Interim head coach Mike Kafka

KAFKA: So really, it's just (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) will be the only one out. Everyone will be doing some work today.

Q: You optimistic Dexter will be able to play?

KAFKA: He's going to do some work today. So, we'll just evaluate it after today.

Q: Game time type thing?

KAFKA: Just today.

Q: How has Jaxson looked in practice this week?

KAFKA: Yeah, he's had a couple good days put together. No more important than today in the red zone. So that's a good emphasis for us. We got some good, some new stuff in. So, we're working through some of those mechanics and details, but he's doing a good job.

Q: How much do you handle Jaxson differently in game, if at all, coming off the concussion?

KAFKA: You're certainly mindful of it, and you understand that. But I think the game will kind of declare itself. Get into the game, we have our openers, things that we like early in the game. So, we'll roll with those and then be able to adjust as the flow of the game determines itself.

Q: Well, where do things stand with (cornerback Paulson) Adebo? He's been limited all week. Obviously, he's been out for a while, just what's his outlook for this week?

KAFKA: Yeah, he looked good, had a good day yesterday. So, we'll continue to get some work today. And then we'll make a call after how today works out.

Q: Shame on me, I don't have the exact number, but your opening drive touchdown rate has to be through the roof. And I just heard you say the word, you have your openers that you like. Why do you think that is? Why are you guys so successful getting in the end zone on first possessions?

KAFKA: It just goes back to the players, just being dialed into the early part of the game, starting fast, and then going out there and executing. They're just doing a nice job of executing, just continue to sustain drives, whether it's on third down or on fourth down. And then you get opportunities in the red zone, they're just doing a good job executing. So, hats off to those guys for making it work, and then hats off to the coaching staff for putting together a good plan that they can go execute fast.

Q: (Offensive coordinator) Tim (Kelly) was talking about Jaxson's situational awareness yesterday. How have you seen him grow into that and develop?

KAFKA: Yeah, absolutely. You see it from week to week. Each week that he started, it's grown and grown and grown. And then really, the last time he played in Chicago, there are examples of his situational awareness, third down, where do you need to get down, when do you need to get a first down and when do you make a big play with his feet or with his arm on a scramble. So, he's continued to build off of that. He's watching the veteran guys who stepped in while he was out. He watched (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) do the same thing and continue to learn and grow. But as a young player, you're absorbing all those experiences and continue to build your own game.

Q: What have you seen him pick up from Jameis? You talked about what he saw.

KAFKA: Well, when you watch the tape and you look at the corrections or look at the things that Jameis did really well. Whether it was the fourth and 10 scramble with his legs at the end of the game or stepping up and delivering a shot when there's defenders right in your face. Those are just experiences you can continue to see and watch how the veterans react to those type of plays. And then build in and kind of work it within himself and how he would do in those situations.

Q: This is your third week in this role. I'm sure that first week was probably kind of crazy. Has it settled down? What has this experience been like for you, taking over midstream like this?

KAFKA: It's been a great experience so far. Just being able to deal with everybody and work with everybody together and kind of get everyone on the same page as best I can. Today's a super important day. I haven't had a lot of time to reflect on the whole experience. But today's a super important day. I'm excited for the players to come out here and work through the red zone game plan.

Q: You've interviewed for a bunch of jobs. You've obviously thought of what it would be like if you became head coach. How different is it though when you take over under these circumstances, you can't change as much obviously as you probably would like when you're coming in on the fly like this. How have you tried to balance what you do change?

KAFKA: Yeah, no, that's a good thought. Because you try and take little bits and pieces. And again, I guess one of the biggest intents that we had was not just to change just because. It was just to have a real intent. It was all built around just the players and how we can maximize the football time in the building and eliminate some of the dead time and time where it's not meeting time or whatever, let's just really confine it and make it really, really efficient for our players. When they're in the building, it's all ball, it's all football. It's getting your body right, and then it's all ball when we're on the practice field, when we get off the practice field, right into meetings, going through the corrections, getting those things cleaned up. So that was really my focus and emphasis and took bits and pieces from places I've been in the past and just try to make it a little bit cleaner, in my opinion, for the players.

Q: How about the changing of defensive coordinators? How much has that shifted your time and your energy to certain places throughout this week compared to the past two?

KAFKA: Yeah, I'd say it's similar. Just as I'm working through it myself, I'm learning a little bit more about myself and how I want to organize that a little bit better. So, I'm trying to be more efficient with my time. Of course, I still have to stay on top of all the offensive stuff. But being able to go in there and communicate with the special teams coordinator, defensive coordinator. Just talk through what's in the game and just kind of touch base as we get through kind of each night, late at night, just touch base with each other and make sure we're all on the same page. But yeah, I'm working through that myself and continuing to get better at it.

Q: We didn't ask you about Kayvon either, I think it's his third or fourth game out. How's he doing and is this something that might shut him down for the season at this point?

KAKFA: I think it's too soon to tell. I think he's working his tail off to get back and get better and our doctors are taking care of him. And again, he's attacking, I see him in the building, getting the rehab. So, he's working his tail off to get back and better for us.

Q: (New England Patriots practice squad quarterback Tommy) DeVito will be on the other team. You've worked with first round picks. You've worked with veteran guys. Obviously, his story was a little bit unique. What was that like? And what do you see him as in this league going forward?

