HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "OK, it's good to see everybody here. I appreciate you guys very much. It was a good practice, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy. We are excited about the preparation and excited about the opportunity. We're kind of digging in, and we're working. So, what questions do you have?"
Obviously, this is a must-win elimination type of a situation. How would you describe the mood, kind of the pulse, for lack of a better word, of the team? (Jamison Hensley) "I think it's been great. We had great enthusiasm [and] great energy. We were locked in, dialed in and focused on the gameplan in all three phases, starting with a special teams meeting. It's been a great day."
We didn't see QB Lamar Jackson again today. Is he somebody who could go on one day, or do you expect him to be out there? (Brian Wacker) "No, it's undetermined right now. [Lamar Jackson was] non-participation today and was not able to practice, but he could play without that practice for sure. He's practiced and played a lot of football; he's won a lot of games for us. If he's ready to go, he will go. If he can go, he will go. You can bet on that."
You said his game status is undetermined right now with QB Lamar Jackson? (Jamison Hensley) "Yes, [it's] day to day. [Lamar Jackson] couldn't practice today. So, we'll see where it's at tomorrow and as we go forward."
Could you, I guess, kind of explain to the layman what the consequences are of a contusion? I think people heard you say bruise, but why can't you play through that? Obviously, you see NBA players miss a week, two weeks for these types of injuries. (Jonas Shaffer) "Oh yes, yes. I guess it's not like a black and blue mark. These are deep tissue contusions. I'm not a medical guy, but I did see the MRI. It's legitimate and very painful. It tends to ... the muscles lock up around it. You can't really move very well. He's in that process now of loosening all that up, hopefully. You can't really say when it's going to be right. He has to be able to play. He has to be able to be an athlete and be able to move. So, when a contusion – that word – that type of damage to the tissue happens, then you have to be able to play. To be an athlete, you have to be able to move around and do your thing. So, that's what you're working back towards with all the treatment and everything. So, believe me, if he can go out there and do it – this guy's one of the ultimate competitors that you're ever going to see. If he's able to go, he's going to be out there going."
Obviously, QB Tyler Huntley has played plenty for you guys over the years and this year included. What have you seen from him so far this week? (Brian Wacker) "[Tyler Huntley] looked good. He's looked good. He had a really good day today. He had a good walk-through yesterday. He's on point with the gameplan. So, he's been running the practices, obviously, and doing a very good job with it. So, if it goes that direction, we'll be excited. We'll be excited to go play the game either way. So, that's kind of where the guys are; that's where the coaches are [and the] players. Everybody's ready to go play the game with the guys that we have on gameday."
Is there a simple explanation for why Green Bay's defense is so much better at home than on the road? (Jonas Shaffer) "Oh boy, I don't know. That's a good question. I haven't really looked at it from that perspective, but we expect to get the best version; it seems like that's been a theme this year. So, I'm sure they'll be ready to play as well. They're tough team, a well-coached team, disciplined team, et cetera, and that's what you expect."
With the stakes what they are, do you have to mention anything to the team about what this game means for your playoff contention? Or do you think everyone just kind of knows? (Jamison Hensley) "Oh, everybody knows, but we talk about what we talk about. The conversations that we have are very close, personal conversations. We've been with each other all year. With most of the players, we've been with each other for years; so, the relationships are very close. So, when you're in a close relationship, you don't have to spell things out in a robot-like fashion. We understand the depth of every situation. So, the guys know, the guys are going to go play really hard and really well and do their best to go win the game. I'm very confident in how they're going to play, and how they're going to perform. I love the way we're doing so many things. And just like them and me and everybody else, we want to put it all together. We haven't really put it all together yet. We've had moments, we've had games, but we'd like to put it all together like we believe we're capable of doing."
Going back to Green Bay – at the moment, it looks like we'll see QB Malik Willis at quarterback. What have you seen from him? (Carita Parks) "We don't really know. That's information – that's good to know. Is that how it looks? I haven't heard that. What's your sources? (laughter) (Reporter: "Don't quote me on that.") You just quoted yourself. You tell me Malik [Willis] is going to be the quarterback? Oh, he didn't practice today? Due to illness? OK – there's a lot of layers to this. So, I guess that probably directs me to the answer. We'll have to prepare for their offense first. You have to get ready for the offense. They run the same offense [with] both quarterbacks. So, that's where we're kind of working, but we understand that the way Malik plays; we understand the way [Jordan] Love plays. So, with that in mind, our guys, whichever quarterback's out there, we'll know who the quarterback is and how they play. But Malik has done a great job. I think he's had a good year when he's played. He's very elusive back there. He throws a good ball. His timing and his mechanics have really looked good this year. So, he's obviously a very dangerous quarterback. He looked good in this last game when he played. So, we'll be very much very respectful of him or whoever's back there playing quarterback."
