Head Coach Joe Judge

Opening Statement:All right, so a good week of practice so far. Obviously, today's Friday, we'll finalize some of the situational stuff we worked throughout the week. We'll review all the early down, third down in red area situations and continue progressing all of our big four on special teams. That being said, we still got a little bit of time to go before the game. The game plan is never truly final for us. We're always working all the way up to the game and adjust once in the game, so we'll do whatever's best for the team at the time. So that being said, we'll open up to any questions you may have. 

Q: We haven't talked to you since before practice on Wednesday. How does (Running Back) Saquon (Barkley) look these last couple of days and have you guys made a decision yet on Sunday?

A: He's had a good couple of days. He's got one more hurdle to kind of clear today. We're going to make sure that we kind of just take everything into account. I'd say his work on field has been very promising, he's done a lot of things that we need to see. We'll see how today turns out for him and a couple other guys coming on through, but we have a couple of guys in the same bucket right now. But I'd say all the guys coming back have been very encouraging throughout the week.

Q: What's the one more hurdle today?

A: He's got to go through the medical staff a little bit. He's got to go a little bit through the medical staff and doctors kind of considering a couple things.

Q: Is there anyone you've ruled out yet for Sunday?

A: Not officially, not a hundred percent. (Tight End) Evan (Engram) will be the one guy that we're going to take a look at today for the final time. We'll see where that is. I'd say he did some good things yesterday with the trainers, see how he progresses. Again, a few of these guys, you kind of get them on the front end, they look a little bit worse off than maybe it may be and some of these guys push real hard to get back. I know in Evan's mind, he's pushing to get back as fast as he can. Obviously, we'll make the right decision for him and the team, but he'd be the one that's kind of furthest away right now.

Q: What would it take for Saquon not to play at this point?

A: I'd say some kind of a setback that's unforeseen that would happen today or some kind of response to his body after practice with going through a week of practice, what he looks like.

Q: The doctors gave him the clearance to practice. Is there a final clearance in the sense of now he's ready for a game?

A: Yeah, I think that's what we're looking at today. We're looking at in terms of the entire body work throughout the week and what we can do with him and is that best for him? Is that best for the team? 

Q: With the figure that he is here, can you speak to what psychological effect that can be for your offense since so many of the guys look up to him?

A: Well, I think the biggest thing about Saquon with the team in terms of the psychological part, we're prepared to play with whoever we have available, that's number one. It's kind of, whatever happens, next man up, we got to go out there and execute and everyone's got to be focused on their own job and how they have to impact the game. Not speaking directly for any one individual, but I could say collectively for the team, I think the thing about Saquon is the guys respect how he's worked, and they see how hard and long a journey it's been for him to come all the way back from where he's been and what he's done off the field, what he's done from a leadership standpoint. The things he's had to go through and the attitude he's displayed along the way to put himself in position to potentially play Week 1, Week 2, wherever it may end up being, hopefully sooner than later. But I'd say in terms of the emotion around that, I think everyone's just genuinely happy for this guy and is really doing everything he can, like they would for any teammates who has worked this hard to get back, for him to have success when he finally does.

Q: Given what he did to that knee on that day, this represents the best-case scenario, but did you always believe in the best-case scenario here?

A: Look, I just go on the medical advice that they give me and tell me what is or isn't possible. I know that day coming off the field, we kind of get a lot of scenarios, best case, worst case, what it may or may not be. When you get the final diagnosis and he goes into surgery, you understand that everybody's body is different. I think that's the thing everyone has to understand is everybody's body is completely different and everyone reacts to things differently and everyone's able to come back at a different rate and that's not due to any kind of work or lack of work. It's just the way that people's bodies respond. I think this guy has done everything he possibly can to get himself ready. He's had the best attitude we could ask for us, he's done everything for the team we've asked him to. While I know he's tapping his feet, he's been very patient with the instructions we've given him in times we've had to pull back, times we got to to push him ahead. I'm very pleased with everything he's done for the team and how he's responded with everything we could ask for him to do.  

