a good football team. They've got a winning record for a reason. Two different quarterbacks that have played well. A really good running back and I'd say very aggressive, just fast defense that makes plays.

Q: You and Robert (Saleh) were both head coaches in this city and this stadium together, different teams obviously. Did you guys form a bond over that?

DABOLL: I've known him. He was a Michigan State GA too. I was a Michigan State GA. He's just a good person who I have a lot of respect for. Again, we've talked, we've practiced against one another obviously like that, but I got a lot of respect for him.

Q: Outside of this particular matchup, what have you learned in the past few weeks about Jaxson and how he responds to adversity and handles it?

DABOLL: I think I've said this before. He's pretty consistent. He focuses on each week. Spends a lot of time at his craft. Works really hard. Competitive. Does a lot of good things for us. I have a lot of confidence in him.

Q: Jaxson has shown the ability in unscripted situations. Not backyard football obviously, but maybe he's got to move around and do things, receivers have to move around and do things. Obviously, you like that about him, but is there a sense that you hope that things can be more scripted at times and things don't break down and he just can get back there, read it, and do it?

DABOLL: I think he can get back there, read it, and do it. When it's not there, I think I was asked the question in training camp with that. He has a good feel for the pocket. Keeps his eyes downfield and makes plays. I'd say a lot of the really good ones in this league are able to do that.

Q: He was saying how in both the last two games they took away the scramble lanes and he expects that's just going to be the case going forward. He had a lot of success scrambling the first couple of times. What's the counter to that then if they're going to rush him like that?

DABOLL: If they're sitting back, which I don't really anticipate San Francisco doing, they get after the quarterback and get off the ball. Again, there's lanes outside. Keep your eyes downfield. Scramble rules. There's a lot of quarterbacks that can scramble in this league with their legs. You try to do a variety of things against them. If it's there and he's got an opportunity to do it, he should do it. If not, we've got to do a good job of scramble rules, keeping our eyes downfield, becoming available for him as a passer when he's like the one to (wide receivers) Wan'Dale (Robinson) in Denver. There's plenty of them. Just play the game.

Q: When outside noise gets so close to home with (former Giant) Carl Banks and his comments on (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence, is that something that warrants a conversation between you and Dex?

DABOLL: I'd say we just focus on ourselves and do the best job we can each week to get ready to play a game. We've got enough on our plate with getting ready for San Francisco.

Q: Cam, obviously you mentioned being here, (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) had his surgery yesterday and he's coming back. In their recoveries, obviously that's the priority. Is it important for you to have two young players like that, cornerstone players, still be around this team as you guys move forward here in the season?

DABOLL: I'd say the first thing is they've got to make sure that we're on the right path in terms of the recovery and there's a lot of time that's going to need to take place for that. Again, Cam was in here in a meeting. He'll be getting as much treatment as he can. Same thing with Malik. The first thing is their health and try to get them back as healthy as we can as soon as that may be.

Q: Malik had his surgery in Dallas, right? Will he rehab there?

DABOLL: I think Malik will be back here either tonight or tomorrow.

Q: Cornerback, how optimistic are you about Flott this week?

DABOLL: He's in concussion protocol.

Q: As far as Rico Payton goes, when he's healthy what do you think he'll give you guys?

DABOLL: He'll be out here practicing today so get a feel for him this week.

Q: I just want to confirm, Cam was in meetings?

DABOLL: Yeah, Cam was in the meeting today.

Q: Is he still bringing that energy that we see that he brings on the field to the meetings? What is that dynamic like?

DABOLL: With all due respect, this is the second day after his surgery. He's all wrapped up. Cam walked around the building. He's been in the training room. This is an unfortunate injury for all of us.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: What was it like seeing number 44 (running back Cam Skattebo) back in the building today?

DART: It was good. I mean, I think that's going to kind of just be how he is, like, he's going to hate sitting at home and whatnot. So, I'm sure that he'll be around here a lot. It was good to see his face for sure.

