Head coach Brian Daboll

DABOLL: Some of the guys that aren't practicing today, (center John Michael Schmitz Jr.) JMS, (offensive lineman Jermaine) Eluemunor, (wide receiver) Beaux Collins, (defensive lineman Chauncey) Golston, (outside linebacker Victor Dimukeje) Vic, (linebacker) Darius (Muasau) and (cornerback Paulson) Adebo.

Then in terms of the Bears, wild game last week against Cincinnati back and forth. 5-3, have had some close games. They've done a good job at the end of games making some plays, whether it's against the Raiders, get the blocked field goal, whether it's against Washington on a third-and-one fumble, and then obviously the Cincinnati game back and forth. So, they're doing a good job, I'd say, both offensively and defensively. We're going to have our work cut out for us going there. We'll see what the weather is, but we can't control that, we've just got to have a good week here.

Q: Any of those guys that won't practice today, any concern that it could be long-term?

DABOLL: I don't think so, but not one hundred percent.

Q: Is JMS a shin?

DABOLL: Yeah.

Q: Will you do anything to prepare for the weather? It sounds like it's going to be pretty sloppy.

DABOLL: Well, you look at it, you look at the weather, that changes. It's changed a number of times. So, if you think it's going to be wet, raining, snowing, it's changed a number of times. Last time I looked at it, it looked 36 degrees and sunny. Yours might be different. There's the wind factor that could play into it, so there are a number of things that go into it.

Q: With (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, he seems to show up every single week. Obviously, he's healthier this year, I'm assuming, than he was last year. What's your level of respect for the way he's been going about it this year?

DABOLL: Yeah, we've talked about Brian a bunch, even in OTAs and training camp and what he's done, just how he's practiced and the example that he provides for our football team. It's paying off in games. He's been productive. He's battling through - look, he gets chipped and banged, and he's one of our tougher guys and also one of our most productive guys, and he's done that really since he's been here. But I'd say even, we talked about it, I think, at length in training camp and things like that, he's showed up and he's showing up in the games for us.

Q: He has not been playing on winning teams his entire career. What kind of resolve does that show to a guy's character who has not been getting rewarded with the results on the field, so to speak, in terms of wins?

DABOLL: I think he's just an ultimate teammate. He lays it on the line each week, he does it in practice, the way he prepares, he just provides a good example for a lot of the guys. He controls the things that he can control, and again, he's been productive for us. He's leading the league in sacks right now, if I'm not mistaken.

Q: (Safety) Dane Belton, he's playing a lot of snaps the last few weeks. Talk about him, especially his willingness to come up and put a hat on somebody. What have you seen from him, because he's basically been full-time with (safety Jevón) Holland out, so what have you seen from him?

DABOLL: Someone that's ready when his number's called. Firstly, he's done a great job on special teams for us this year. He's been very productive. He's kind of the quarterback for us on the punt team with the things that he does there, and he's making the most of his opportunity. That's what you want out of your guys that are backing up players, to be able to come in, be ready, know what to do, communicate well, and then perform, and in this case, play a deep part of the field, tackle, play man-to-man, the things you need to do to play secondary.

Q: Has he taken over that back end with Jevón out, as far as communication-wise?

DABOLL: He's a good communicator, knows what we need to do. I think the players have a lot of respect for him, just how he approaches it. You can see it on special teams, which again, I think he's been really, really productive on special teams for us throughout the year. Now he's adding defense, so you've got to pull back a little bit to make sure that you're not wearing him out.

Q: How would you characterize the kind of season that (wide receiver Darius) Slayton has had? Do you feel like it's not been where you and he wants it to be, or how would you characterize it?

DABOLL: Slayton's the ultimate pro. We all want to be more productive, but he does much like Burns in terms of how he prepares, how he works, doing everything he can do.

Q: What have you seen from (Bears quarterback) Caleb (Williams) in his second year?