Q: If you put a guy like him, let's say you plan for over 10 touches, but the first three touches he looks great and he takes contact, is there a possibility that you could be tempted as a coach to increase his workload based on how he responds in the game or is that too dangerous?

A: I think that's why I keep answering that question in terms of when you say guys are cleared for a game, they'd be cleared for a game. At that point, the guy goes out there, first three look great. What if the first three don't look great? Does that mean it changes your game plan the other way? To me, you've got to just have guys at the game who could play. Now, however we structure a game plan for individual players, whether it be Saquon or any other player on our team, we try to stick to that game plan until we have to make necessary adjustments in the game. You want to at least start the game out with some consistency to what you prepared for, so the players have an idea. Now look, we adjust every drive on the side, that's our job. That's the players' job to understand that things are going to happen within it. In terms of specific rep numbers and pitch counts, to me, it's just more important to know that this guy's healthy. To me, if you go out there for one snap, I want to make sure you're able to go out for that one snap full speed. In terms of the volume that we may play any specific player, a lot of it will be dictated by the flow of the game. A lot of decisions get made in game. I wouldn't want to take someone into a game where we say he can only do this and then all of a sudden you get to a point you have to do more. If you go in with a certain plan, you want to stick to that plan as best you can knowing what's best for an individual player. But to me, it always comes down to if the doctor says the guy is healthy, I got to take his word on it right there. I've got to see a move for myself as a coach on the field and have confidence that he's going to go out there and be able to execute what we ask them to do. But what I tell the medical staff all the time is like, 'look, I can control volume in practice, I can't control intensity.' I can tell the guys it's whatever percent. It's telling a guy it's 80 percent, what does that mean to him on the field? They're going to react and adjust and do something accordingly to be moving fast to make a play. So, for me, it's when I put them on the field, they've just got to know that they can go out there healthy and do what we ask them to do. 

Q: How has (Tight End) Kyle Rudolph been since he's been practicing the last couple of weeks? How has he been holding up?

A: He's been doing a good job for us, he's doing a good job. I know Kyle did a lot of work in the offseason, obviously coming off of surgery. We kind of had some bumps in the road, not necessarily setbacks, but just some things you have to deal with in the course of any rehab getting back. I'd say the last two weeks have been very encouraging with him. It's good having him out there. I'd say there's a high trust level with a guy like that. Not just from the experience he's had in the league, but also what you see him do on the practice field. How he prepares, the plays he makes, things he does. So, you see a guy do it in practice, that gives you the confidence for the game to go ahead and rely on. 

Q: How does (Wide Receiver) Kenny (Golladay) look to you? He missed a lot of time with his hamstring injury during preseason.

A: Yeah, there's been a number of guys who've been in a similar situation. Kenny obviously in that group, he's definitely been coming back at a good rate. He's moved well, we've obviously structured some of the volume day by day a little bit different for him and some other guys in terms of accounting for the time that they missed. It's not necessarily just always trying to shut them down to shut them down, but you have to understand that you've got to get in football shape and that doesn't happen overnight. With these guys, we've got to kind of structure them for their bodies to respond the right way. When we push them, we know we can go ahead and we can push them all the way and then go out there and operate. He's been good.  

Q: You carried specialists on the practice squad last year, obviously with COVID and stuff, how come you're not doing that this year?