It seems like whoever the quarterback is, the Packers play with a certain tempo. With preparing your defense, how do you try to make sure everyone knows how quickly they get up to that line? (Jamison Hensley) "We've worked on that the last two days. We worked on that extensively today. We show the clips. We show the TV copies of it too, so you can hear the words of what's being said, too, as much as you can get through that, just to try to understand what's coming, when it's coming. It's not just like one version of – just they play fast. They have different types of tempos, different types of plays within those tempos that come up in different situations, and there's ways to recognize what they do. But more than anything, we have to operate quickly and be on point and be locked in and see people coming out of the huddle. [We need to] do a good job with our own substitutions, because we don't want to get caught substituting in a situation where they're going fast, because they can get you with too many men on the field or get you off balance with the call. All those things are really important. We've seen it before. It's not the only team that does it. We've handled it so far this year. Hopefully, we can do a great job there handling it as well."
I don't like asking about other people's reporting, but Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston wrote a column this week that's kind of reaching a critical mass right now online. He just said that QB Lamar Jackson has slept through meetings and that you've grown tired of him. I just wanted to kind of give you the opportunity to just comment on that. (Jonas Shaffer) "Well, I think I said earlier in the season, we don't take too much credence in anonymous-type sources. So, I don't know where that's coming from. I've never seen that ever. That's not something that I've ever witnessed, and I'm in every meeting. And to speculate on how I feel about it – I'll tell you how I feel; I'm pretty transparent. I think all the guys in the building will tell you if I have something of conversation, something that I want to talk to them about, I'm right up front. So, that would be wrong to say that. That's not true. I had a great conversation with Lamar [Jackson] this morning about a few things and football and how he's feeling, things like that. So, our relationship is A+. I love him. I always have, always will. I know he's fighting like crazy to get back. So, anonymous reports or things that get said or written or whatever, I don't really – I don't need anybody speaking for me. So, just ask me, and I'll tell you what I think.
Merry Christmas."
TE MARK ANDREWS
On the mindset of the team knowing this game is a must-win: "So far this week, [there has] been a bunch of guys going to work and focusing on this week. [We are] controlling what we can control. That's all you can do in life, and that's what we're doing."
On if there have been conversations about the stakes going into this game: "The energy has been great around here. There's no quit in this building. We've seen that from the start of this season, and we're going to continue to fight. We may not be in total control, but we're going to control what we do in this game and the rest of the year."
On what has impressed him about QB Tyler Huntley: "There's a lot of incredible things about 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley]. I think that he runs this offense incredibly well. He's a very versatile player. He gets the ball out, and he sees things really well. I think that one of my best years was with Snoop; so, I've got a lot of chemistry with him. Just seeing him grow throughout the years has been truly special. He's a one-of-a-kind human being. Just the type of quarterback that he is, I know he's going to continue to be the leader that he is."
On if he has fond memories of the last time the Ravens played the Packers with QB Tyler Huntley at QB in 2021: "Yes, that was fun. And obviously, we didn't get that win, but I know [Tyler Huntley] is thinking about that. But for us, it's about focusing on now, focusing on this team and what we can control this week."
WR ZAY FLOWERS
On how he found out that he made the Pro Bowl: "[I saw on] Instagram and [the] NFL's [account]. I had just seen it on [the] NFL's [account], and I was like, 'Oh, I made the Pro Bowl?' [It was] in the morning when I came in to do some treatment."
On his reaction to making the Pro Bowl: "I made the Pro Bowl. I was still mad from the game, but I'm happy that I did [make it]. It's a good accomplishment. I appreciate everybody that voted."
On the vibe of the locker room going into Saturday's game: "Like you said, we just have to go win it, so we don't want the vibes to be too down and go into next week with a down mentality and play with that mentality. We are just trying to lift up everybody's spirits and get back to winning football."
On if it's weird to make the Pro Bowl with the team having a tougher season: "It's definitely weird, because this is my first time experiencing it here. It's been a lot of ups and downs, but it's the NFL. Sometimes that's just how it goes."
On if there is any difference in QB Lamar Jackson throwing the ball compared to QB Tyler Huntley: "No, not at all. We believe in our quarterbacks. We believe in all the quarterbacks we have. Whoever steps in, we know they know the system, and they know that they're going to give it their all."