DABOLL: I'd say he's got very good arm talent. He can put the ball in tight windows and make some, I'd say, unbelievable 'wow' throws. The way they're playing right now, kind of after their bye week, but they've done it some before their bye week, they're really a run-heavy team with play action, and he's doing a good job of throwing on time. When he sets up, turns his back to the defense, they're a lot of underneath center, and then he does a good job of reading it and throwing the ball on time with accuracy to (Bears wide receiver Rome) Odunze, who I think is a heck of a receiver. He can make slippery plays on you and really create, make loose plays with his feet, make loose plays with his arm, has good vision down the field. He's done a nice job.

Q: When you see something like the injury (Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels suffered late in a lopsided game running the ball, does that give you pause with how you've handled (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) late in some of these games?

DABOLL: We'll just keep developing Jaxson. Jaxson's a competitor. We'll do the things we think we need to do. You never want anybody to get hurt, but like I've said many times before, it's an opportunity every time you step on the field to do that. Some of it is scrambling, a couple of runs that we had on the outside, but we'll just keep working with him and do what we think we need to do.

Q: Obviously there's a risk-reward though, like later in the game. Is it you just can't coach it out of him ever, where you say like, when you're on the sideline, maybe you can take a step out rather than lowering your shoulder?

DABOLL: Yeah, you can talk about it. I've had a guy that was kind of similar in that regard too. Again, they're competitive guys and you get down and I think the one, kind of the end of the game, the one scramble was a third-and-10 type play. And again, he's as competitive as they come. You always want to try to protect him and coach him on those things, but I have a lot of confidence in the decisions that he makes.

Q: On that one, the third-and-10, he had the first down, right, and he could've…?

DABOLL: Close, yeah. I mean, I don't know. He's running, you're going to ask a player to look and see - I mean, he's a competitive guy. I have confidence in the decision-making that he makes. If there are some that we think we can pull back on and learn from, that's what we try to do. But I'm not going to second-guess a guy out there that's competing and playing and has good vision and awareness and instincts. I wouldn't take that away from him.

Q: You've always talked about, you want to be consistent, stay the same every week with the team behind the scenes, in front of the cameras, that kind of thing. Is there ever a time where circumstances dictate you veering from that as a head coach and do you pay attention to that, whether it's good or bad?

DABOLL: I think you just control the things you can control. So, there are going to be things throughout any time you coach that's going to pop up and I think you've got to keep a level head, you've got to do the things you need to do to try to improve, look at the team you're playing and get ready to play.

Q: Is that something that's hard for you or has been hard for you through your three decades of coaching? You always talk about how fiery you are, you're emotional, but also to kind of strike that tone, it kind of creates two different sides of you as a coach.

DABOLL: I think experience is helpful in this league, in a lot of different areas. Focused on this week, looking forward to going out to Chicago and getting ready to play this game.

Q: Chicago ran the ball pretty well last week.

DABOLL: They've run the ball pretty well every week.

Q: But the last week I think they had like 260 or something.

DABOLL: Don Bosco guy.

Q: There you go. When you see that team, what stands out about how they run the ball? What makes them so effective?

DABOLL: A number of things. I think they have a good offensive line that communicates well and plays well together. Usually get a hat on a hat. They have receivers that block on the perimeter. They've run a variety of runs. A lot of their big runs have been perimeter plays with (running back D'Andre) Swift, toss cracks, or toss zone plays, if you will. Outside zone plays where you stretch and cut it. Then they have the ability to run inside. I think their offensive line is playing well. I think their backs see it. They've had some big plays, I would say a number of big plays, in the running game on the edges or on outside zone that you stretch and you cut. Good offensive line, a runner that's running well, or runners that are running well, physical receivers, that's kind of what they do.

Q: I know we asked you about this in the preseason, but obviously Jaxson is now the starter. What's the dynamic like between the quarterbacks in your mind? How do you view (quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ' and (quarterback) Jameis' (Winston) role at this point?