A: Look, right now coming out of training camp, this is kind of the best mix of guys that we felt to take a look at. I'd say our roster and the practice squad is no different. It's really an extension of our roster that's always evolving. There's going to be a lot of changes in that throughout the entire year. I would not rule out at any point having a specialist or some other specific player for a specialty role at any time if someone we believe can help the team or someone can develop into a greater role. I think (Former Giants Kicker Ryan) Santoso last year was a great example. He was a guy that obviously we had available for the COVID precautions and what we may deal with, but the other thing too was this guy really developed over the course of being here. I think (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Tom Quinn and (Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey) T-Mac did a great job with this guy on a daily basis. He came to work every day and did everything we asked him to do. At some points, we had to have him ready to go ahead and be elevated for the 53 with (Kicker) Graham (Gano) coming off COVID and stuff last year, things of that nature. But yeah, you kind of watch the development of players. To me, it's important that everybody you have here has a chance to develop and help here. Everyone here should be competing for a position. I talked to the team this morning a little bit about it's different than college. There's actives and inactives in a game. Sometimes a guy's inactive because of a health situation. Sometimes you're inactive as a healthy scratch and you've got to make sure you identify for those players what they have to do to be at the game. To me, it's no different for the practice squad. With the practice squad rules with allowing you to (do) flex-ups, that makes everybody every week for me a candidate to be at the game. Whoever's practicing the best, performing the best and playing, we've got to go ahead and reward that and make sure we give our team the best chance by putting guys on the grass that come out and do it on a day-by-day basis.  

Q: This team for a number of years has had this weird run of not winning season openers. You've only been here for one of them obviously, but you got off to a bad start last year. Can you speak to the importance of getting off fast with a win?

A: Yeah, so the first thing I'd say is there's not a game in history that's relevant or a season in history that's relevant to what's going to happen this year. Every game is independent. Every year's a new team. I would say specifically, in terms of starting fast, look, we all talk to our teams about starting fast. It's important you start fast within a game and give yourself the best chance of not playing from behind. It's important you start fast in the season and get going, but to me, the most important thing throughout the season is improving week by week. You've got to make sure you're a better product at the end of the season than you are at the start. There's a lot of teams that come out of the gate pretty hot, right? A lot of teams kind of come out of training camp, they've mastered their playbook, they're at where they're at and you don't see a lot of improvement with those teams as you go through the year. Look, for us, we're always looking to turn our roster as much as possible to get the best talent in here, the best fits for our team to schematically figure out who we are. To me, September football is really about identifying who you are and putting your players in a position to be competitive and successful through those early games. But you want to make sure that you really hit your stride as you get going. You've going to take this part of the season to really make sure you continue improving on who you are from a fundamental basis, football conditioning, situationally, but you've got to kind of find out still who you are. I know the number one question is, you're coming out of training camp, you've already had a month. But if you look at our roster right now, how many guys are on our roster, practice squad that didn't go through training camp with us. The reality is that's a lot of teams in the league. You've got to come through this part of the season and really make sure you give everyone a chance to get on the field and truly identify what you're going to be as a team. You've got to improve in each phase of the season. Right now, we're in the first quarter of the season. It's important to start fast. OK, it's more important to finish strong in that fourth quarter and make sure you're a better team as you go down the stretch. 

Q: Over the last couple of weeks, the players have said, 'I'm really excited to get the season underway.' You as a coach, do you take it the same way or are you looking ahead to Washington or whatever? I mean, is it exciting for you?

A: It's very exciting. Yeah, it's very exciting. Look, I think there's obviously emotion and adrenaline that's going to be pumping on Sunday. To me, the game's really about that three hours of execution you have on a Sunday, but it really starts with the prep that you do throughout the week. Look, there's naturally a different feel in the building the second you go from the end of training camp to all of a sudden you've got a game week. Look, every coach and every player, there is a different sense of emotion within the building. Now it builds up, a lot of times guys come in on that Wednesday of the first game, they're kind of ramped up and amped up, ready to roll, and it's like, 'hey, man, like you can't peak on Wednesday afternoon.' We've got to put the work in and build up. There's going to be mistakes early in the week. We've got to clean him up on Thursday, clean them up on Friday, finalize it, get through Saturday walkthroughs and feel good going into Sunday. But in terms of the emotion, yeah, of course I'm excited. The biggest thing is though, you've got to kind of keep it right here, right? You can't ride that emotional roller coaster up and down. You can't go with the highs and the lows. You've got to be consistent correcting the mistakes of the players, build on what they do successfully and just keep showing evidence as you go through the year of what's going to help us be a better team. What's going to help us be a more competitive team? And how can I help these players maximize their potential?