Q: We all know him to bring such a good energy to the team. What's the energy like just a couple days after surgery?

DART: For him?

Q: Yeah, and (the energy) that he's bringing to the team, just being back here. (Head coach Brian) Daboll said that he's not only here, but he's sitting in meetings.

DART: Like you said, he's just that energy guy. Obviously, he's down with kind of what happened and his injury and whatnot, but at the same time, he's a great teammate, wants all the guys around to succeed. So, I don't really expect much differently from him as a person. At the same time, him just going to be a continual leader because we have conversations all the time. We feel like we're going to be here for a very long time, so that's kind of the impact that he brings to the table and he wants to be consistent with that.

Q: How do you replace that energy? I know there's production and then there's the energy. How do you replace the energy?

DART: I mean, other guys just kind of have to pick it up. That's just the name of it. It'll be a little different without him out there just yelling and whatnot, but we've got some good guys in the building to kind of pick up.

Q: A little quieter today on the field without him?

DART: A little bit, a little bit for sure.

Q: What's the biggest challenge that you see with the Niners defensive front, especially what the pass rush brings to the table?

DART: I think the biggest thing that stood out to me initially just early in the week watching tape is ball disruption, creating turnovers. Two or three games were won for them off of the defensive side, punching the ball out late at the end of the game to steal games. So, they're ball disruptors. They fly around. They've been banged up a little bit with injuries, but they play really hard and they play physical and fast, so it's going to be a really good challenge for us.

Q: As a young guy, a lot is on your plate already. You've had, what, two quarters with (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers)? Less than two quarters? And not enough time with Cam, obviously. How do you kind of get this offensive group together and say, we have enough here? Do you believe you have enough here and do you think they need to hear that from you?

DART: I don't think they need to hear much from me. I mean, I have overwhelming confidence in all the guys that step on the field with me. I never have any doubt when I'm on the field, so, they all know that. It's just kind of our conversations during practice and whatnot. So, I don't think that that's really a thing that really is concerned internally with us. But, yeah, there's just been a lot of different plug-and-play situations, obviously. We've been a little banged up at some skill position spots with Malik and then (wide receiver Darius) Slayton missing time and whatnot, and obviously with Skatt. But we're just trying to work, guys are going to be able to step up and that's just part of the NFL. Every team is going to have injuries and whatnot, and you've got to be able to weather the storms of those. We've got a lot of good guys in the building.

Q: It comes at you fast, doesn't it?

DART: It does, yeah.

Q: What are your early thoughts on (wide receiver) Ray-Ray (McCloud)?

DART: He's explosive. I watched a lot of his tape when I heard that he was coming here. Then obviously just following his career, seeing the reception numbers that he puts up, how explosive he is especially when he has the ball in his hands and run after catch stuff. So, I think that's just kind of the word to describe him. It's been good to have him in the facility because he's a great worker and he's around late, so I'm excited to have him.

Q: What has (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) meant to you? Obviously, we've seen you guys talking after games as he's giving you some good advice. What has he meant to you through this whole process of you navigating being a starting quarterback?

DART: I kind of see it as I've got two big brothers in the room. (Quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ might reach a little bit of, like, Unc status a little bit. But they're both my big brothers out there. The wisdom they shed off of me has been huge. They've done it for a long time, and they've succeeded at the highest level. I'm in a very unique situation to have those guys, and we have great relationships off the field too. So, really just blessed and grateful to have those guys in the room.

Q: It's probably a little different too because in college, I'm sure you had older guys that you looked up to. But here you have two guys who've played a long time. For you leading up to this point, does it just feel like endless resources from those two?

DART: Yeah, I mean, I can come at them with any question that I have or any concern that I have and they've probably been through it multiple times. Like you said, it's cool to just have those guys in there and be able to ask as many questions as I need to.

Q: What have you learned about yourself over these past few weeks and how you handle and just deal with adversity from games to injuries to things like that?