DABOLL: How do I view their role? They're backup quarterbacks that have had a lot of experience, that provide a lot of value when you're in the meeting room. They stay late with Jaxson, watch tape together, all three of them, give good input. I think they're a good resource for a young quarterback. I think anytime you can have veteran quarterbacks, I just go back to (Bills quarterback) Derek Anderson, a guy that I had in Buffalo. When he came on with us, the value that he provided for (Bills quarterback) Josh (Allen), the vision that he sees, quarterback is a hard position to play and when you have a guy that's been in the room, that's played, that has a variety of experiences, I think that's helpful for a young player, particularly in that room, probably more so than any other room. Not that it's not important in other rooms, but it's very important in that room. Again, those guys are very good teammates. It's good to have their eyes in there with Jaxson. It's very interactive in the quarterback meeting room. All three of them have good ideas, but it's good to be able to listen to guys that have played. Again, I've been around a number of quarterbacks that have a lot of veteran experience, that offer a lot of valuable insight, very productive ones, and these guys are two of them that I think provide that for the room and for the team.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: I'm afraid to ask how you are doing physically, because you're always going to say you're fine. But there was a scene at the end of the game where you were kind of hunched over on the sideline and (offensive passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach) Shea (Tierney) had his arm around you. What was going on at that point?

DART: It's a football game. I feel good and excited for this week.

Q: I was going to say, was that physical or emotional there when you were going through something there?

DART: I feel good.

Q: How do you maintain positivity for you and your teammates when you're going through a difficult stretch as far as the record goes?

DART: It's tough. You put a lot of work in and you're not getting the results on the win-loss category. You just have to keep steadfast in your process. I have confidence in everybody around me. I feel like we can definitely go on a run. We just have to take it one step at a time and find a way to get one win.

Q: Did you and (Bears quarterback) Caleb Williams have much of a relationship? You guys were seniors or recruits or anything like that?

DART: Me and Caleb have met a few times. Obviously, we both at times trained in California. We've ran into each other in the offseason. He's a really good player. Super talented, obviously. It's going to be fun to match up against him and compete.

Q: Obviously you're going against their defense, but how fun is it to go against a quarterback that you're familiar with? You're both young guys getting started in the league. How much fun is that for you?

DART: It's competition. I think that we both view it as, like you said, you're playing against the defense. A lot of times when our defense is on the field, I'm either cheering them on or on the iPad trying to get ready for the next series. I'm really excited to go compete against that team.

Q: You left USC when he got there, right?

DART: No, I left before he got there.

Q: Before?

DART: Yeah.

Q: What have you seen from the Chicago defense?

DART: They're tough. They lead the league in turnover. We're definitely going to have to do our due diligence in making sure that we take care of the ball. It's going to be a lot of fun to play in that atmosphere. That's a place that I've always wanted to play at. I'm excited to play against a traditional organization in a place like Chicago against a really good team.

Q: What makes Chicago a place you've always wanted to play?

DART: Just the history of it. When I was younger, always seeing the elite defense and the teams that they had. Also, I went to the same high school as (former Bears quarterback) Jim McMahon, so I was just following that. At the same time, it's just a traditional organization.

Q: Is that where the headband counts from?

DART: No. It keeps the hair out of my face.

Q: What has (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) and (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) done with you, and how much help have they been to you? Can you kind of go into some of that stuff?

DART: I feel like I've hit on this a lot, but they've just been great leaders. Guys who I can always rely on and ask questions. They do a really good job of holding themselves accountable and coming to work every single day with the right mindset. They hold that standard for themselves and everybody around them. It's been great to have those guys in my room. We spend a lot of time together, even once our schedule is off. We obviously have a really good relationship off the field as well. It's been great to have those two as mentors, for sure.

Q: You've talked many times about hating to lose. It's new to you. I'm sure you know there's a lot of rookie quarterbacks who have lost. (Former Cowboys quarterback) Troy Aikman was 0-11, (former Broncos and Colts quarterback) Peyton (Manning) was 3-13. Knowing that and knowing how much you hate this, losing, do you have to reconcile that in your head sometimes? Sometimes rookie quarterbacks lose...

DART: I don't really think of it that way. I don't really want to give myself any sort of excuse to think like that. I want to go into the games with the right mindset and put our team in the best situations to win. It's definitely tough, for sure, to say the least. I think it's just extra motivating every single day.