Running Back Saquon Barkley

Q: Are you playing?

A: Woah, okay, so let's get right to it (laughs). That's a conversation – Obviously, I know (Head Coach Joe) Judge said that (there was) another hurdle I have to step over today. (There's) a conversation I'm going to have with (Director of Rehabilitation/Physical Therapist) Leigh (Weiss), (Senior Vice President, Medical Services/Head Athletic Trainer Ronnie) Barnes, Coach Judge and the doc(tor) and I guess we'll see.

Q: I know you hear us asking you this all the time. I'm curious when you're out in the world, do you have people coming up to you asking you if you're playing Week 1? Have you had that all year?

A: Yeah, I've been hearing that pretty much all summer, all year. Especially with fantasy football. I guess people trying to get the scoop on it. I guess fantasy football's a big thing and that's I guess a big topic. For me, I'm just continuing to come out here and take it one day at a time, enjoy being able to play football again with my teammates.

Q: How ready do you feel? Do you feel like you can go out there and do everything that you've done in the past?

A: I wouldn't go out there if I didn't feel confident that I could protect myself and be helpful for the team. That's going to come within the conversations that obviously Coach Judge and the doc and Leigh and Barnes have, and that'll kind of be, I guess the indicator with how I feel and how this week went whether I guess I play this week or not.

Q: As you stand here today though, do you feel like you could protect yourself?

A: Yeah, I mean, practice and the game (are) totally different, but I've been having a really good week of practice just getting back out there trusting the knee, getting my football conditioning back in the flow of things, getting a feel for the run game, for the pass game, for pass-pickup and all that. Yeah, but like I said, it's a totally different feeling from out here. Obviously, we do a great job simulating practice to Sunday, but it's a totally different feeling and I guess you really won't know until you're out there on Sunday.

Q: Obviously, when you got back to full practice you were pretty stoked. Have you daydreamed about what Sunday will be like to be back out there after this long road and what not?

A: Yeah, I've been thinking about just playing back on Sunday in front of fans since probably a week after my injury. Obviously, you have that little state of mind where you're upset. You're like, 'Why me?' You're depressed and this and that, but then it's come to kind of right after – you've got to start grinding and getting yourself back. I'm a big visualizer thinker so I've been fantasizing of getting back on that field with my teammates and playing in there in front of fans. Obviously, last year we didn't have fans, so whenever the opportunity does come, it's something that I'm definitely going to cherish and never take for granted again. 

Q: Just as a quick follow-up on that, obviously you're a captain here and a lot of guys look up to you. Do you have a feel for psychologically how uplifting it could be for the guys around you who have seen everything you've gone through to see you out there on Sunday?

A: I haven't thought about it that way. But I've got great teammates and a whole bunch of friends throughout the team who have been with me through this whole process, who helped sacrifice for me, staying extra, sacrificing in their training time to come out here and train with me so I can compete with someone else. So, I'm very thankful for my teammates and coaches and trainers I have here in this whole organization. They've been amazing during this process, during the sort of rehab process. That's only going to make it so much sweeter whenever I am able to get back out there on the field for them.

Q: I'm making a quick assumption here – but you're going to go in there – I'm sure you want to play, right? Are you going to go in there and say, 'I'm ready to play'? How are you going to approach that?

A: I'm going to go in there – I'm (going to) go in there, I'm (going to) sit down and I'm going to say, 'I'm going to do whatever the team wants me to do,' and whatever they believe is the best thing for me and for the team and if they feel like it's ready for me to go, then I'm ready to go. If they feel like they think I should wait it out a little bit, then I'll wait it out a little bit.

Q: And if they ask for your opinion?