On if it's weird to play against former Boston College head coach and current Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley: "Yes, but I went against [Jeff Hafley] when we went to Green Bay [in the preseason] last year. We had the joint practices, and I was talking to him a little bit there. That's pretty funny that his defense is [the one that] now I'm playing against him, and I was playing with him in college."
On if he knew that former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley was going to be an NFL coach when he played for him: "Absolutely, because some games at 'B.C.' [Boston College], we were in some games that we shouldn't have been in, if I'm being honest."
On if he thinks that QB Lamar Jackson will play on Saturday: "I don't really know. I leave that up to the trainings and stuff, so I can't really answer that question, if I'm being honest."
On how being voted to the Pro Bowl for two years in a row shows where he ranks in the league: "I think it just shows that I can play with the best of them, and I'm willing to do the work. I'm going to put the work in, and I'm going to do everything I can to win. I don't want it to sound selfish, because all these guys helped me get to that point, so it's a blessing. It's all God, if I'm being honest. It's all God."
On if there is a different feeling after being nominated for a second Pro Bowl: "Yes, I was definitely happy [last year]. I know you all have seen the video. This time – it was after a loss, too – I was just like, 'I appreciate it, but I would have rather taken a win, to be honest.'"
RB DERRICK HENRY
On the attitude and mindset of the team: "We have to go win a football game. There isn't any added pressure. We've played football our entire lives. Let's go win. We know what is at stake, but we have to win the game."
On if the team has had to talk about what is at stake: "No. We know what it is. We have to win."
On his workload last game: "I'm past that. That's over with. It happened. We're on to Green Bay."
On what sticks out about Green Bay's defense: "I think they're a really good defense. I think they're solid [from] top to bottom. They fly to the ball, [and] they have willing tacklers in the secondary. They're just really stout, and they are a good defense. I think that's why they've been really good throughout this season. I know that they're trying to fight for a playoff spot, too, but on film, they fly around to the ball and make plays."
On what has stood out about QB Tyler Huntley when he's played this season: "[Tyler Huntley] goes out like he's the starter. He practices that way, and he prepares that way. So yes, if 'Snoop' [Tyler Huntley] is going to go out there, he's going to roll and do what he has to do."
QB TYLER HUNTLEY
On dealing with the pressure of playing in a must-win game: "A lot of our games have been must-win [games], and every week we must win, so we have to focus on going 1-0 this week. If we're doing everything that we need to do, we'll get that."
On if his win against the Bears this season will make the transition more seamless if he does have to start: "Just being here every week and working gives us the best opportunity to be prepared. Just going through the ups and downs of the season, that's preparing us to get ready for this game, so we just have to come put it all together and then make it happen."
On if "putting it all together" has been a theme in the building this week: "Yes, because like you guys said, it's a must-win game. We've had a lot of games where the defense played great, and then we had games where the offense played great [or] special teams played great. Well, we just want the whole game to be everybody playing great."
On the conversations he's had with QB Lamar Jackson if he has to start this week: "We just talk football, and it's no pressure. We've been here before, [so] if that's the case, we're just getting ready. That's it."
On QB Lamar Jackson dealing with his back injury: "I don't think [Lamar Jackson] has had an injury like that before, but I feel like he is dealing with it pretty good. He's in there getting treatment and everything, and he's still in meetings. He's still coming to meetings, so I feel like if he's ready to play, he is going to play. He knows how to deal with it the best. He knows how his body is feeling, and I think he is going to do a great job with it."
On QB Lamar Jackson's toughness after battling through injuries all season: "[Lamar Jackson has] continued to go out there and play at a great level every time he's on the field, and that goes to show that [if he isn't] feeling the best, but then he goes out there and give his A-game every time. Hats off to him."
On why he thinks it's been a seamless transition to run the offense as a backup quarterback: "Just situationally, over the years, I've been thrown in there a couple of times. [I am always] just preparing myself during the week. That's why I think I've gained the most confidence, just trying to down the playbook and then just be ready for it."
On if he sees this as an opportunity to show his ability to the Ravens and other teams in the NFL: "I look at it as a blessing to be able to just play football, and I just appreciate that – being able to play football – and that's all I take from this situation. Everything else will play the cards out how it is."
On his connection with WR DeAndre Hopkins and what it's like to have a target like that: "You've seen it many years before, 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] making plays, just catching over dudes and everything. He can make the play for you when you need him to, and he has "Allstate" hands. You're in good hands. If you just throw the ball over there, he is going to make the catch."
