HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Alright, [it is] good seeing everybody. I appreciate you being here. [Today was a] good day, [and we had a] good practice. The guys did a nice job, and we're getting ready for the Texans, which presents unique challenges. Their defense is playing at a super high level, and their offense ran the ball and did a nice job with the play action stuff and the quick game. Obviously, [they have] a great young quarterback [in C.J. Stroud], and Nico Collins is doing a great job. They're going to present a challenge for us. But really, more than anything, we have to focus on us and how we play and play our best football. That's what we're really working on. What questions do you have?"
QB Lamar Jackson wasn't out at practice today. Any determination on him for Sunday's game? (Jamison Hensley) "We're just kind of taking it day-by-day through the week. You'll see the injury reports [each day]. [That's the case for] really all of those guys. We could sit here, and you could ask me about every single guy, and it's a fairly long list. Who's got time for that? So, you'll see. You'll see who practices and who doesn't. And we will be working our way through the week with guys. You'll see guys back tomorrow, you'll see guys back on Friday, [and you'll] see guys back on Sunday. We'll get as many guys back as we can. But we're also preparing for not having some guys back, and that's what we'll prepare for. We'll be ready to go [to] play our best game of the year."
Do you know with QB Lamar Jackson, was it one particular play in Kansas City? (Morgan Adsit) "No, I really don't have any information on that, and I really don't think it matters. It's not really what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about the team and getting ready to practice. Lamar is working. He's doing a great job. I talked to him yesterday for a long time. He's [been] in here all day today, working and in the meetings and different things like that. So, it's just kind of what we do."
How valuable is it to have someone like QB Cooper Rush, who has started quite a few games over the last few years, in the event that QB Lamar Jackson can't play? (Luke Jones) "Yes, I do. I do I think it is very valuable. And Cooper [Rush] practiced today, he was a quarterback. And Tyler [Huntley] practiced today, also, and I thought everybody did a really good job today. But to your point, Cooper is experienced; he's been in these situations before, as has Tyler, and [Cooper]'s up to speed. He's been with us all the way back to the beginning [of the offseason]. He's been in every practice [and] every meeting. He knows the offense, and he'll be ready to go."
Similarly, with QB Tyler Huntley, how much does that familiarity mean? And then he has a little bit of a different skillset than both QB Lamar Jackson and QB Cooper Rush. (Brian Wacker) "Yes, that's a valuable thing; he does have familiarity with the offense. He's very comfortable with it already, because he has been in it [before]. And then the different things he brings to the table, just obviously, as a player, are valuable."
Do you feel like you've started to see some of the things you've wanted to see out of QB Jaire Alexander? I know a couple of weeks ago, you said you guys are trying to work with him on things. Do you feel like he's headed in that direction? (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, definitely. Definitely. He's getting closer. Will he be ready this week or not? We'll see. We're measuring that stuff, and he practiced today, so I would say, the answer to that, is yes."
What about the prospect of QB Tyler Huntley, and maybe even RB Keaton Mitchell, being up with the numbers game on Sunday? (Jerry Coleman) "Well, Tyler Huntley, yes. If Lamar [Jackson] is down, Tyler [Huntley] will be up. As far as Keaton, yes, there's a chance of that as well."
How did T Emery Jones Jr. look in his first practice? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I can't wait to see the tape. [Emery Jones Jr.] had controlled reps, I would say. He was in there in the team periods, but not all of them. [With] his individual [drills], I watched him. I can't wait to see how he looked, but I thought he looked good. He looked healthy, he looked strong, looked like he's been training. It was his first day back into football for quite a while for him, but I thought he looked good."
Obviously, you're ramping T Emery Jones Jr. up, and it's going to be a ways away, but is it still the plan to see him at tackle first? (Jeff Zrebiec) "No, I don't know if we have a plan right now. I think right now, the plan is to look at [Emery Jones Jr.]. [We're] looking at him at guard, looking at him at tackle, and just [trying to] see where we're at before we can start deciding that. [We want] to see what he looks like."
Is it almost like the start of the summer with a rookie? T Emery Jones Jr., obviously, is in an unusual situation in that way. (Childs Walker) "Yes, it's just different than it would be if [Emery Jones Jr.] had been here the whole time. So, you're starting – it's going to go fast. He's going to be in there, and he's working hard. He's been in every meeting. It's not like he just showed up today. He's been in every meeting. He knows all the calls. He's been working with the trainers, as far as technique and things like that. So, he's up to speed as far as what to do."
Do you need to impress on the team the urgency of a game like this, with everything that's kind of around it? (Jonas Shaffer) "Do I need to? No, I don't need to. I'm sure I have, but I'm sure all of us have. We all have."
