Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, great to see everybody. Good practice today. What questions do you have?

Q: What was it like to see (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) out there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: What was it like? You tell me. It was great, huh? Were you happy to see it? We all were, right? Yeah, he looked good. He was in the team periods. He was in the no-contact jersey. Guys did a good job of respecting that and everything, had a few catches, and it was a good start.

Q: How did you think he looked?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I thought he looked good. I don't think he's full speed yet or anything, but thought he looked good.

Q: Malik deferred to you about sort of a timeframe. I know you guys haven't put like a date on it, but do you envision him being ready by Week 1? Is he on schedule for Week 1?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think we've just got to go with the process. I mean, you can't really say. You can hope. Sure, I hope he's out there. I'm praying for it, certainly, but we'll see.

Q: How important were the snaps for him today?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Important. Yeah, you've got to get back in the team. Once you get back into the team periods, that's a big first step.

Q: Is this a weird week for him because of what you guys have going on, going down to Miami? I don't know how much you have planned for a joint practice to have him out there with the team.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right, you're exactly right. We'll have to consider that. How much are we going to practice him down there against Miami. That would be something we have to really think about.

Q: How much are you – I mean, when we're sitting there watching him, we're looking at him after every play, seeing if he's favoring one leg or another. How much are you doing that? And it did seem at times, maybe after a play, like he almost limped a little bit. And then he jumped back in there and looked fine.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it's a good question. It would be dishonest to say I'm not doing the same thing. But also, I would think it's probably pretty normal. He's probably just trying to test it and see how it feels.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the little mini coaching journey you took with (cornerback) Colton Hood today from being angry to teaching to encouraging?

JOHN HARBAUGH: To hugging and telling him we loved each other? Yeah, I mean, I wasn't angry. I just wanted to make the point that, you know, what are you arguing about? The ball was in the air and you pushed the receiver and redirected him. It was a restriction. That's going to be pass interference. But he's competitive. He's competitive. He wants to win every snap. And I think part of the journey for the young corners all around the league. Every single rookie corner in the league is making this journey in terms of what is allowable. Legal contact, defensive holding and pass interference. That's just the journey they have to make. And here's a young corner that's going to be playing a lot of football. So, you've got to accelerate the pace with that process. So, he's in that process right now.

Q: I don't think we asked much about (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese) from the preseason game. He had that big hit on the second down. What did you think of just what he showed in his action?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I thought Arvell played really well. I didn't really see anything I didn't like. I don't think anybody felt that way. The one thing we probably had a problem with was he tried to put himself back in the game. Somewhere in about – I don't know if it was the late second or third quarter, he ran out on the field and we had to grab him and say, "No, we've got you out right now." So, he's ready to – he's looking forward to this week. I can tell you that.

Q: Well, along those lines, (defensive lineman) Darius Alexander started and he was still in the game late in the third quarter. Why and what did you see from him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's a development thing for him. We're trying to develop his game. He's a young player still. There are different things that he really needs to – he wants to grow on, and that's what we're working on.

Q: John, what did you make of the end of practice for your offense today?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I thought the defense had two great drives, right? That's how I'm going to look at it. The offense had a lot of good plays, but then, I mean, they were moving right down the field into the score zone there with four successful plays in a row, I think, maybe four or five. And then, (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) and those guys batted a ball and it dropped right in their hands. I mean, that can happen. That's how games are won. That's how plays are made. We talk about it all the time, plays are made in the fourth quarter. So, we're trying to drill on that. Now, if we're practicing against each other, I can't get too upset with our team if our defense makes a play to win the game. I can be bummed about the offense, but I'm going to have to be happy about the defense at the same time. You can't – both sides can't win the period. So, you could have asked me how I felt about the defense. That would have been a nicer question (laughs). If we had scored a touchdown, would you have asked me how I feel about the defense?

Q: What do you think of (running back Cam) Skattebo's skill set? A lot is focused on him being a battering ram. But in terms of his feet, his balance, his explosiveness, his vision, stuff like that.

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think that's a very fair point. You know, you don't – always have said to me, I've learned that you really can't evaluate running backs until the tackling starts, until the games start. And I haven't been around Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo) day-to-day. You know him better as a player than I do. I got to see him for the first time in a game – and I don't think he's 100%, he would say he's not. But I got to see what you know about him already. I saw the foot quickness, the feel for the game, the explosiveness. It was good to watch, and good for me to see that.

