SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
With K Tyler Loop and the short kickoffs, what needs to be done to where it's executed more consistently? (Jamison Hensley) "Yes, I think it's very simple. I think [Tyler Loop] just needs to go out and perform the way he practices. In practices, we get the ball deep. In games, he tends to maybe, I don't want to say overthink it, but he just has to be more consistent. He did it in the game, but he just didn't do it enough. So again, he's a young guy. I think the more confidence he gets [and] continues to build throughout the games and things like that, he'll be fine. But I will say this, I know the ball's not going deep [enough]. There are 10 other guys out there that have to make sure that they also do their job, and they cover, and they make up for him. So, it's a team game. Yes, we want the ball deeper, but as long as we cover kicks, and we don't give up plays, I think we'll be fine."
I know the holding call on the last punt return vs. Pittsburgh was probably kind of an iffy call, but was there anything to sort of coach off of that? (Childs Walker) "I think anytime there's a flag at that point of the game, in that situation, I'm always going to be looking for things to coach. That's my job, right? How can we make this play better? I think with Keondre [Jackson] in that play, he's doing his job, and I would just say to him, 'If a guy gets out of your framework, and he's falling down, just try to hold him up, try to do something and try to do something differently. But anytime they see guys on the ground, they tend to want to throw those flags.' So that's the only thing I would tell him [and also,] 'Keep playing hard, keep doing your thing and keep outworking people.'"
So, you don't feel like S Keondre Jackson held on that play? (Jeff Zrebiec) From that angle, and from what I saw, I felt like [Keondre Jackson] was in great position. He did get pushed in the back on that play, and then he started to fall down, and his hand was out there. But again, if there's a guy on the ground, they'll probably throw that flag nine times out of 10. So, my coaching to him is, 'Hey man, we find ourselves in those situations, or we feel ourselves going to the ground, you just fall and just let him run. We'll pick him up down the field.'"
What do you feel like you have to do to improve on kick returns? You guys have had some really good returns at different points in the season, but it feels like it has been as explosive in recent weeks. (Jeff Zrebiec) "I think it's a simple thing. It sounds simple, but it's not as easy as it may seem, right? Our guys are getting in the right spots, our guys are blocking well, and we're trying to hit these returns, but that hole closes up just like that. You also need the opponent to also maybe, at times, to just screw it up and go on the outside of the blocks, and that's not happening against us. So, every yard that we've gotten this season, we've earned. And we are maximizing every opportunity that we get, and we're going to continue to do that. And at some point, even the ones that we got out, we've earned, because our guys – and I just talked to them about the strain – and said, 'Hey, we have to continue to block these guys for extra seconds, and we'll get what we need to get.' I think we're doing a great job. We're not getting fouls, which is putting our team in a bad spot. Whatever yards we get, and if we're crossing the 30-yard line, at some point, these things will break. If not, 'Let's just keep putting our offense on the field in good field position.'"
The forecast on Sunday is very cold and quite windy. What are the stresses that you want to make with your kicking game, especially with K Tyler Loop? (Pete Gilbert) "We had some pretty good weather out there today, right? The wind's blowing; it's really cold. Again, I don't think we're going to be able to replicate a nasty game, a weather game with the wind blowing crazy. It's super cold. For [Tyler Loop], it's going to be [about] just [being] dialed in. 'Let's go out there, and let's do what we practice, man. Just drive that ball, kick that ball deep and focus on the process.' Whatever we're coaching during the week, let's just focus on that. And we know that even with our returners, if it's a windy day, the ball's going to be moving around a lot. So, let's really just focus on fielding the ball and being in the right position. And if you can't – I'm talking about the punt returner game because it affects everyone – just [make] the right decision, which they've done all year. And if we continue to do that, we'll be fine. We'll put our defense in the right spots, and we'll go play football."