One guy on the injury report that you haven't been asked about is CB Nate Wiggins. Is he in that week-to-week range too? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Why don't we just wait and see tomorrow, and you'll know more then. How about that?"
One guy I think we forgot to ask you about is the special teamer that you got earlier in the season who went on IR. DB J.T. Gray. (Jonas Shaffer) "I think [J.T. Gray] is still on [practice squad] IR, right? He came in kind of with an injury, so we're trying to get him healthy. He should be back soon, though. He's looking pretty good moving around, so that'd be great to get him back."
Just to be clear with QB Lamar Jackson, I know you grouped him with all the injured players, but you would say day-to-day with him? "How about I just don't say anything? That's what I would do. Why don't we just leave it alone. The injury report will be out at 4 p.m."
How much of a challenge is it, I guess, for the coaching staff to put together a gameplan that makes sense with as many moving parts as you guys have right now? (Jonas Shaffer) "Well, it's a challenge for sure, but it's a challenge to put it together every week. It's a challenge to put together when you have a totally healthy 53 [-man roster]. It's always a challenge. I think [our] coaches do a great job. We have really good gameplanners. I really love the process that the guys go through, and we're going to have a really good gameplan. Now let's go out and execute it, and let's do our best to win this very important game, as you pointed out."
TE MARK ANDREWS
On the challenge for the offense if QB Lamar Jackson can't play on Sunday: "Like you said, that's a challenge, obviously [with] the type of player and leader that Lamar [Jackson] is and how much he means to us. The beautiful thing is that we have a lot of fighters in this group and a deep organization with a ton of players that are going to step up and make plays. I just have a lot of faith and trust in the guys."
On the message among the offense coming out of last week and headed into this week: "Just staying efficient is the biggest thing. At times, we're moving the ball extremely well. For us, it's just staying on track, and that's everybody. There are things all over the field that are just limiting our success. For us, just dialing in, doing our job [and] focusing, good things will happen, and we'll be more efficient that way."
On what QB Cooper Rush has shown him about operating the offense: "[Cooper Rush] is a pro's pro. He really dove into this offense [and] understands extremely well, so he's going to know. He is going to be on his P's and Q's. He is going to know what to do, and I know he's fired up for the opportunity to go show what he is all about. There's a reason why he's been in the league for nine years, I think it is, now. He's a really good player."
On the overall tone and messaging in the locker room right now: "For us, [it's] just [to] continue to fight. Everybody here in this organization, we're all fighters. We've been through adversity. We know what that looks like, and there's no quit in this group, and we're excited to show the world that."
On getting TE Isaiah Likely back last week and how his involvement expands the offense: "[Isaiah Likely] looked great. He was flying around, made some really big plays, some big blocks and picked up where he left off, so he's going to be a big part of this offense and what we do as a team. He played really well, and we're going to be able to open that up and expand that with him. It's going to look really good."
On how much time it takes throughout the week to get on the same page with a new starting quarterback, if QB Cooper Rush is the starting quarterback: "[It's] just open communication within the group of how [Cooper Rush] sees things, how he wants you to run the route and just being able to be there for him and be friendly to him; be the quarterback's best friend. We have a lot of guys that are committed to that and trying to help him out as best we can."
On how much the offense would change if QB Cooper Rush is the starter on Sunday: "At the end of the day, we have a core group, and Lamar [Jackson] is one-of-one. There's no one else like Lamar. No one's been like Lamar, but at the end of the day, we have a core group of offensive guys, and we're going to use everybody. It's going to be diverse in that way."
WR RASHOD BATEMAN
On the mindset of not having the start the Ravens wanted while also facing some injury adversity: "I just think we've got to lock in and man up and accept the cards that we've [been dealt] right now and find ways to be better all across the board. So, hopefully we can do that, and we can get back on track."
On his mindset when working with someone who is not QB Lamar Jackson: "I would definitely agree with Mark [Andrews]. We don't get a lot of reps in with Cooper [Rush], so being able to be communicative on what we want and what he wants [is important] to get the job done, and 'Coop' has done an amazing job, so we've got all the trust that he will get the job done."
On how big of a challenge it would be for the offense if QB Lamar Jackson is unable to play on Sunday: "It's a challenge every day we go out there. [It's a challenge] with Lamar [Jackson] or without Lamar. We win with Lamar, or we lose with Lamar. We can win and lose with anybody. So, at the end of the day, it doesn't change the fact that – from [the] top down – we've got to change the way we do things and how we approach things to get the end result that we want."
On what didn't work for them on offense during Sunday's game at Kansas City: "Nothing worked for us, to be honest, from my perspective. We've just got to do a better job. We had a good first drive, but after that, we couldn't really get a drive sustained and put points on the board, so we just can't play like that if we want to win a Super Bowl."