Q: I knew you were asked about Malik. I was over there a minute ago, didn't hear you, but what is the dynamic between – obviously everybody's pushing him, want him Week 1, right? What's the – he was talking about letting the dog out today a little bit, and trying to suppress it. What is the dynamic for you, as a coach, to trust the doctors, not – obviously you want him out there Week 1. How much of a wrestling match can that become out there for a coach?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's a great question. I don't think it really is, because it's just is he ready or not? And I think the doctors will know, but also the knee is stable. The knee is stable. Now he's got to be in those situations where he just re-learns how to play the game and protect himself. So, I think the doctors are going to know the same time we're going to know, because we're all going to see it, and he's going to feel it. You're going to see him playing the game the way that's going to be – first of all, he can protect himself, and secondly that he can produce, right? So, I think we're going to know it when we see it, all of us. But ultimately the doctors have to clear him. That's it.

Q: Going back to Arvell, you and all the other coaches have talked about how he doesn't miss assignments. I'm curious, was that something you guys found out in the pre-draft process with him as far as his ability to pick things up really quick, or is that more just him on the field noticing that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, probably both. They felt that at Ohio State. You know, Coach Patricia (Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia) told us that. And then we just saw it. So, those two things.

Q: Coach, (running back) Najee Harris visiting today. Obviously, you have a lot of experience going against him previously. Just what are your thoughts on him coming in and the thought process behind it?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I felt like the hair on the back of my neck stood up when I saw him over there, you know? He's a big dude. So, yes, he's coming back from the Achilles injury he had with my brother (Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh). And he looks good in the workout. You know, he's not back 100%. He's not in football shape yet. So, if we are able to do something, it'll be a process. But that would be a guy that has got a lot of experience. He's a decorated vet. And with those guys, generally, you just have to kind of see where they're at when you get them. And sometimes it works out great. Sometimes it's just okay, and other times it doesn't work out. But based on the workout, I would say we feel like he's got a shot. We'll just have to see how it goes.

Wide Receiver Malik Nabers

Q: How'd that feel?

MALIK NABERS: It was good, felt good. Felt good getting some team reps, getting out there, catching the football. So, yeah.

Q: What was more exciting, Thursday when you got out there the first time or today, just getting a little bit more of that?

MALIK NABERS: I'd probably say Thursday. A lot of people were clapping their hands when I came out there and caught the ball. So, I'd probably say that was the most exciting thing. My soul has been dead for so long just being away from the game. So, just getting out there and having my teammates behind me kind of felt that soul come back to life out there.

Q: How are you feeling post practice?

MALIK NABERS: I'm feeling good. Caught a couple of catches. After that, went and ran some more routes with the training staff. So, to keep my legs running, keep the same thing moving forward to getting more team reps.

Q: Was that pre-planned, going with the trainers after? Or was it just related to how you were feeling? Going with the trainers post those reps after seven on seven, was that pre-planned or was that just related to how your body was feeling?

MALIK NABERS: It was pre-planned. I always run extra reps after practice just to keep my endurance up, keep me in football shape and keep my legs moving. I'm not getting that many reps. So, just doing a lot of more routes on the side with them is just, that's pre-planned.

Q: Is it hard to take it so slow?

MALIK NABERS: No, I mean, the most important thing right now is my health. So, I'm taking each step accordingly and just making sure my body feels good with taking the next step week by week or day by day or whatever they want to do. So, just letting them know how my body feels just so I can take it more.

Q: Your confidence in your physicality right now, are you in your mind, are you feeling like you're getting close to 100 percent and you're not there yet? And how much are you listening to yourself, if that makes any sense?

MALIK NABERS: I'm listening to my body as much as possible. I mean, I only know what I feel and I'm explaining that to the training staff. And I think they're taking that into consideration and just asking me questions, asking me, do I feel like doing more? Asking me, do I feel like I'm doing too much? So, I'm in a healthy spot and just continue to just add more reps as I go practice to practice.

Q: You seemed to be upset when you caught that pass in seven on seven and went to the ground. What was that?

MALIK NABERS: No, I wasn't upset. It's just that dog in me is just barking a little bit (laughter). It's just barking a little bit. It's just like, he's coming. That was just a little spark. So, it was just letting everybody he coming, he waking up a little bit.

Q: I mean, that was in that situation, you had (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese) kind of sagging right in front of you. I mean, he had to put the ball up as high. I mean, as that's unfolding and you're uncovering, do you expect it to be a high throw because of who's in front of you?

MALIK NABERS: No, it wasn't anybody that was in front of me. It was just (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) finding a way to get the ball over the MIKE defender to have me make a catch. I mean, he couldn't have put it in any better spot to let his guy go make a play. And I made that play.

Q: Malik, what is the balance for you personally with in terms of that dog coming out and how much you want to be going full, but yet wanting to be smart? How do you how do you handle that that balance?

MALIK NABERS: I'm trying. I mean, I only know 100 percent every time I'm out there. I'm always trying to go full speed. Always trying to play how I know how to play. But there comes a time with just being smart, knowing what's ahead and just like I said, just being smart when I'm out there, continue to just play my game, do what I do, but also be smart out there.

Q: Is it your expectation that you'll play week one?