Considering he played in Arizona, did K Tyler Loop experience a lot of cold-weather kicking games? (Jonas Shaffer) "[Tyler Loop] had a few games where he had some cold-weather games, but again, you won't be able to replicate the things that you see up in this North. It's different. When that wind gets to howling, and it's really cold, it's a lot different. But, he'll be fine, man. He's a young guy, and he's on the right track. I think he's playing his butt off."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
On the last drive, there seemed to be some – I think even the players said there was some chaos going on in there. Maybe it was the last drive before the two-minute mark where it seemed like some guys had a little confusion. Where did the confusion stem from, and what needs to happen going forward? (Jamison Hensley) "I'll just say that it's unfortunate that we didn't execute it better."
Well then, I guess on the last drive, why wasn't the tempo what you wanted it to be at the beginning of that? (Childs Walker) "Well, I'm just going to start at the beginning of that, because I knew that was coming. First of all, we have to do it better. We have to get lined up. We know we have to be willing to push the ball down the field; they're going to be defending that. So, we know we have to get chunk plays, which we did as we got a little further in the drive. But the start of it was [that] we got a 17-yard special teams penalty. OK – that started it. Then we got a holding penalty, so, OK, that's 27 yards. We ended up on the 30 [-yard line]. Now I don't know how we would have finished it, but those penalties didn't help. OK, what can we control? We can control how we signal, how we communicate, how we get lined up so we don't waste seconds – that's what we can control, right? There was one situation there – there was only one where we didn't get aligned. Zay [Flowers] had to get back aligned on the other side, but somewhere in there, you're going to have to get a chunk play, which we did [get] to Charlie [Kolar], and then we tried to get one to Mark [Andrews] and get us into reasonable field position. Whenever it's a two-minute, end-of-game [situation], and you need a touchdown, your No. 1 goal is to get in position where you can run a normal play, and that's right around the 10-yard line. That's everything you're trying to do, because everything beyond that is much, much harder. You're talking about schemed-up plays; they start playing 'picket fence,' which is much more difficult. So, that's all we were trying to do is how do we get to where with one time out that we could get ourselves to the 10-yard line, and there's a lot of things we could have done better there – calling it and making sure we're at the right spots."
With QB Lamar Jackson missing practice the last few weeks, and we understand why – has it made situational football like the two-minute scenarios like that a little more challenging, because maybe you're not getting quite as many reps with your entire operation at practice? (Luke Jones "I think anytime a player, especially when your quarterback, is not able to practice, you're talking not only the mental side of it but the timing with your receivers and then the physical part of it. There are some challenges with that. There just is. It's not just Lamar [Jackson], it's any player that misses time. You have to find a way to overcome that, because nobody cares, and we can't care. When we take the field, we need the product to look like we want it to look like, and we need to score points. We were darn close, and I know close doesn't count, but [if we] get the touchdown at the end, you're at 28, almost 30 points, and you're feeling good. Here's where we're at. [We are] still not where we want to be in the red zone, but I'm not deterred – I'm fired up. We have another opportunity this week against the Bengals, and when we haven't turned it over, we've at least given ourselves a chance in every game."
There was a play, I think it was fourth-down play in the fourth quarter where a throw – TE Mark Andrews had said yesterday that he thought it was coming to him, and WR DeAndre Hopkins was seen waiting for the ball. Who was the throw designed for? (Jerry Coleman) "Well, they're all alive, and every pass route that you have or concept, everybody has an opportunity to catch it. Obviously, when a play breaks down, or Lamar [Jackson] does what he does at such an elite level, Mark [Andrews] doesn't know what's behind him. Mark doesn't know exactly what Lamar's thinking or where he is thinking about throwing the football. Over the course of time, I bet if you look at quarterbacks that can extend plays, that's going to come up. Would we have liked for Mark to have gotten a little bit deeper in the end zone with his route in his spacing initially? But at that moment, Mark didn't know that it was going to 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins]. It ended up getting off schedule really. That's really the best way to put it – we got off schedule."