DART: I feel like I've had a lot of adversity just in my career. So, I've had to make strides when things didn't really look the brightest in moments. For me, losing hurts. It crushes us just because of the work that you put in and the expense that you put out there on the field. That's just kind of how I've just played the game. I give it everything that I have, so it definitely sucks when some things don't go your way. But I'm also very optimistic and I see a bright future here. I just know that it's going to take each rep, each game, and you've got to be able to just take advantage of those moments.

Q: You said the way they rushed you was kind of like cage rushing you, trying to keep you from going laterally. What's the counter from you? What do you have to do when other teams do that to you?

DART: Well, it's very team specific. Some teams rush more guys than others on a early down versus third-down situation. So, honestly, I'm not really thinking too much about the rush. That stuff's more read and react to me. I try to never have my eyes down, seeing what's coming at me and around me, and I'm just trying to keep my eyes down the field. Quite honestly, I don't really think about it too much. I'm just trying to read and react when I'm out there on the field.

Q: Yesterday on social media I saw you visited a Jersey Pediatric Cancer Center. What was that experience like? What made you do that and do you plan to keep doing things like that?

DART: Yeah, absolutely. The children's hospital, that hits close to home with me and my family with my sister growing up. So, that's definitely something that I did in college too and I want to continue to do that. It's definitely special to see them and their perspective of life and them just finding joy in the little moments. I'm so down because we just lost a game and they're able to go through some of the hardest things imaginable and put a smile on their face. So, it's inspiring to be around them.

Q: What do you think about the fact that (former Giants quarterback) Eli Manning's son is dressing up as you for Halloween?

DART: I think it's awesome. I've met Charlie a few times, obviously been around Eli a lot. I think that, maybe like he said, he's a little disappointed that it wasn't him. But it's just a cool relationship, and I think it's awesome.

Q: I'm sure Charlie isn't going to be the only one. Do you expect trick-or-treaters to come around to your place?

DART: I hope so. I'm going to be ready. I'm going to be ready.

Q: You're going to have stuff for them?

DART: Of course. Yeah, I love Halloween.

Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Q: (Question about Cam Skattebo)…

TRACY: Immediately after the game, I talked to him really almost every day. Just make sure his spirits are high, make sure that he's doing well mentally. Let him know I'm here for him for whatever he needs. So, seeing him today, it wasn't the first time me and him have had an interaction. Trying to make sure that he knows I'm in his corner and I'm praying for him because I really am.

Q: Were you surprised to see him?

TRACY: Here?

Q: Yeah.

TRACY: No, I wasn't surprised to see him at all. Just because that's just who he is. It doesn't matter if he has a broken leg, broken arm. He's trying to be around football.

Q: (Quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) talks about how much energy Cam brings to the team overall. Come Sunday, what do you want to see out of yourself in the backfield to bring that elevated energy to the game?

TRACY: To be honest with you, I'm not going to try to be anyone else but Tyrone Tracy Jr. That's because that's all I can be on the football field. And I think that God has blessed me enough to go out there and just be myself. I'm not going to try to really bring any extra energy, I'm just going to go out there and do what I can to put my team in the best situation possible. Whether it's running, catching the ball in the backfield, or blocking. Or really just being a cheerleader on the sideline when the defense is up or whatever. Whatever I've got to do to put my team in a great situation, I'm going to do that.

Q: What's the biggest challenge that the Niners run defense presents?

TRACY: I would say they're very fast. They run downhill. They're very physical. They play with a lot of energy as well. So, I think that for our offense to go out there and just execute and play well, I think we have to make them really raise their energy to us. Not us raise our energy to compare to them. When we go out there on Sunday, we have to go out there and make sure that we're playing our A game. Also, that no matter how fast or how physical they're playing, we're always a step ahead of them. No matter what it is.