A: If they ask for my opinion, then I'm (going to) say whatever the team wants me to do, I'm down to do.

Q: (Joe) Judge said that as long as you didn't have a setback today, that it looked good, so did you have a setback today?

A: No, I didn't have a setback. We had a great practice as a team. You want to come out here and have a fast Friday and look crisp. Obviously, throughout the team period, I think we did a great job as a team. Now, we've got to go back, watch some more film, get our bodies right and get ready for Sunday.

Q: We talk so much about the injury in Week 2, we always forget that Week 1 last year was probably your most frustrating game in the NFL. I can tell by your face, maybe not, but do you ever think back to that and how maybe that frustration in Week 1, did that lead you to do more in Week 2 and almost get you injured?

A: That's a great point. As I look back and think about that, I do think the frustration of Week 1 led me just to go into Week 2 with a different mindset. That's something that I've talked personally with my family and teammates. Last time I played a game of football, I didn't play in the right place of heart. It wasn't out of love. It was kind of to show like that this is who I am, and I would never allow that to happen again. 

Q: This entire process, physically, we know what you had to go through away from the public. When you've stepped up here, going through your camp and even every time you've interviewed, has it been a challenge for you to not just come out here and declare yourself healthy, ready, 'I'm playing,' because some guys take a different tact and don't hold back. It seems like you've towed the line and you haven't given an inch, basically is what I'm trying to say. I'm curious for you, has that been a challenge or does that come naturally?

A: No, it hasn't been a challenge. I'm sticking to the game plan. I knew this was going to be a tough rehab process with my knee, what happened with my knee. I knew it wasn't going to be easy to get back, but I said I made a promise to myself that I'm not going to rush it. I'm going to go out there and be a team player. I'm going to listen to everyone that I'm working with. I'm not the expert in this area, so I'm going to listen to them. Just only thing I know I can do is attack at full speed, go out there and work my butt off to get myself the best opportunity and just stick with the game plan. So, that's why when I say or I come up here and I say that's how I'm going to go up there to meetings, and say whatever the team wants me to do or when I come up here and I say I take it one day at a time, that's not just some B.S. to you guys so you guys can't go write that I might play here, I might play there. It's me being real, it's me being honest. That's my mindset I've had throughout this whole rehab process and I'm going to have for the rest of my career. I'm going to take it one day at a time, I'm going to cherish every moment because the game could be taken away from you at any moment. 

Q: When did your rehab change to where we're now having this conversation with you that Sunday is a very real possibility? When did you get over whatever that biggest hurdle was?

A: You know, it kind of got to the point where when I got off PUP, I just felt like over there, I was doing everything that they wanted me to do, and I just worked with them and asked them and I kind of told them that I feel like I'm at the point where there's no more I can do over there. I've got to start experiencing some contact, some football situation, because running all over there and running all day is good, but at the end of the day I'm not a track star, I'm not a track runner. I'm a football player and the only way you can get into football shape and get yourself prepared for a football season is actually playing and practicing football. I kind of started there, and then when I got out on the field and started practicing, I found myself not really thinking about my knee. I've noticed that prior to that with rehab. Anytime we would do like the things I struggled with the most in my rehab was more like training stuff, not football specific stuff. When I started to do football specific stuff and put a ball in my hand, my reaction and everything would just come so easy because it's something I've been doing since I was a little kid. So, I guess you would say once I was able to start to get out there and start practicing again and realize that the only time I really thought about my knee was when someone would be like, 'how's it feel? How'd you do it like that?' I guess that would be kind of the big hurdle to the reason why we're even having this conversation right here. I know that was a long-winded answer, but hopefully you get my drift.

Q: It's a good answer because the body follows the mind, right?

A: Yup.

Q: What do you think about the idea of a pitch count, if you were to play, but they only put you out there for 20 snaps or 30 snaps?

A: Do whatever the team wants me to do.

Q: What about the team playing two games in 4 or 5 days?

A: Do whatever the team wants me to do.