MALIK NABERS: Like I said, to that question, the most important thing is my health. And the most important thing is just completing every milestone that they have in front of me, giving good effort, continue to come out here, be a great teammate to my teammates. And like I said, just leading every day by day and just continue to take that milestone day by day.

Q: Are you on track? Obviously, they have a plan for you and what do you do tomorrow, the next day. It's not just they're making it up every day. So, are you on track with the schedule right now?

MALIK NABERS: I think that's a that's a (Head Coach) John Harbaugh question.

Q: How much does a day like today give you the feel that all that hard work and this whole journey, it's well worth it?

MALIK NABERS: Like I said, man, my soul has been dead for so long, just being away and knowing what I could accomplish, knowing where I was before this happened. But every tear, every talk with the family, every down day, every day that I didn't complete something, it just kept that in the back of my head and continued. Even when I even when flexion wasn't going well, my leg wasn't feeling the best, just continue to just praise God, knowing that everything was going to be all right. Continue to listen to the trainers. Every day is not going to be the best day possible. I'm not going to feel better in one day. Just continue to take it step by step, day by day and the finished product was just all those days and all those days that I felt good. I continue to push more. So, I'm just thankful for where I'm at. Thankful for all the people that's been in my corner through this and that's really all.

Q: Individual releases, looked like you planted on the right leg, kind of stumbled a little bit. And I don't know if you pulled yourself out of that, but when that happens, how do you in your mind say, 'No, I'm good, I'm good,' and then go back out there and trust it again?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, I mean you're going to take wrong steps in releases. You never know what the DB is going to do. So, it's just a reaction drill. I didn't feel any way planted on the ground. I just slipped in the grass and that was really it. But after that, it was just I guess my teammates came up in front of me and was like, 'Just pace yourself, calm down.' So, I took that into consideration and just listen to my teammates, continue to just be in the same spot and continue to just focus more on just the technique of what I'm doing.

Q: You've obviously come a long way. What is the mindset, mental and physical, for you to feel 100 percent back to yourself?

MALIK NABERS: I think all of those things come into consideration and I've been doing a very good job of just mentally doing things that I do to make sure my mental is right. Physical continue to just come out here, show good effort, show up earlier in the morning, leave late at night. Also, do the things at home and just being a good teammate, continue to know the playbook, continue to just talk to the QBs, making sure I'm seeing what they're seeing, even though I'm not out there. So, just all around, just giving good effort and just showing the coaches, showing my teammates I'm still involved even when I'm not on the field with those guys.

Q: When you see when you see (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden) and (running back) Cam (Skattebo) come back on Saturday when they play their first game back after injury, does that kind of give you more fuel saying, hey, this is where they are in their process. I know I'm still in my process but when you see them, it's makes you more ready to go.

MALIK NABERS: Oh, I mean it's a different injury. They've been telling me that since Cam got injured and I got injured. A bone heal is different than a joint. So, they're going to come back stronger. They're going to come back faster than I did. The ACL is a very difficult rehab. So, I'm continuing to just root those guys (on). I was in rehab with those guys and just seeing them improve every single day and all of us being out there improving every single day and seeing those guys go out. I'm just excited for those guys to see those guys go through their process, do their rehab and continue to come out strong. So, I was with those guys when we all were doing the same thing. So, I'm expecting the same thing. We'll just have to find out.

Q: Weird wearing a red jersey at all?

MALIK NABERS: No, it isn't weird. I'm glad to be the only person out there. I can't be touched. So, I'm glad to only be the one out there.

Running Back Cam Skattebo

Q: Did you like how you felt running the ball the other day in the game and how you guys moved the line of scrimmage?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, I felt great. I made some minor errors in my details of what I was doing, but for the most part, I felt good having the ball in my hands.

Q: What's it like to get back on the field when you come back from that injury? Do you think about it? Do you try to not think about it at all, ignore it, recognize it?

CAM SKATTEBO: No, I mean, I don't really think about it on a daily basis. If you go out there and watch me today at practice…

Q: I'm saying in the game, too…

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, in the game too. I'm saying if it's not hurting me or if it's not bothering me, my mind is clear of it. When I went out there on Saturday, I had no feeling or any recollection of injury in my brain. I was ready to go play football, and adrenaline gets going, so everything kind of goes away, and you're just ready to touch the ball and go play ball.

Q: As you've been rehabbing, have you and (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) talked a little bit? You're all here on different schedules or whatever, but have you guys talked about getting over it and coming back and regaining the confidence?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, I think with an injury of any sort, anybody in the league, you fall into a little darker space in your mind and just having your guys around you helping you with that, is huge for me and him. I was able to have him, and as I got more and more healthy and he was still kind of going through the hard stage, I was able to help him get out of that, and we were kind of able to work off each other. Malik looks great. He's coming back, and I'm excited to see him continue to push to be better and better each day and watch him play football again.

