Interim head coach Mike Kafka

Q: Can we get injury updates?

KAFKA: Yeah, injury updates, sure. (Quarterback) Jaxson's (Dart) still in the protocol, so as a result he'll be out for this Sunday's game. (Cornerback Paulson) Adebo will be out, (tight end Thomas) Fidone (II) and (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux).

Q: Jaxson's ruled out Sunday?

KAFKA: Yes.

Q: Do you have any details about setbacks or delays or what happened there?

KAFKA: He's just in the protocol, and he's just working through that phasing of it. So, based on the testing and the results, we're declaring him out for this week.

Q: Was there any setback along the way? Did he have to go back in the steps of the protocol?

KAFKA: The doctors handle that protocol. I have nothing to do with that. Where he's at, that all goes through the doctors, the independent doctor as well. So, they make those determinations on where he's at.

Q: Even though, obviously, you have to respect the process of the doctors, how does that affect your planning, your football planning?

KAFKA: Yeah, there's a lot of respect for the doctors and the job they do on a day-to-day basis handling all our players. That's our job as a coaching staff is to adjust and continue to build our guys up, the guys who are in the backup roles and next-man-up mentality, stepping up, being prepared, and being ready to go for Sundays.

Q: Obviously, (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) will take the first-team reps today. Did he get any first-team reps Wednesday or Thursday, or were those all Jaxson and now it's Jameis?

KAFKA: The reps and all that stuff, I'll kind of keep it in-house, but Jaxson got some work with those groups as well as Jameis.

Q: What, if anything, will Jaxson do today?

KAFKA: Well, again, we'll talk with the doctors on exactly what we want him to do. Again, he did work yesterday, and he'll continue to work today. To what extent, that'll just be my decision and the doctors after talking with them.

Q: Just to be clear, this is based strictly on the doctors and the protocol? It's not you guys saying we're going to hold him out to be cautious.

KAFKA: Yeah, we're just living by the protocol and what the doctors' opinions are.

Q: Are you surprised by this end result? I mean, you obviously had him taking reps, so were you hopeful and now you have to kind of switch gears, switch plans?

KAFKA: My only concern was just making sure Jaxson's healthy and right. Again, we have a lot of trust in the doctors. We have a lot of trust in that process, going through the concussion process. I know myself, I've had a couple concussions over the course of my career and you just want to feel comfortable and good. So, I think having that trust and understanding that everyone's just looking out for your best interest is important and we are certainly doing that with Jaxson. Wherever he ends up getting to in this concussion protocol, which is, again, this very vague term that, again, as a coach, I'm not a medical professional, so I'm not going to speak on the process, but I trust it. Some of our best people in the medicine world are in it, and they're giving him great opinions and making sure everybody who has to go through this process is in the right shape.

Q: Having an answer before you take the field for practice today, was that important from a coaching perspective to know, let the team know, let Jameis know, let Jaxson know about where you are in your final day preparing for Sunday?

KAFKA: The beauty of Jameis, the beauty of our group on offense and defense and special teams is our guys prep. They put the work in. They're preparing themselves to play. Whether they're a practice squad guy or they're a backup in a primary role, they're preparing and they're asking questions and they're detailing out their work throughout the work week. So, no surprise to me that Jameis is ready to go. I have full confidence in him, just like I did last week, and we'll just keep on carrying on and Jameis will carry the torch for the group.

Q: We know that Jaxson's been examined for concussions here. Obviously this is the first one diagnosed here. Has he had concussions in the past?

KAFKA: I'm not going to get into the medical health or the medical history with Jaxson, but we're just where we're at right now, and we're just going to take care of that business first.

Q: There are a lot of teams in this situation where the alternatives are guys that you might be less comfortable just having to throw in there on short notice. Obviously, you have two guys who have been around a long time, and I assume Jameis is the kind of guy you don't have to worry about with the short notice thing?

KAFKA: Yeah, he's a pro. He's a true pro. The way he prepares, the way he approaches the day, whether he was the starter, the backup, or the third, he's prepared the same way. So, his consistency has been a good thing and something you can bank on, something you can lean on, and then his veteran leadership as well.

Q: Just to be clear, he is going to start for you on Sunday, Jameis?

