Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: All right, good seeing everybody, beautiful day, great day for football. And I thought the guys practiced very hard, it was an opportunity to get better. And all eyes on preparing really for the game, that's what we're trying to focus on. What questions do you have?

Q: John, you guys drafted (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese), I'm curious, what did you guys like about his tackling that made him such an attractive prospect? What was it about it that made that part attractive?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, I mean, it's probably just that he's a great tackler, sure tackling. The thing that, one thing you look for is kind of called no hesitation tackling. In other words, guys who get there quick and don't give the ball carrier much chance to make him miss, they aren't really too hesitant. But you got to be good to do that because if you're going that way and the ball carrier is coming the other way, you can miss when you do that too. So, he's got that unique kind of just talent to get there quickly and still hit his target, if that makes sense. And you see it, he's doing it now, he's doing a great job.

Q: Most people seemed to think he was an edge rusher. What made you guys so convinced that he was an interior guy?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I would answer it this way. That's what he played. So, it was easy. You watched him on tape and he played it really well. And I could see where they might have said, 'Well, he's young, he hasn't played a lot. He's 20 years old,' and all that, but he played it really well at Ohio State against the best teams in the country in a pretty complicated defensive system that they have over there. So, yeah, it was, to me, the evidence was right there.

Q: John, when you gave Tae (cornerback Deonte Banks) the game ball, one of the first things that he referenced was giving up the touchdown. For a player that kind of had his accountability, some of his maturity questioned before you got here, how have you seen him grow to have that be what was on his mind instead of all of the possibilities?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it's awesome. I don't know about the growth. It's kind of, because really when we got here, he was really in that place, it seemed like. But to see it like, how they kind of say maybe character is, it's reflected in adversity. It's not really you don't build character. It's kind of just show character, maybe. I've heard that said before, something like that. And to see him get in a tough situation, which corners always do, and to handle it the way he did. So, obviously, I mean, he also made the breakup the play before, right? And so, get the pass interference penalty, have the touchdown pass, and then make the two key plays to win the game. And not bat an eye. I don't know. It's very, very impressive, right? So, I just always, I admire him for it. And hopefully, I'm sure he'll keep building on that.

Q: Practice update, we saw (running back Cam) Skattebo in a red jersey. Does that mean he was no contact today?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's what the red jersey means, yeah.

Q: Anything going on there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, he's practiced without his jersey, with no contact today. That's what was going on.

Q: Is he in concussion protocol?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, you can't, you're not allowed to do that. Can't practice at all through the protocol. I mean, you could, yeah, you're talking about if he's in the stage of the protocol where he's no contact, yeah. No, he's not.

Q: What about (running back) Najee (Harris)?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Najee had a personal thing. He'll be back tomorrow.

Q: How's (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) doing? We saw he was kind of on the side during the individual drills portion of it.

JOHN HARBAUGH: He's doing great, yeah. He had a great day, great spirits today. He had a good work day.

Q: Was he able to practice?

JOHN HARBAUGH: The injury report is coming out in 40 minutes. Check it out.

Q: He was telling us, though, that he's more sore today than usual, kind of tried to do as much as he could. So, just what you've seen from him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah. I'll take him at his word then.

Q: Do you have any clarity at the center position about which way you're leaning at center with JMS (center John Michael Schmitz)?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I wouldn't provide any clarity on that, no. I wouldn't want to do that.

Q: The run defense last week after that second drive when (Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler) Allgeier had the touchdown, I think you guys limited them to 42 yards the rest of the game. What changed with the run defense that you were able to hold them?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, for one thing, we played better. We tackled better. I think our guys made a decision to defend it better. It was very out of character, I like to think. We also made a couple adjustments. We were playing a little more for inside runs, probably, and we changed it up and we got a little more secure on the edge runs, the D-gap runs, the outside runs. That was a good changeup by (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson). I thought the coaches did a great job with that, (Outside Linebackers coach) Charlie (Bullen) and those guys, (Defensive Line Coach) Dennis (Johnson). But mainly, our DB's got up in there a little tighter on some of those crack splits. They got up in there and played those blocks a little bit better. So, probably all those things contributed to it, I would say.