Defensive Lineman Leonard Williams

Q: What kind of challenges do the Broncos present to you guys on Sunday?

A: They have a pretty good O-line, they have a pretty good running back and (Broncos Quarterback) Teddy Bridgewater can still move around. We've got to make sure that we close the pocket on him, get some middle pressure, not let him step up into the gap and show his arm strength and stuff like that. I think as far as the defense goes, we just have to do a good job up front. 

Q: What do you think of (Defensive Lineman) Raymond Johnson III? Saw you kind of working with him by yourself the other day.

A: I told him that he's one of the sneak guys that's going to step up this year that people are probably sleeping on. He was an undrafted guy, so he has that big work ethic and he's being a sponge out there right now trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible. I think he's doing a good job so far.

Q: Is he asking you a lot of questions or are you grabbing him and showing him?

A: A little bit of both. I grab him to the side every once in a while. Me and him are both transitioning inside and outside, so I think that's the reason why he comes to me a lot because me and him are the only ones in the D-line room that kind of play a little bit of outside linebacker and D-line. We're a little bit of a hybrid position and I've been able to teach him a little bit. 

Q: You had a big sack year last year. I'm curious how you approach this year. In order for you to considerate it a success for you personally, do you need to put up big sack numbers or do you look at it as you don't care about that so much?

A: I think I've just got to approach it the same way I did last year. That's something that (Head) Coach (Joe) Judge has taught me and something that I learned throughout the season last year is just ignoring the noise. I was able to not focus on any of the outside noise and just focus on my work. A lot of the outside noise last year was negative going into the year, whereas now the noises are the opposite. I still have to ignore it the same way. If I believe if they say something bad, I have to believe it the same way opposite, and I just have to keep working on myself.

Q: Were you paying attention to it more two, three years ago?

A: I'm not sure if I was paying attention to it more compared to last year or not. I was able to just, like Coach Judge said, ignore the noise and focus on the process. Just be where my feet are and make the best of the day in practice and stuff.

Q: As you had success last year, did you find teams doubling you more?

A: Yeah, it definitely happens a lot, especially when I would play the end position. I was getting a lot of chip blocks and tight end chips and back chips and stuff like that, that I wasn't really used to because I played the inside position the majority of my career. Last year when I played end a lot more and teams started seeing that I was playing the end position a lot more, I started getting a lot of different looks that I wasn't used to. The coaches did a good job of showing me what I was going to possibly get in practice. Now that I have a year of it under my belt and another training camp of playing that end position a lot more, I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with it. 

Q: (Linebacker) Azeez Ojulari. What have you seen positive and encouraging from him that he can make an immediate impact?

A: Honestly, just his confidence. When he first came in, I could tell he was young, he was still trying to find himself in the defense and on the team and rightfully so. As a young guy, you can't come in and be above everybody. He knew the position that he had to take, but now he's really stepped into himself. He's shown a lot of promise out there on the field and I think he's going to be a great player for this defense.  

Q: Is he kind of acting like he thinks he believes basically?

A: I think he just got more comfortable with himself – not saying that he wasn't comfortable before he got here, but just seeing his comfortability level between him and other players, and his ability to just be himself out there on the field and not be like a robot just trying to play a system. Now, he knows himself and knows how to play, and he's doing great.

Q: For the guys on both sides of the ball, what kind of a psychological impact does (Running Back) Saquon (Barkley) being back have for you knowing what he's done the last year to get back here?

A: He's a captain on the team, he's a great player on the team and guys definitely look up to him and respect him. Having him out there on the field, like you said, psychologically would be a big deal for the team. We obviously don't want to rush his process. No one's expecting him to be back. He's the only one who really knows when he should be back and we're all going to be ready to support him when he does come.

Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay

Q: So, are you playing (laughs)?

A: We'll see. I feel like I took all the proper steps to make sure my is body right this week and put my best foot forward. 