Having just played Cincinnati so recently, and now getting to play them again so quickly, is that good, bad? How do you feel about it? (Pete Gilbert) "Well, it's crazy. It's like playing a back-to-back in basketball or something; like you play him here, and then two days later, you're going there to play them. It's just different. It's always – I'll just say this – before I ever got to the NFL, you never experienced that, unless you got to a championship game, and you might play them twice. You didn't play someone twice in a year. It's just an interesting dynamic, and I love it within the division. It gives you a chance ... because obviously, there's such a big priority put on winning the division, so I love that part of it. It is interesting the back-to-back [games] – I shouldn't say back to back, but within two weeks within getting another opportunity at them. But you're going to look at what you had up for the first game and what they did. They're going to look at us and what we did, what we did well, what they did well, how do we combat that, and how we just execute better because we had every opportunity in that game. We were moving the football, and we were backed up. We just have to take care of the football and continue to strive in being diligent and execute at a high level, like we are capable of doing."
WR Zay Flowers is having another good year, and we've seen flashes from WR Rashod Bateman. Head coach John Harbaugh talked on Monday about wanting to get 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] more involved. How important and how close are you guys to having a consistent, secondary wide receiver in this offense to kind step up? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, it's interesting. We'd like to get 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] more involved, and that's easy to say. I'm sitting up here, and I'm the offensive coordinator, but we need to get him more involved. But that would be true for 'Bate' [Rashod Bateman], and that would be true for Isaiah Likely and Mark [Andrews] and some of our [running] backs. So, we're always trying to – we certainly ... To me, balance is certainly some part of the run [and] pass – but to me balance is, and we've been elite around here doing it, and we have to be able to continue to do that, which is, everybody has the opportunity to touch the football. It doesn't matter [what position] – running backs, tight ends, wideouts – our ability to stretch the field horizontally and vertically, being able to run it and throw it, because you're an elite offense when certain things are taken away, you can get to something else. So, we certainly need to get all of our skill guys involved, and 'D-Hop' happens to be one of them."
I know you've said repeatedly, it's never just one thing, and you kind of talked about needing to call it better, need to execute it better, but is there one thing you feel like that's been the biggest challenge in the red zone in particular? (Jeff Zrebiec) "We were talking about that today. It's interesting, because if you just kind of break it down, because we looked at last year and this year ... When you get in the red zone, it's not like run downs. So, run downs, you may have, at this point in the season, you might have 400 run-down snaps. So, we'll play here or there. It's not going to tilt the percentages that much. We're in the red zone, like OK, now I know what we have like 50 opportunities or whatever that might be. We might have 50 of them, and then there's 22 of them. And I look back, I said, 'OK, well where was it where we didn't? What would flip that?' When there's 50 opportunities, if you're at 22-of-50, which is 44% – hell, I don't have any idea. Say it's 44%, what would've flipped 10 to make it 68%, right? Am I right on that math? I'm right on that math. OK, 68%, and you're sitting there going, 'OK, well we've had a couple of turnovers.' We didn't turn it over last year. 'We've had a couple of stops on our goal line' Well, there's a couple there. We've had a couple of, 'We haven't probably run it as well as we did last year and given us that chance.' It's really all these like two here, two there, two whatever, and maybe a drop here or there. Maybe last year, we probably had four or five where Lamar [Jackson] on a QB-driven [plays] got us in the end zone. Then, when you just add those up, you're adding smaller in each one of those categories that lends itself to being better. And there's the other part of it – we can certainly coach and scheme it better. Like I always say, and last year, which was last year, we all were a part of it. We all were – starting with me, and when we're not doing as well, we're all a part of it, starting with me. That's the way it goes. We're just going to continue to fight to get better, and what we can do this week, how we can efficiently take care of the football down there, not turn it over and find a way to score touchdowns. If we would've [scored that touchdown] the other day, then it probably is a different game."
You mentioned some of the quarterback-driven runs in the red zone. Are those getting called at the same rate that they were, and is there any hesitancy to call some of those plays the way that you would've in the past, considering all the injuries that QB Lamar Jackson has been dealing with on his lower body? (Cordell Woodland) "Well, first of all, I appreciate the question, but it certainly gets into how we call a game, which I'm certainly not going to get into. But I would just say this – that as [Lamar Jackson] continues, from a health standpoint, being able to practice and get out there, certainly we'd love for that to be a part of what we do, and it has been. You've seen it. We've still had some as of the last few weeks. We've certainly had a few more QB-driven opportunities for him. So, that has, obviously, been a weapon for him and us. It's a superpower that he has. So, it's certainly been a part of our gameplan, and it needs to be going forward. It does."