Q: At this time last year as a rookie, you started getting your feet wet on an opportunity and you made the most of it. I know circumstances were different this year. What do you feel about this opportunity now? Obviously, everyone wants to see Skatt hurt. But this presents yet another opportunity for you to take even more of the load.

TRACY: Yeah, that's a great question. I think however the opportunity presents itself, you have to take advantage of it. No matter what it is. Just like last year when (running back Devin Singletary) Motor got injured. It's kind of the same thing. I'm going to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability. Whether I get the ball three times or if I get the ball 50 times. I'm going to go out there and try to execute my job, my responsibility, to the best that I can. Like I said, no matter what is going on. I want everyone to understand that when I hit that field, my energy, my passion, the way I handle myself, and just the way I approach the game I want it to be felt. Whether you're here at the game or watching it on TV. I want you to feel number 29 on the field for sure.

Q: It almost feels similar to last year. Like you said, last year you kind of came in mid-season, stepped up and carried it a little bit. Does it feel deja vu-ish? Even though it's not the same as last year? You coming in mid-season to kind of take over a little bit?

TRACY: I mean yes – yes and no. This year, every week, whether I was RB1 or not, I approached it that way. I approached it as if I was the starting running back. Because again, you never know how a game is going to go. You never know the variables throughout the game or who's going to get the hot hand or whatever. That's why I went about it that way. Also, I'm just programmed and it's in my DNA just to go about it that way as well. Last year, I knew Motor was RB1. I wasn't really going in thinking, okay, let me prepare this way. I didn't really know how to prepare really. That's another thing. I didn't know how to prepare for the RB1 position. This year, I really don't think anything has changed at this point, at this moment right now. That's the biggest change right now. I'm really just going at every game as if I'm RB1. This week is nothing different.

Q: You guys lost (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) a few weeks ago. You lost Cam this week. Is there a belief that you guys have enough? You lost a starting running back and a starting receiver too.

TRACY: Yeah, we've definitely got enough. I think it's always next man up mentality, whether it's QB, receiver, running back, DB, whatever it may be. It's always next man up mentality. Whoever we have in this locker room, and if we put you out there on the field, we definitely have faith that you and your abilities is enough for us to go out there and get a W.

Q: I think Jaxson said something about having unbelievable faith. Has he conveyed that to you guys? Because he's young in his career, and he's lost some big pieces here already.

TRACY: Yeah, we all have the same faith, though. We all have the same faith. It's not really just him. It's all of us. We all understand that what we've got and what we have in this locker room is all we need. We don't need anyone else to come and get us a win. We can really do it ourselves. I think we've shown that as well. We showed that we have what it takes. We just have to do it day in and day out.

Q: How do you keep the mentality of wanting to be RB1 over the last couple months and then watch a teammate rise the way Cam did and get a lot of attention, be productive, and I don't want to say there's jealousy or envy, but how do you stay a good teammate but also keep that mentality of, you know what, when I get this opportunity, I can still be the starting running back?

TRACY: First and foremost, I think prayer is the main thing that I was doing because mental – my mental was really attacked just because when you go from RB1 to a different role, who you are is questioned and why you're here is questioned. So, I think prayer and God has placed me in certain situations for a reason, and I really do think that when Cam was starting, I was there to help him. I was there to guide him in whatever it was, like be his mentor. The same thing Motor did for me last year. I think, again, Motor was a great mentor to me last year, so I think that was kind of me giving back to Motor just the same way I was giving back to Skatt. Like I said, I think prayer was number one. And then secondly, just also just being dialed in and ready for the opportunity. You know the saying, if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. I was always going to stay ready no matter if it was in-game or, like I said, if someone got hurt or if they just wanted me to go in, whatever it may be. I was always going to stay ready because I knew that my opportunity was going to come. And I knew it because I prayed for it. I have unbelievable faith in God that whatever I pray for, that someday, somehow, it's going to happen. I didn't know when. I didn't know what game – what time of the season. But I did know I was going to get an opportunity to go out there and perform.