Q: How are you feeling now compared to when you first started getting integrated back into practice a couple of weeks ago?

A: I'm feeling a lot better. I'm able to pretty much do everything and didn't have too much to think to about. I wasn't feeling sore afterwards. That's the biggest thing really. It's more so just going out there and being confident in the hamstring. I've had a couple and they're tricky, so once I was able to go out there and not think about it, then I could play like myself.

Q: Have you fully cut it loose, like on a go route?

A: Yeah, but at the same time, we're being smart with it. It's not like I'm just out there running go balls all practice, (or) posts. Being smart and still getting after it a little bit. 

Q: We just talked to (Running Back) Saquon (Barkley). Obviously, you weren't here last year when he was hurt, but you've been around for the offseason and training camp to see what he's gone through to try to get himself ready. It looks like he's going to be out there on Sunday. What kind of psychological lift can that have for the guys around him that have seen him work all this time to get back to this point?

A: This is my first year even playing with him and I'm happy for him. Like you said, I've seen the work he's put in. I've seen, once he got back on the field, how happy he was that he was able to feel like himself again and that's huge. Having 26 out there on that football field with us is going to make a lot of peoples' day a lot easier. 

Q: Unless you're a Bronco.

A: Unless you're a Bronco. 

Q: Whether you play on Sunday or not, how excited are you to finally put that uniform on and play in front of the fans here?

A: I'm excited. Hopefully all goes as planned. I can't wait to be out there Sunday around four o'clock. 

Q: Are you in the same boat as Saquon in that you're waiting for the medical team to just sign off on you playing Sunday?

A: Pretty much. Like I said, I did everything I had to do this week. I felt pretty good. I'm going to leave it up to those guys. Even if I'm in or not, I'm right there by those guys, cheering them on and helping them win a football game. 

Q: I think the last time we talked to you I think you had said that with guys being out so much in the offense that you could conceivably get off to a bit of a slow start. Having a week of just about everybody out there, do you have any better feeling about how quick a start this offense can get off to?

A: Literally one week. There's guys out there the whole training camp. I mean, you never know. We've got some vets on this offense that have made a lot of plays in this league, but at the same time as far as all of us playing as one, it's going to be tough with just a week under our belt.

Q: Did the last week of practice give you a better feel of your chemistry with (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones), like actually running out there with the full 11?

A: Rusty for sure, but at the same time I've been playing football for quite some time (and) so has he. Like I've been saying, it's about repetitions in between while the defense is going, while the special teams is going, after practice. All of that plays a big role in this. 

Q: How much did you go against (Broncos Cornerback) Kyle Fuller when you guys were both in the NFC North division?

A: Twice a year.

Q: Did you match up with him, I mean?

A: Not so much match up against him, but I had my fair share of playing against him. Good player. 

Q: You've had hamstring issues before, right?

A: Right.

Q: Are they all kind of the same? Does this one remind you of the others? Did you learn from that or did that help in the rehab this time?

A: They're all different. It all depends on how bad it is, if you're really listening to your body, staying hydrated and really just listening to the trainers. You really can't go out there and think it's ready because if you think it's ready, it could probably take a little bit more time. Yeah, I have dealt with a few, and all of them have been different. 

Q: Was this one of the bad ones? You missed a lot of camp obviously.

A: I wouldn't say this is one of the bad ones, but at the same time, it was bad enough.

Q: We just asked (Defensive Lineman) Leonard Williams this – you might have heard us – he signed a big contract in the offseason, you signed a big contract in the offseason. Does that change your mind set at all? Do you feel an obligation to put up certain numbers, to make a certain amount of big plays because you're not on your rookie contract anymore?

A: I'm going to go out there and play the same way I've been playing before I got the deal. I'm going out there hungry, ready to compete and trying to make plays. Whenever the number 19 is called to make a play, I want to be right there to answer that. I feel like that's why they brought me here, to make big plays. I just want to do that. That's what I've been doing pretty much my career.