Q: What mistakes, you said there were a few things?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, it was minor details, nothing serious. Stuff I've just got to clean up in the film room, just little tiny things with my footwork on certain plays and stuff. Other than that, I felt good.

Q: Harbaugh just said he doesn't think you're 100 percent. What do you think is left to get to that point where you are 100 percent?

CAM SKATTEBO: I think he says that, obviously, touching the ball again for the first time in 10 months. I think he knows that there's more to me, and when I start pushing myself to get better and better each day, there are certain things that bother me here and there, but it's not stuff that lingers around or hangs around. It'll hop up on me here, and then it'll go away tomorrow. Just working out those kinks and those bruises and stuff, and as time goes on, I'll feel better and better.

Q: Last year before you got hurt you had such a good rookie year, you had kind of become a celebrity in the area. What's it like to have that when you obviously know you only just started on the field, balancing the two?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, it's New York. You get publicity. What we say is all publicity is good publicity. If they're talking about you, that's a good thing. So, everyone loves to talk about me because I'm crazy and do a whole bunch of different things here and there. I'm just going to continue to be the best football player that I can be. I try not to let the outside stuff bother me and kind of stay off my phone for the most part. I'm either hanging out with my girlfriend or playing video games and staying away from my phone. I'm focused right now on football, and that's the main goal.

Q: I know you kind of say that tongue-in-cheek, everybody talks about how you're crazy, and they say things about your personality, you're out there. Do you think people overlook or maybe not give you enough credit for your football skills and what you're able to do on a football field?

CAM SKATTEBO: That's been my whole life, though. With my whole life, each level that I've went up, I think the football skills asset people think is less and less as we get higher and higher, and I think I only get better and better with the competition. People can keep thinking what they want, but I think I'm a really good running back. So, I want to be the best one day, and that's the goal. I'm going to continue to just keep being me and keep pushing.

Q: Is there almost an advantage if people just keep focusing on your personality and not your football?

CAM SKATTEBO: People know I'm crazy, I like to run through people instead of run around them. Hopefully you'll see more running around people this year. I don't really care what people think. If they think I'm not as good of a running back, they've still got to play me that week. So, whether they think that or not, then I guess we'll see that week.

Q: Has than been an emphasis? Running around people instead of through?

CAM SKATTEBO: No, I mean, I think Coach Harbs (Head Coach John Harbaugh) loves that I run right over the top of people. Physicality is his number one thing, and it gets the o-line going even more. So, obviously, I mean, as I came back from injury and learning how to take less hits and try to maneuver better around people instead of through them and realizing that I could have got four more yards if I would have just took a step to the left. I think those are things that I'm just going to continue to add to my game and add to my bag of tools that I can pull from to make sure that I stay healthy and I stay successful.

Q: You were obviously one of the loudest people when Malik was practicing on Thursday. What does that mean seeing him out there? You obviously were a big supporter, just cheering. But what does it mean seeing him out there doing these drills?

CAM SKATTEBO: Like I said, I'm super excited to see him. And we were both in the time throughout last season and throughout the offseason. It's like you get hurt, and you kind of got to see these guys go through, (have) to watch these guys play games without you guys, knowing that you guys are both key parts, and not being able to win games and struggling. And then we come back this year, and we're slowly getting back, and you (can) tell the way we're feeling better and guys on the field are feeling better. It's just being able to see him out there and me obviously getting back has been something that's made both of us more happy, just being able to get back on the field and run routes. It's been awesome seeing him out there, and hopefully one of these days we get to see him with that red jersey off and we get to see Malik Nabers back in action.

Q: How do you think he looked today running routes? I mean, I'm sure you like the rest of us when he's out there. When you're on the sideline, I'm talking about kind of like watching him also to see how he does.

CAM SKATTEBO: Most of the time when he's in, I'm in. Vice versa, or I'm coming off the field when they're running the next play. But, I mean, I see him every day. I see him work out. I see him do stuff on and off the field. I went through the rehab process with him, so I know how much better he's gotten over time. He's looked good. He's still a little feeling things out and getting back into it, just doing his first couple team reps. And I think as time goes on, you're only going to see more and more from him, and you're going to see him look like himself every day more and more.

Q: You mentioned him getting the red jersey off. I'm imagining they don't have a 44 in red?

CAM SKATTEBO: I think the ankle has to be the wrong direction if the 44 red jersey gets pulled out.

Q: What do you think of them bringing in (running back) Najee Harris? How much of you is trying to continue to prove that you can be the guy?

CAM SKATTEBO: Obviously we had a back go down, praying for Turbo (running back Dante Miller) and what he's got going on. We had a guy go down, and we had to fill a void. If we had a guy go down, and we brought a guy in, Najee's a great player. I'm super excited to get to know him and meet him and play with him. Whatever comes, comes. I'm super excited for it.