KAFKA: Yeah, I mean, DeVito, in my opinion, is a starter in this league. He does a nice job. He has started in this league. So, of course, I see him that way. What a great person, what a great personality. Always brought energy to the room, brought energy to the group, brought energy to the offense. A guy that I'm proud of for where he began as a tryout type guy and stepping up and kind of being in the room and learning to be a pro. And then when he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it. And won some big games, won some big games for us. And a lot of great memories with DeVito.

Q: What do you remember of your first encounters with him?

KAFKA: Yeah, you can ask DeVito about that one. We had a couple of good conversations as a young player. But again, for him, his growth, his maturity. He really just took from that room, every day just continued to improve and was probably one of our most improved players from day one to day 30 to day 60 to day 90, just over time. He ended up being one of our most improved players through the course of that.

Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II

Q: What happened with your elbow?

LAWRENCE: Like you said, I just took a couple of hits to it and it kind of flared up a little bit during the game, early in the game. But I've been hitting recovery hard, so I feel good.

Q: You have told us all season; it wasn't something you were dealing with all season. So, this just aggravated it, it wasn't like you were dealing with it all season?

LAWRENCE: Isn't that what I said?

Q: Yeah, this didn't change your mind?

LAWRENCE: Yeah, just aggravated something else in the elbow.

Q: Are they worried about it being something you have to monitor moving forward, in regards to the elbow as a whole, because it's obviously the one you hurt last year?

LAWRENCE: I haven't heard anything about that, no. Just, I went through practice today, practiced well, it felt good, even in the cold. But yeah, it felt good.

Q: What's your outlook for playing on Monday night?

LAWRENCE: I'm playing. I'm playing. Don't worry about that.

Q: Was there ever a doubt?

LAWRENCE: No.

Q: So this was sort of like the plan throughout the week to kind of get you to Monday?

LAWRENCE: Yeah.

Q: Do you expect you'll be limited again?

LAWRENCE: I don't know the plan right now. Like I said, I went out there today, felt good running around, putting my hands on people.

Q: It might just be a figure of speech, maybe it's not, but (interim head coach Mike) Kafka said you were almost in tears about not being able to play.

LAWRENCE: It's more of a figure of speech. (Laughs)

Q: But I assume it did hurt you to a degree, like emotionally hurt you to a degree?

LAWRENCE: I mean, obviously I want to be on the field as one of the better players on the team, but that wasn't the plan in that moment. Me and (defensive line coach Andre Patterson) Dre, we had something good working and they so happened to break it on the first play, and that's just how the game works sometimes. But I love playing football and I'm going to be on the field when I can.

Q: Does it matter, run play, pass play, does it affect you more one way or the other?

LAWRENCE: It just depends on who you're playing that week.

Q: I just meant physically. Is it something that would bother you more, run or pass.

LAWRENCE: That game, that game, that's why I wasn't in on a lot of those run plays.

Q: So, in overtime, if they got to a third down, you would have gone in on third down?

LAWRENCE: Yeah.

Q: What are your thoughts on (Patriots quarterback) Drake Maye, this game, the Patriots?

LAWRENCE: He's doing a good job managing the offense. I like him, he's from North Carolina, so we know each other pretty well. But we've got to get after him. We've got to defeat the guys up front every week. I mean, the plan is really simple. Just go out there and defeat your one-on-ones and the man in front of you and let everything go as it may.

Q: This is the one-year anniversary of your injury in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Did you think about that at all?

LAWRENCE: No, I was just chilling with my family.

Q: You got the day off.

LAWRENCE: Yeah, just chilling with the family. I mean, a few people brought it up, but it didn't give me any icks or anything like that. I just enjoyed the time.

Q: What's this week been like with the DC change? What was your reaction hearing about his firing?

LAWRENCE: I mean, it's a weird business. It's a weird business. He's been around the defense, so we've heard his voice and he's talked. Different seeing him up front, leading the whole group, but it's been a smooth transition, I guess you could say. He's not going outside of the box, anything else type of thing. So, I like the game plan, I'm excited for it and I'm ready to go.

Q: What's your reaction to (former defensive coordinator Shane) Bowen getting fired?

LAWRENCE: I don't know. I don't know. That's all I'm going to say. I don't know. I guess you don't have to but you have to do something, but I don't know.

Q: We asked (tackle) Andrew (Thomas) this when (former head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs got fired, eventually you guys are going to start over with a new DC, you're going to start over with a new coach. You've done that now three or four times. Is there any part of you that feels like your prime years are going by and it's starting from scratch too many times?

LAWRENCE: I wouldn't say I think like that, it's just more about, what's the plan and let's attack the plan and let's have a plan.

Q: What's Charlie (Bullen) been like as a DC?

LAWRENCE: Good, he's keeping it simple. He's allowing the guys just to fly around and be players, he's teaching that aggressiveness, that defensive swag that we should have. Even with five games left, just playing with your all, playing for each other, and showing that you are not going to quit on your guys and just keep playing.

Q: The key word for Kafka since he took over has kind of been being aggressive, right? Aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. Is that sort of the vibe you get with Charlie and the approach?

LAWRENCE: Yeah, it's the same thing, it's all about being aggressive. That's with your mindset, that's what you play, your effort, everything physical and aggressive, and that's what a defense should be.