KAFKA: Yes.

Q: (Cornerback) Nic Jones popped up as limited yesterday. Is that anything that's concerning for his status for Sunday?

KAFKA: No, I wouldn't be concerned about that.

Q: When you have rotations or whatever you want to call it at a position, do you communicate that with players before the game, or is that something that takes place during the game? How do you manage that?

KAFKA: The substitutions?

Q: Well, not substitutions. If you're going to take a guy out of the game and put a different guy in, is that something you guys talk about beforehand, or is that something that happens live on Sundays?

KAFKA: I think there are two different kind of questions. The first, the substitution part of it, yeah, you're rolling in different personnel groupings, different people in different spots based on the down-distance situation. In terms of subbing a guy in or out, I'd say it's fairly similar. A lot of guys get a lot of reps at receiver or different spots at receiver. They're playing the X, they're playing the Z, they're playing the F, so that's pretty common and pretty normal. Same thing in the back end. They're playing corner, they're playing nickel, they have to be able to overlap that. If we're playing a dime personnel grouping, now they're playing a linebacker-type position. So, there are definitely a lot of different roles for those guys, and we have a lot of pieces that can play multiple roles. Some people can play inside, play outside, play safety. Nic's one of those guys that can kind of do it all as a Swiss Army Knife for us. So, I'd say it's kind of the flow of the game as we're rolling with it. There is communication that goes back and forth between the coaches if we're making a change moving forward or an adjustment, but it's not like every single substitution is getting recorded over the headset. It's common, we talk through those substitutions on the personnel groupings. I'd say to answer your question, it's probably a little bit of a mix of both, but it's pretty common form across the league.

Q: I know you're not a doctor, but when you were watching Jaxson out there, did he seem normal?

KAFKA: Yeah.

Q: Was there any indication of anything out of the ordinary as you watched him practice?

KAFKA: Yeah, Jaxson looked like his normal self. He looked great.

Q: Do you expect the (cornerback) Deonte Banks, (cornerback) Korie Black rotation to kind of continue, or would you and (defensive coordinator) Shane (Bowen) like to settle on one guy on the outside?

KAFKA: I think it's a nice flow that we have. There's an ability to kind of move guys in and out and create some rhythm for them. So, as we get into each game, it's going to be a little bit different. So, we'll see what kind of packages we need those guys in for. The coaches have been doing a good job mixing them in and mixing and matching it. Each game will be a little bit different and we'll approach that the same way this week.

Q: Is (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott back?

KAFKA: Yeah, he's back, he's back. Baby's healthy, mom is healthy, so, all good news.

Q: How has (wide receiver) Darius Slayton looked to you this week? He came back yesterday. Do you like his chances?

KAFKA: He's progressing nicely. I like his chances for the game.

Q: As you go through the end of the season, is it still all about winning? Sometimes teams in this situation want to take a look at younger guys and maybe mix guys into different roles. Is there any of that long-term evaluation, or is it just what gives us the best chance to win?

KAFKA: Yeah. I think I would agree with you. It's just what gives us the best chance to win each week. That's all our focus is on this week, and really just today. I mean, today's a great Friday. We have a great Friday practice rolling out for us, getting us ready to go win a game on Sunday. We've got to put in the work, though. I mean, the work day is not over. That's going to give us the best chance to do that.

Quarterback Jameis Winston

Q: I guess it's the life of being a backup but what has this week been like for you where maybe it didn't look like you were going to start and now you find out you are again?

WINSTON: I told you I prepare every single week. You're saying the life of being a backup, this is the life of being an NFL quarterback. Staying ready so you don't have to get ready.

Q: When did you find out that (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) had not been cleared and that you were starting?

WINSTON: Well, I just found out. I just knew I had to be ready. Whatever is required for me to be ready, I'm ready for it.

Q: You probably don't need a ton at this time, but did you get much of the first-team reps this week?

WINSTON: Today in red zone I got a select few reps. In red zone you've got to be the best. You've got to be fast and efficient. But we all, we share reps. Today, with limited reps, I just got a little bit more.

Q: So, you got first-team reps Wednesday and Thursday also?

WINSTON: Yeah, I got some runs.