On the mindset going to work this week knowing the importance of this game: "Obviously, everybody's in a mood right now, so the mindset is to find a way to get this win. No matter how we get it done, we've got to end this week with a 'W.'"
On the resilience of the locker room: "I would say [our] resilience is good. I just think that we still need to continue to come together [and] bond, whatever that looks like. But I think we need to be resilient Sunday."
On the offensive playmakers on the team and how that can help them to a win on Sunday: "We've got a lot of dogs. We've got a lot of people who can make plays. I think we've just got to be in a position to make plays, and on our end as players, we've got to execute those plays. So, the Ravens have always [had] the guys; we've always got the guys to get the job done no matter who's playing, so it's all about execution and being on the same page."
On if it's surprising or confusing to come off of a game that's not up to their standard knowing what they are capable of: "It is very confusing, for me I would say, [and] probably [for] a lot of us, but I would say [it is] very confusing."
On if anything that needs to happen stuck out to them from their last game: "We know what needs to happen. It's only a matter of [asking ourselves], 'Are we going to do what needs to happen?' So, hopefully we get those things fixed, and we'll start winning some games."
OLB TAVIUS ROBINSON
On what the team's mindset is going into Week 5 against the Houston Texans: "I think our mindset has just been coming out here and getting better. With injuries, guys have to step up, and I think we have the guys that do that. So, it's just about taking it one day at a time, correcting our mistakes and just getting better every day."
On if the current Ravens' record of 1-3 changes the thinking around wanting to go 1-0 each week: "No, again, I think it's just day-by-day. The past is the past. Obviously, we're going through some adversity right now, but the team and I look [at it] as an opportunity to come out here, be intentional and get better every day."
On what his role of being a leader is with him now being one of the more established defensive players: "I think, like you said, being one of the more established guys, it's just about being a little extra in communication, making sure with my knowledge and whatnot, that I can give it all to the guys out there [and] communicate a little extra. But again, we have the guys that are going to step up [and] play great. So, I'm not worried about that at all."
On what he's seen from the team regarding their ability to fight and be resilient: "I think what Mark [Andrews] said is true. There's a whole bunch of fighters, a whole bunch of dogs in that room. Truthfully, I know how everyone's going to respond. I know how this team's going to respond, and I saw it today out at practice."
On if he is shocked by how opposing offenses have played against the Ravens' defense: "We're definitely not pleased with that at all. But again, it's about correcting it [and] correcting mistakes. I think everything is very correctable. So again, it started today in correcting that [by] just coming out, getting better and focusing on the small details."
On what the coaching staff can do to put defensive players in a position to succeed: "Mainly, I think they're not the ones out there. We're the ones out there on the field every day. So, it's just about playing and doing our jobs in our 1-of-11. We have schemes, and we have to execute them properly [and] be in the right place. It's on us as players to go out there and do it."
On the importance of having OLB Kyle Van Noy and DL Travis Jones back at practice: "A hundred percent, it is definitely great to get [Kyle Van Noy and Travis Jones] back. Both of them are dogs, and it's going to be great to have them back out there. But again, I trust everyone on this team, whether it's them or anyone else."
On if he has heard the backlash about defensive coordinator Zach Orr and his thoughts around that: "I don't hear any of that, really. No, I don't pay attention to outside social media and all of that. But I think Zach Orr's a great coach, and he puts us in the positions to be great and make plays. So again, it's on us as players to go out there, execute the scheme and make the plays when our number is called."
On if there was anything that stood out at practice today about urgency for a win: "Yes, I think it felt like we were all, again, doing our 1-of-11, and you can tell when we're playing that way. So, I felt that today; we're going to go in, watch the [practice] film, and again, just take it day-by-day and continue to just focus on the small details."
On if he feels like the team has good habits: "A hundred percent, yes. I think it's about having these habits, continuing to build on them, and just continuing to make the habits even better than they already are. So, I think day by day, it'll get better for sure."
CB T.J. TAMPA JR.
On what he attributes his playmaking ability to: "I've just been playing football my whole life, and it's just what I'm good at."
On how he views his opportunity with some injuries in the DBs room: "Of course, it's always sad to see [injuries happen]. [My teammates] have worked as hard as anybody for their spot, but of course, [the idea of] me being able to play a bigger role, I'm all for it, and I'm ready."
On the DBs group getting some extra work in after practice and how they're embracing their opportunity: "We're all embracing the opportunity. We're all talking to each other, making sure we're all on the same page and communicating like [Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins] were still here. And the fact that we can go out there and have a good practice with them not being able [to practice] was just a good step for all the younger guys."
On how he's feeling getting more reps during practice: "I'm feeling good. I'm confident, and I'm ready."
