HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "It's good seeing everybody. I appreciate you being here. [It was a] good practice. We are locked in and are looking forward to playing the game. We had special guests here today for the 'Crucial Catch' game. Just amazing kids who are fighting the fight, and [they] got a chance to spend time with our players, watch practice and hang out with the guys a little bit and just have a nice day. So, it was just great having them here. So, we're all about that and [doing] everything we can do to fight cancer. What questions do you have?"
Now that QB Lamar Jackson, again, had another full week of not practicing. Just asking about Lamar... (*Jamison Hensley)* "I'm going to stay consistent. I am going to stay consistent, and we're just going to go with [what's on] the injury report and roll with that. There's a lot of guys to talk about, and we'll be OK."
How do you feel the team responded throughout practice this week coming off this past Sunday? (*Josh Tolentino)* "I felt like the team responded excellently. They were locked in from the beginning; they have been all season. They had a really, really strong week of practice [and are] excited to go play the game. These guys, they have the right temperament. They're the right kind of people, and I'm proud to be coaching them. I am looking forward to taking the field with them on Sunday."
If QB Lamar Jackson can't go, would it be QB Cooper Rush as the starter? (*Jeff Zrebiec)* "I'm going to leave that out there, too, just because I don't have to say [it]. Have we put that out yet? Who's the starting quarterback? Cooper [Rush] is going to be starting [if Lamar Jackson is out]. As I thought about it, it didn't make any sense. Alright, OK. That was easy." (laughter)
So, QB Cooper Rush is definitely starting? (*Jamison Hensley)* "Boy, you're tricky. You're tricky." (laughter) "[Cooper Rush will start] unless Lamar [Jackson] starts."
Obviously, you added a couple of safeties this week and you had S Kyle Hamilton back on the practice field. I wanted to ask you, how is S Ar'Darius Washington doing? I know back in the spring you said he was hoping maybe by November. I mean is that still doable for him? (*Luke Jones)* "It's a great question. I would say, from my understanding, Ar'Darius Washington is doing well. There's been no setback. I know that we were talking about November or December back then. I haven't heard anything to change that, so I'll be hoping for that."
Any progress with FB Patrick Ricard? (*Jerry Coleman)* "Yes, Patrick Ricard was practicing this week. [He was] limited in practice this week; [he] moved around, so that's definitely progress."
QB COOPER RUSH
On areas of improvement following last week's game: "We're just looking to – we have to be more efficient, on first and second down, especially, and get more manageable third downs. We were able to convert on a few kind of longer ones, but those are hard, those are rare. Just more efficiency, overall, to get us going."
On having more time going into his second week preparing to start: "There's a little bit of a rhythm to it. [There is] a rhythm of how you approach your week. And I talked about it last week, [just] getting more reps and things like that and just getting more time with [the offensive unit]. So, I think there is a little bit to that, and it does make a difference."
On if he does anything different to prepare for weeks with a bad weather forecast: "Yes, you do the traditional [things]; you spray the ball with some water here and there. And I'm from Michigan, [so I have] played in plenty of bad-weather games. They're not fun. No, they're not fun. So, we'll be ready. You prepare for it, and it is what it is."
On cleaning up the turnover issues from the Texans game: "Yes, [just working on being on] the same page with guys and things like that. You have to take care of the ball, especially as a quarterback; it's your job. So, I definitely want one back. For sure the [interception pass that was intended for] Derrick [Henry], but you just have to make decisions [and] trust your feet. That usually leads to good things."
On how QB Lamar Jackson working back from injury: "[Lamar Jackson] is doing everything he can. He's around, still keeping engaged in the meetings and things like that. [He is] trying to get that body right and get it going. He is in here every day doing all he can."