Q: John, you guys are really grinding in the run game on offense. Is there something that's holding you back from more explosive plays or something you can do?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, we're just not good enough yet. Defenses are playing us pretty well. As we get better, we'll probably have more longer runs. Also, if we make them pay a little more with play action, I think that'll loosen them up a little bit, probably. But we just got to keep getting better. I think the guys are working hard at it. We're playing very hard. We're trying to play very physically. So, all the elements are there. We just have to get better, keep getting better.

Q: Coach, (Washington Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels targeting a return for this game. What is the difficulty in prepping both for him or the possibility of him not there in game plan?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, the good thing is all the plays, if he doesn't play, which I'm pretty sure he's going to play. I mean, they said he's playing. I think he practiced today from what I heard. But if for some reason he doesn't play, then it's not like they're in a different offense. It's just going to be less. He can do things that the other quarterbacks don't do quite as much. (Washington Commanders quarterback) Mariota does most everything he does, but the third quarterback (Washington Commanders quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis) doesn't do quite as much. But it doesn't matter, you've got to defend their offense. But we're preparing for Jayden, obviously.

Q: In the first game without (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) had three quarterback hits, and I assume teams are going to start double-teaming or shading more attention to Abdul than they would have maybe in the past Burns. So, how does he adjust to the extra attention he's going to get? Was it a good sign to see in this first game that he's been disruptive?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, no doubt. I mean, he's been disruptive every game. He has been disruptive every game. Run and pass. He probably had his best game this last game, no question about it. Burns wasn't out there last game, and they knew he wasn't going to play. But if they do that, he was given as much as required, right? So, he'll have to take on the responsibility of more attention. But I would guess that Abdul relishes that. That's what he wants. I'd be willing to bet that he'll rise to the occasion.

Q: With (defensive lineman) Chauncey Golston, is that a long-term injury?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Could be, could be. He's getting second opinions right now, looking into it now.

Q: When (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) went down, going back to that time, he goes down with the initial attitude from you and everybody's next man up. But did you, as a coach, think it's going to take my guys a couple of games to get the whole, their emotions and everything out of that system?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, I don't really think that way. To me, it's like, to get their emotions out of the way? No, I never even thought about that. To me, it's like, we've got a game on Sunday. We're going to be out there on Sunday. You better get your act together. It's the National Football League, and the team coming in certainly isn't too worried about your feelings. So, you better be ready to go to battle. I mean, our guys did that. They didn't flinch. So, that was good.

Q: I have a league-wide question for you, if you don't mind. With the kicking changes in the last couple of years, as a head coach, what, if anything, has it changed the way you operate at the end of halves? We've seen a lot around the league of the Cowboys game where they scored just a few seconds on the time. As a coach, what have you changed in regards to tactics, maybe?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, because the touchback isn't at the 20?

Q: Yeah.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, it used to be easy. You kick a touchback, and it's a gift. Good field position for your defense. They eliminated that because they want more returns, which I'm always for more. You want special teams in the game, of course. You can quibble with the play itself. You can quibble with how safe it is and all that. But it has helped. And so, I think they're heading in the right direction with it. But how does it change your strategy? I think you better have a good kickoff team. Because if you don't have a good kickoff team, then you're going to have to kick it in the end zone. If you're afraid of them taking it back to the house, then you're going to kick a touchback. And then they're going to have the ball at the 35. These field goal kickers now, especially early in the season, two first downs, man, or one big chunk play, and they're possibly kicking the game winning field goal. So, we're going to have to try to get them a little deeper than that. Try to get them back to inside the 25 if we can. But it definitely skews the field position in favor of the offense after a kickoff, which is probably something the league is okay with.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers

Q: How are you feeling today?

MALIK NABERS: A little sore. A little sore.

Q: You mentioned sore, but specifically how is that shoulder feeling now?

MALIK NABERS: You said my shoulder?

Q: Yeah.

MALIK NABERS: I said a little sore...

Q: That's it, yeah.

MALIK NABERS: You asking me how my shoulder is though?

Q: Yes.

MALIK NABERS: I'm good. I'm good.

Q: Did you practice today?

MALIK NABERS: As much as I could.