Statistically, I think your play-action passing game is still pretty much elite. I guess when you think about play between that and the running game with maybe how important establishing that early would help you guys as a drop-back passing game. What kind of comes to mind? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, it's interesting that you say that. I think Lamar [Jackson] is elite at the intermediate passing game. I think when you can run the football, I think it opens up that part of the field for us to hit those pockets. So, that's always been a staple since I've been here of those types of plays. Where we have to continue to grow is when you have to throw it, when it's third downs, it's two-minute [offense], you get in the red zone – those type of ... When you get in the drop back game, everything comes into play: communication, protections, your disciplined routes, your spacing – that's really where all that comes into play. All your timing, all your work put in – that's where I think we can improve greatly is in those areas to make sure that whether it's third downs, whether it's in the red zone, whether it's in two-minute, whether it's in get-back-on-track, where we continue to build off that each and every week and get better. Because again, the run [and] play-action stuff has been really good. We have guys that can separate, and we have good tight ends; that lends itself to that."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
How does it feel to have DL Travis Jones here for a few more years? (Jamison Hensley) "That's great. That's great for us; that's great for Ravens fans; that's great for the organization. I think Travis Jones is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the National Football League for what he does [and] the amount of snaps he plays. He's a force in there. He can play the nose [tackle], he can play the three-technique, he can play the five-technique. The second half of the season, he's really amped up his production and his impact. So, I know everybody on defense is excited, especially the linebackers, because they've got a big guy in front of them who can make an impact in the game. He's earned it. Travis shows up every single day, [and] he works his butt off. [On his] off days, he's in the weight room doing shrugs and doing extra work. It is really neat to see guys get rewarded for the work that they've put in over a consistent amount of time. It is good for him, so I am happy for him."
Can you talk about just the unique skill set that DL Travis Jones possesses? He plays a high number of snaps, and to kind of leave him in there in obvious passing situation, even as a nose tackle, that's kind of rare. (Ryan Mink)
"We've known this about [Travis Jones] since he was coming out of college. He played a lot of snaps at UConn. We were like, 'Man, he played a lot of snaps.' He played like 80-something snaps – or close to it – a game. But, it's just a credit to the work he puts in [and] his athletic ability. He's 6'4 and 330 [pounds]. His athletic...This dude can run and change direction at a high level and he's strong. [He is] probably – if not the strongest person – one of the strongest people on the team. And so, it is just amazing to see him move out there with his strength, power, speed and quickness. So, that's why we're able to keep him out there and [have him] play that amount of snaps, because he is one of our better rushers in the interior, and we need him to be out there. So, it's a credit to him [and a] credit to the work he's put in to be in this condition to play that many snaps. I've never been that much, weight-wise, but I can only imagine how hard is to play 60 snaps at that weight, and he does it with ease, and has been doing it for the last four years."
What do you guys need to do better against Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow than you did in the second half of the last game? (Childs Walker) "We have to execute and get off the field on third down. We have to get off the field on third down. The two touchdowns that they had were on third-and-9. On first and second down, we did what we wanted to do, [which was] get them in third-and-long situations. And then, we have to execute on third down and get them off the field. We know that when you're playing a quarterback of this caliber, any misstep, any wrong hesitation, [Joe Burrow] is going to make you pay more times than not. So, we have to execute, and then we have to get the football. We have to get the football. We got the takeaway in four-minute [offense], but you have to get the ball off of these guys. When you look at [the Bengals] game last week against Buffalo, the reason why Buffalo won the game [was that] they had two straight plays with two interceptions. So, we have to execute better on third down and then we have to get more takeaways."
Having just played the Bengals two weeks ago, who do you think has an advantage with that? (Pete Gilbert) "I think it's about even. It really doesn't – it's crazy. It's unique, but it's funny. If you go back to look at film from 2022, [and] they're running the same concepts. They're not going to change who they are. They know us; we know them. It's really going to come down to who's going to [be more] physical that the person across from them, and [more importantly] who's going to out-execute and do their job over the course of the game."