Q: You were a little surprised when you heard that you were going to start, originally? Is that fair to say?

WINSTON: Well, I believe I'm ready regardless. Whatever this team needs me to do, I'm ready to do it. Regardless of he's like, Jameis, you're going to be number two, Jameis, you're going to be number three, I'm ready. I'm preparing for whatever.

Q: What do you think of this defense and the challenge?

WINSTON: This is a tenacious defense. I know their head coach, I was with him in New Orleans, so I know how they roll. They're going to be ready to play, they're going to be playing fast, they're going to be playing tough and we have to be willing and able to do the same, and we are.

Q: As prepared as you always are, does the fact you did have that game last week with this group for the first time, does that make you more prepared this week just because you have that game under your belt with these guys?

WINSTON: I mean, the fact that I'm possibly getting (wide receiver) Darius Slay (Slayton) back is something that I'm excited about. Just to have another target available, because I think of what (wide receiver) Isaiah (Hodgins) did last week, being here for 48 hours and coming in to get some catches. But these guys are excited, man. What we're looking for is we're searching for our first road win and we're searching for our first win in a very long time. So, our intention is focused on that, not on who's playing and who's getting reps. It's about, man, how can we beat the Detroit Lions?

Q: Last week was the first time you played behind the offensive line. Talk about those guys up front.

WINSTON: They're beasts. I think all of us in this room are confident behind (offensive lineman) Jermaine Eluemunor, (tackle) Andrew Thomas, (center John Michael Schmitz Jr.) JMS is one of the top centers in the league, (guard) Jon Runyan and our crafty veteran of (guard Greg Van Roten) GVR. Those guys, they work their butt off, headed by a great offensive line coach in Carmen (Bricillo). I always believe that offensive linemen have to stick together, they have to be the best group, and by far, that's our best group and we lean on them.

Q: You mentioned Isaiah. What was it like? A guy comes in on Thursday and then you're throwing to him on fourth down on Sunday. How did that come about for you to have the trust in him and what did he show you?

WINSTON: When you're out there, that's what I'm saying, when you're out there, it doesn't matter, we've got to be ready. When I put on this helmet and strap it up, you have to be ready and we take pride in that. Isaiah's a pro. He was very excited to get some catches. I told him, I said, hey, listen man, I don't discriminate, you might be getting this pill. He was ready, he stood up to the challenge and did a great job.

Q: What did you think of the way Dart looked in practice this week?

WINSTON: He looked good. I'm telling you, he's a young superstar, so I know he's going to be ready to go. I'm ready to go. We're all ready.

Q: After 30 mile-an-hour winds last week, do you look forward to no wind?

WINSTON: Yeah. It's going to be exciting. I look forward to this atmosphere. Detroit just reminds me of that culture. It's Motown there, excitement. I just remember playing there, it looks like a warehouse when you're walking in there. You're just walking in a warehouse and then you open it up and you see Ford everywhere, you see blue everywhere, it's a pretty exciting place to play.

Q: Now that you know you're starting on Sunday, is there any cramming that has to be done for you to be ready?

WINSTON: Did you not listen to me talk this entire time? (laughter)

Q: I know you've been preparing to play.

WINSTON: You literally just ignored everything that I just said. Pressure is for the unprepared. I am ready every single week to play.

Q: Will your Friday be exactly the same as it was last week?

WINSTON: If you don't ask me questions that everyone else has asked me and I can get my massage in, I can get my needles, I'll actually be right on time for it. I'm telling you, it doesn't change for me. I love this. I'm so grateful to wear this uniform, do my job. So, nothing really changes for me. Maybe more texts to the receivers, just in terms of a communication standpoint, but outside of that, no. In terms of studying, it's just the same.

Q: You guys could actually, with a loss, be the first team in the NFL actually eliminated from playoff contention. Is there any pride at stake in that or extra motivation in like, no, not us?

WINSTON: Our intention is not set to that. Our intention is defeating the Detroit Lions and playing our very best and that's what we're focused on.

Q: Are you an emoji guy on the text messages with receivers?

WINSTON: Emojis? I do some emojis every now and then, mainly the one where you're like blowing out the smoke, like let's go get it, that one. And the eyes, I just make people laugh with the eyes.