Q: What's limiting you?

MALIK NABERS: Say that again?

Q: What's limiting you?

MALIK NABERS: Just sore, just sore.

Q: Last year you had a toe issue that wouldn't go away. Have there been any issues with that toe as you had your recovery, then came back, now that you're playing full speed?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, but there are things that we've been doing to prevent some of those things from happening. Things I've been doing well hasn't been really giving me a problem, so I'd say we're trending in the right direction on that.

Q: What were you thinking about during the game? You obviously had a really good game, but it seemed like you were very demonstrative towards the sideline watching the second half. What was the reason for that?

MALIK NABERS: I felt like I didn't get targeted much after halftime. So, that was just a thing. It's just – I felt like creating explosives down the field was just helping us get in a better position to score touchdowns. Some of those plays didn't come my way, so just trying to figure out why.

Q: Do you think that the soreness or whatever you're dealing with today that limited you in practice could prohibit you at all from playing? Or is there no doubt in your mind about that at this point?

MALIK NABERS: We'll see how the next day goes, but through the week I'd usually be sore. But, this one was kind of a little bit more sore, but I always continue to fight through it.

Q: How was your message received by (Head Coach) John Harbaugh? He said he talked to you after the game. How was your message received?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, I talked to him just about – just trying to clarify on – I think we need to implement more things after halftime. Just also trying to give me the ball down the field to create some of those opportunities for us to gain more points. It felt like during the first half when we did that, it kind of led into the right direction with scoring touchdowns in the red zone. And just – after that, we just couldn't get going. So, I felt like the offense was needing a spark and I wanted to be that spark, so I was just trying to figure out what was going on, and what was the thought process on going into after halftime and coming out, what was the talk that he had with the coaches on implementing things down the field – we had a talk about it.

Q: Malik, you talked about how this past week was kind of your breakout. Is it discouraging at all to have that you want to be more involved in the second half – but still to have that performance and now feel the way you do physically right now?

MALIK NABERS: I wouldn't call this a breakout. I wouldn't call this a breakout. I think everybody's saying it's a breakout because I scored and got 100 yards. I could have done that game one, but I just slipped a couple times, and the ball just didn't come my way, or we just didn't complete on some routes. So, I don't know why everybody's saying it's a breakout game. I kind of feel like that was a basic game. I could have done more. I hope that answers your question.

Q: I guess to have what was your best game to this point, going into the week, we're kind of moving forward here. Is it discouraging at all that you don't feel better physically and that you are more sore now than what your normal soreness is on a Wednesday?

MALIK NABERS: No, I'm not surprised. I mean, they kind of told me getting back into this football form and just taking weeks after weeks, there's going to be up days, there's going to be down days, there's going to be things I have to work through, there's going to be things I have to fight through. Attacking it head on and just trying to get through this so I can play.

Q: What was (Running Backs Coach) Willie Taggart talking to you about after the game?

MALIK NABERS: What was that?

Q: Running Backs Coach.

MALIK NABERS: Oh, okay. My bad. I thought you said somebody else's name. He was just telling me how to just use my voice. I have a huge voice in the offense, so the more and more I'm reserved and not really saying a lot, it kind of can be either taken as the wrong way or a positive way. Like I say, I'm really quiet and I stay to myself, so everybody can take that which way they want – but just using my voice and just knowing how to use my voice the right way. I would say everything doesn't have to be an outburst or anything like that. Just simply having a one-on-one conversation or getting the offense going like, 'Let's go.' Just using my voice as a leader and being that guy that everybody wants me to be. Right now, since we're down a couple of people, I'm just trying to lead the team to get more wins.

Q: You guys are going to probably face (Commanders quarterback) Jayden (Daniels) this week. Obviously, just that relationship you guys have. How excited are you to see him again? Because obviously the last time you guys played, you didn't play, he didn't play.

MALIK NABERS: I'm very excited. Things have been really tough for me and him this past year and ongoing really. But it's always exciting to see your brother get back on the field after seeing a lot of things go bad. So, I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to see him go back out there and do what I know he's capable of.