Q: With Jameis, going back to that back for a second – how do you view his role? It's not always that common that you have two veterans and someone who as accomplished, he's started a lot of games and as the third stringer, knowing that he's the emergency quarterback on game day. How do you view his role and the way he interacts with you in that regard?

DART: He's like a coach on the field, in the film room where we spend extra time. He's a lot of time is quizzing me constantly. He's teaching me things that he's gone through in his past. At the same time, our relationship goes far beyond just the football field and personal life. Handling things that you do good, things that you need to improve on. Like you said, it's very unique to have those two guys. For the team, he brings so much energy, optimism, and positivity every single day. He's a guy that never wavers, regardless of what's going on around him. It's been a blessing to have him in my corner, for sure.

Q: Are you still figuring out when to use your fire and your ferocity to play with being cautious and smart sometimes with the decision to slide or not to slide or go out of bounds? Is that still a process here for you?

DART: Maybe a little bit. That's definitely something that when you watch the tape back on, you try to think of those moments where you can save your body, a hit or not. At the same time, it's really hard for me in those moments because I just want to compete. Ultimately, I just want to score.

Q: When defenses drop and force everything underneath, do you still need to take some calculated risks and throw into that to get the ball down the field? Like on Sunday, when you're taking a lot of what's underneath, can you move the ball down the field effectively that way?

DART: You definitely have to keep in mind risk-reward in situations. Obviously, for me, I love to generate explosive plays. I feel like that's one of my strengths and something I do really well even within the play and off-script as well. But there's a part of just playing mature. I think that if I were to try to force things, that would turn games lopsided at times. I'm just trying to operate the offense in the best way that I can by taking what the defense gives me. Definitely, when something presents itself, when I feel like the time is right, you definitely have to try to take those opportunities and trust those guys to make those plays.

Q: As far as when to be competitive and when to take hits and things of that nature, when you see what happened to (Commanders quarterback) Jayden (Daniels), obviously you're not thinking about fearing anymore. How do you process that as far as going into your calculus of when to take hits, when to slide, when to lead into that competitiveness a little bit?

DART: First of all, prayers to him. He's been a guy who I've been around for years, since high school, of us training with each other. You definitely hate to see that. You send prayers for him and his recovery. That's just a hard question to ask because when he was out there, a lot of the starters on defense were out there as well. How I view it, I never want to come out of the game, if I'm up or down. I played in my bowl game last year, and we were up by 30 points. I'm telling the coach, there's no way I'm coming out. I'll stay on the field even if you try to sub me out. I think just as competitors, you're not going to be easy out in those situations. You feel like you can get back in the game because if you've paid attention to the NFL, you can look at our Broncos game, you can watch the Bears-Cincinnati game. Even with what looks like a little time left, you're always still kind of in the game. How I see it is you play it though 00:00.

Q: Just as far as maybe taking hits, I suppose. Do you change your tactics a little bit? Just seeing another guy go down the way he did, do you think, maybe I should think a little bit more about when to take this hit, when to slide, or things of that nature?

DART: No, I'm going to play the game the way I want to play the game.

Q: When you talk about your competitive drive, your fire, how far does that go back? Do you remember the early times where you started realizing, you know what, I love this competition thing? How does it manifest itself for you?

DART: I think it's just kind of always how it's been. My dad coached me really hard when I was a kid. It never mattered what opponent I was playing, what game I was playing. Even if it's just ping pong in the basement, me and him would go at it. I hate that losing feeling, regardless of anything. Even if I'm playing pickleball and I lose, that's going to ruin my whole day. I just think that's something that's been instilled in me in family aspects since I was young.

Q: There's a lot of talk when you're a Giants quarterback, playing in the Northeast, cold, wind, snow, rain. This could be your first weather game. It could be cold, windy, snowy, rainy. What kind of history do you have in that? Do you think you can thrive in that kind of environment?

DART: It's definitely not my first weather game. I'm from Utah. If you know anything about Utah, I played in four seasons. I played in snow games in high school. That's not something that is new to me. I played out at high school where the wind blew, it was right outside of a canyon. I dealt with that every single day as well. The weather has never been something that's – you've got to make adjustments. In my mind, I feel like I've had plenty of experience.