How would you evaluate how you guys did against Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase? He only had about half of his usual targets and still went for over 100 yards. (Jonas Shaffer) "I thought we did a good job. They hit the deep play to [Ja'Marr Chase] on the sideline, so I thought we could have played that better. We understand that they're going to take their shots. And then, on a couple of the catches that he had, we had coverage rolled his way. So, that's part of the execution [where] we have to be better when we're saying that. When we commit that we're going to take care of him, we can't let him catch the football. But, I thought the guys did a good job, all in all. He had, maybe, 14 targets, and [I think] only caught seven passes. The thing that was really good was we didn't let him run after the catch. That's where he's really hurt us [before], and that's where they really get rolling is when he catches a slant or a dig route and runs for big, explosive plays. I thought we did OK. You never want a guy to get a 100 yards, but we can be better, and we know what we can be better at."
How much harder is it to manufacture pressure against veteran quarterbacks who have seen it all? (Jeff Zrebiec)
"Yes, definitely. You have to come up with some new stuff and some things that they haven't seen, and you have to be able to keep it moving them. And I think the vet quarterbacks, what they do a good job of is trying as much as possible to stay out of third-and-long situations, so they don't have to really deal with it. I think for us, we can get the advantage if we get into those third-and-longs, but you're not going to really trick them. When you do, you have to have the counter to that because once they see it, they're able to adjust in game and be able to understand what you're trying to do. So, you have to keep it moving on them. That's our job as coaches – come up with something new, show them a different look that they haven't seen before, and then keep it moving on them and make sure the players are on the same page, and we can execute."
Kind of along those lines, what do you guys need to do on some of those deep balls? To your point, there were some last week against the Steelers as well. (Brian Wacker) "I think that for the most part, throughout the year, we've defended the deep ball well. So, I have full confidence in our guys. Last week, [the Steelers] made a couple plays, and you tip your hat off to them. [They had a] couple of good throws. I think we can just keep switching it up – just our leverage, show press, bail out, be off, walk in to press [coverage], just play that game. Play that game with the quarterbacks, and then obviously, just continue to mix in the coverages with the disguises. But, a lot of times with these quarterbacks, especially the one we're about to play, you can be off and in good position. And [Joe Burrow] is still going to throw it up there and trust his guy to go make the play. So, you have to get ready to make those plays. We look at it like, if you want to throw the football, throwing it high and wide, that's not a high-completion throw. Quarterbacks, they will throw it, but that's not a ball that they want to consistently throw, especially when you break the pass up."
WR ZAY FLOWERS
On his reaction to NT Travis Jones' contract extension: "Everybody likes to get paid, so you're going to come in and work hard, and it just shows the organization has your back. If you're willing to put the work in, if you're willing to do your job at the best of your ability, they're going to take care of you."
On if Sunday's weather forecast will impact their preparation and approach to this game: "No, not really for me. I've been in some cold games from Boston College to now, so I don't think it really affects me. I don't think it affects [anybody] here, because we practice outside every day. I think we'll be alright."
On what he thinks may be holding the offense back from hitting their peak: "We have to start with getting [rid of] penalties and turnovers, and we just need to execute and finish when we get to the red zone. I think those are the three main things we have to do."
On if there's anything specific in the red zone that has been difficult to overcome: "We just have to finish. We get there. It's all about finishing now."
On what has been working well for him, specifically against the Steelers, and how that can help the team down the stretch: "I feel like I had more opportunities to make plays, and they gave us the coverage we wanted, and we executed on those plays. So, I'm just looking forward to making more plays and executing and getting it done."
On his touchdown numbers: "When you have Derrick Henry, and you have dominant tight ends in the red zone, it's hard to not give them the ball. So, they're a bigger target, and that's what we draw up. I just run the plays."
On if he thinks about his touchdown numbers: "Everybody wants to score touchdowns, so I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But hey, as long as we are scoring, as long as we are able to get something done, it's alright."