Quarterback Jameis Winston

Q: Jameis, obviously you've got Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo) in a red jersey, Leek (wide receiver Malik Nabers) sitting out at least the part of practice we got to see. How difficult does it make it to prepare for you when you're missing some of your key pieces?

JAMEIS WINSTON: I think what's important is the way that our training staff and the way our coaches take care of our players. We trust that those guys are doing everything they can to be able to show up on game day, and I'm happy and grateful that we really put a lot of intent into the care of our players.

Q: How much more comfortable did you feel running the offense and just getting another full week of preparation?

JAMEIS WINSTON: My desire is still to get better and better. It felt good to get a win, but I desire to be so much better for this team and to play faster, to play more precise, to really be my very best, and I just want to keep getting one percent better every day.

Q: The opportunity that's in front of this team now with Washington this week. Can you just kind of get into that and what that means to this locker room right now, being 3-1?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Oh, man, we're grateful for where we're at, but at the end of the day, it's a Wednesday. We're playing against a great division opponent, so we had to win today. Today we had a pretty good practice, but every single day that we are here preparing, we're getting one percent better to give ourselves a chance to be our very best on Sunday, when it matters most.

Q: Malik was talking about ways to get more involved in the second half. More explosive plays, that was the word, explosive. How could you, do you think, find more explosive opportunities for him?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Find him. I think it's as simple as that. Find him and make sure that I'm intentional with letting him touch the ball, we're intentional with letting him touch the ball. I mean, he had an amazing first half. We've got to keep building off that and make sure that – I've got to do a better job of making sure our best players are touching the ball consistently.

Q: Has he spoken to you about that? Malik?

JAMEIS WINSTON: About what?

Q: About more explosive plays in the second half? That was what he was talking about earlier.

JAMEIS WINSTON: We're having conversations all the time because we want to be the best offense that we can be. There's no way that we can be the best offense that we can be without him and (tight end) Isaiah Likely, without (tight end) Theo Johnson, without Cam Skattebo, being their best. So, I think that just goes into us and what we desire as a football team. We've got some players that God has gifted us with unique abilities, and it's my job and it's this coaching staff's job to make sure that we hone in and get them the football.

Q: You watched him as a rookie, didn't you? His rookie year, I mean.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Yes, I've seen him.

Q: From afar, what was your opinion of him?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, I mean, I see him every day. I believe he's an incredible player. His rookie year, he's gotten so much better from that. Obviously, he's overcoming a significant injury that I faced, and he's getting better and better each week. I like to focus on what he's capable of doing right now, and he's an amazing football player. I think we all know what he's capable of doing. He's capable of being the best receiver in the NFL.

Q: Are you aware of the weather forecast for Sunday? It could be stormy.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Today is beautiful. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. I can only focus on now. Right now, it's a beautiful day. When Sunday comes, I'll still be glad and rejoice in the day that God gives us.

Q: Jameis, when you took over for (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart), you, everybody, let's go next man up. But did you think it was going to take a couple of games for the team to gel into it?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Well, I believe teamwork makes the dream work. When you have losses of significant players in back-to-back weeks, we had Jaxson, then we had (outside linebacker Brian) Burns. That has the capabilities of bringing the team closer together because at the end of the day, we're all we got. Every team has a one-year lifespan. When you lose your best players back-to-back like that, you find a way to come closer together and be your brother's keeper and make a difference.

Q: What is your mindset when you're out there by yourself? What's going through your head? How beneficial is that for you?

JAMEIS WINSTON: I think, man, when you have time to focus on the one percent, of honing in on your craft, being present, reflecting on practice, reflecting on the plan, I think it's very important to just be intentional with your thoughts and your words when you're speaking to yourself, because we sometimes forget that we talk to ourselves more than anyone else talks to us. So, making sure that we master those moments alone because we're never lonely. God is with us, so no one can be against us. But when we are experiencing those alone moments, making sure that we're impeccable with our word and our thoughts.

Q: Those are footwork drills that you do?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Those are just present drills. Those are drills that I'm doing to lock in, and quicken my feet, and just be grateful for the sunshine and this grass. Because in a few months, I'm going to be doing that indoors. So, I just take pride that we have some nice sunshine and some good grass that we can work on.