On working with WR DeAndre Hopkins: "'Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] is for sure a 'G.O.A.T.' in every category, off the field, on the field and [in] just teaching younger players, so it's been super exciting. He is all about our success. He was happy to see me play. He's happy to see me play every game, so he has been huge to our room."
On QB Lamar Jackson apologizing on WR DeAndre Hopkins' behalf for not getting him involved more: "With how it's going right now, I probably feel like a lot of people would feel that way, but 'Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] doesn't complain. 'Hop' just does his job, and 'Hop' comes in and plays, so he's a real vet, and he takes care of what he has to take care of."
On if the struggles in the red zone have been a shock to the team: "I think so. I think it's definitely a little bit of a shock, but it is not something we can't overcome. Sometimes it's a different season, and you struggle in different parts and different categories, so we just have to take care of that and get better."
On how to focus on the next game while compartmentalizing the importance of each game: "We play our game, if I'm being honest. You can't go out there too uptight and then play. I don't think you'll play the same. I think if you play how you play and just play to the best of your ability every play, we'll be alright."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On if there is a comfort level when watching film because they played the Bengals two weeks ago: "Yes, it's quick turnaround. I feel like we just played them yesterday, but [we're] looking forward to new results [and] different ending."
On what the offense hopes to do differently this week compared to two weeks ago: "[Play] turnover free [is] No. 1, just protecting the ball [and] putting a lot of points on the board, because we didn't do that either. Unfortunately, we had to [touchdowns that] didn't happen – two more on top of the 14 [points] we had, but it didn't happen – so I'm looking forward to scoring more points this week."
On if the recent rest days have been helpful to him: "Yes, I feel like rest is one of the most important things when you are recovering from any injury."
On if missing practices has impacted his completion percentage, accuracy and resulted in turnovers: "No, because some turnovers you can't help, [like] tipped passes and stuff like that, so no."
On what he's learned about playing in cold-weather games: "Just try to stay warm as much as you [can]. It's football. [I] can't do [anything] about it. I can't control the weather. I wish I could."
On if the fourth-down pass last week was intended for WR DeAndre Hopkins and TE Mark Andrews was just trying to make a play on the ball: "Yes, it was, and like you said, Mark [Andrews] was just trying to make a play."
On why he was so disappointed after last week's loss: "We had just lost to another divisional opponent, so who wants to lose, and [because of the] way it played out; things happened that we can't control. So definitely, I was ticked off."
On if he's been frustrated with some of the turnovers or just the results in general: "Overall. [It's the] turnovers, losses [and] all of that."
On if he's getting mental reps and reviewing the film when he isn't practicing: "Yes, you review the film after practice. During practice, I'm watching the guys from inside [the training room]. I'm doing a little treatment [and] maintenance here and there."
On if he's on the field or watching practice from inside: "I'm watching. I have eyes everywhere."
On how he feels physically: "I feel good. I feel good."
On not having a run over 20 yards this season: "I don't? I didn't in the first game of the season?" (Reporter: "You did in the first game.") "Oh, that counts, so I did. Since then? Let's see. We have four more regular season games. Let's see."
On the report that he and G Daniel Faalele had a conversation on the sideline during the game: "No, I saw that, that's [inaccurate]. No, I [didn't] say anything to [Daniel Faalele]."
On if G Daniel Faalele said anything to him: "No. I don't know where that came from. I don't know where that came from. It wasn't me, and it wasn't [Daniel] Faalele, so I don't know."
On if he feels like he can make more of the quarterback-designed runs: "We'll see. We'll see how the game's going [and] see how I'm feeling."
DL TRAVIS JONES
On what his reaction was after signing his contract extension: "It was exciting. My mom was in town, luckily, so she was out here with me, and I am just happy to get it done."
On if the extension was anticipated: "We were talking about it for a week or two, and we just agreed on the right number and a year, so I'm happy to get it done."
On how many teammates have asked for loans: "A lot. I can't even count right now."
On if signing the extension weighed on his mind: "No, not really. I really let my agent handle the numbers stuff. I just focus on the football part of it."
On how great of a feeling it is to sign an extension: "Yes, it's a great feeling for me. Really, for me, I just want to take care of my mom, sisters, my nephew and niece, so now I'm in a stable situation to do that for them."
On if this extension has changed his mom's life in any way: "Oh yes, for sure. My mom, well, she hasn't been working since I got drafted, but now she really doesn't have to work."
On if he has any plans to spend some of his extension salary: "The only thing I want to give [my mom] is a new house. That's about the only thing I want to get for her right now, off the top of my head."
On if the worst part about signing the extension is talking to the media about it: "Yes, for real." (laughter)
S AR'DARIUS WASHINGTON
On how it feels to be back at this point in the season: "It feels great to be back. I'm trying to be able to get a couple games under my belt and everything, so it feels good to be back, be around the guys, be around the camaraderie and come out there and hopefully get some wins."
On the most challenging thing as he's returned to football: "I'd just say getting back in the groove of things. I haven't played football in like six months or something like that, so really just getting out there, running around [and] getting that chemistry with the guys – that was probably the biggest thing."
On if he felt like his return was pretty seamless: "Yes, definitely."
On his mentality and the emotions when his injury first happened: "When it first happened, I was frustrated. I was frustrated, definitely, and then after that, I had the surgery, went in and talked to 'AD' [head certified athletic trainer Adrian Dixon]. I was like, 'Man, what's next?' So, he pulled out a calendar, and he was like, 'This is how many months [you'll be out]. This is what it's going to take to get back.' And it was like a seven- [to] nine-month process. Then I heard about 'Sizz' [Terrell Suggs] coming back early and all that type of stuff, so when I heard that, I was like, 'So, it can be done?' So, we went to the drawing boards. He was telling me, 'First month, this is what it's going to be like. Second month ...' And I was like, 'Alright, skip to the back. When am I going to be able to play?' He said seven-to-nine months, so I had a goal. We set it out to that. Me, [performance therapist/assistant athletic trainer] Mike [Thomas], and 'Ant' [strength and conditioning coach Anthony Watson], we got to it and got to work."
On what it's been like being back on the practice field with his teammates: "It feels good being out there, flying around again and finally being a part of the team again. It feels good, for sure."
On what the past few months have been like mentally and emotionally: "It was tough watching those guys go out there and compete. They were winning some games [and] losing some games. Knowing I can go out there and help, whether it's winning or losing or keeping it going, it was tough watching that, but I knew I would be back at some point, and now, I can be a part of that."
On his relationship with S Malaki Starks: "It's been really good. I told [Malaki Starks] I'm open book, so just come holler at me, just come talk to me. [If] you have questions about anything [or have] a feel for anything, just come talk to me. I'll give you my points of what I think on this or how you should have played out or anything like that, so he comes to me, talks to me, and that's what it is."
On how much he drew from past experiences to get through this injury: "[With] my pec [injury], I was out a long time, but I played some football. I went through [training] camp, and I had the first two games under my belt and everything. This is the longest I've actually been out for football, but it is like riding a bike. Once I got back out there and felt good and got that confidence back in my leg, I was like, 'Yes, this is sweet. I'm good.'"
On his mentality getting back in Week 15 ahead of an important game to get to the playoffs: "I'm ready to go, so whenever they say it, whenever they give me the call, whenever they put me out there on the field, I'm going to be ready to go. I [didn't] come back to not play. I [didn't] come back early to not play at all, so I'm ready. I'm ready to go."
On if he ever doubted that he wouldn't make it back to play in the 2025 season: "A little bit. Going through the process, especially closer [to when the injury happened], I told [head coach John Harbaugh] a timeline. 'I'll be back in nine [months].' Once that time got closer, I was like, 'Am I ready yet?' So, I was kind of scared a little bit, but it was more so fear, so once I got out of that mindset, I knew I was able to [play and was] capable. Once I got out of that mindset, I was good."
On the toughest benchmarks he overcame during his rehab process: "That was probably the hardest part, coming out of the boot, starting to walk again and everything like that. Once I got past that part, I had the running in, putting the shoes on and everything like that, it was smooth, but the hardest part definitely was probably walking again and everything like that. That was probably the hardest part for me."
