Just injury notes from the game. Kearis Jackson had a knee, did not return. Does not look bad. I will get further information on the eval in the coming days, but it doesn't seem like its serious. Jabari Small was evaluated for a concussion, did not return. And then, TK McLendon left with a foot, did not return. We'll get more information on that in the next couple of days. Other than that, we came out relatively clean. We had a lot of guys play a lot of football tonight, which was great. But they had to fight through it a bit. It was a lot. A lot of guys played a full game which they are not used to playing. So, great effort from a bunch of guys. We got great situational football today to learn from, which was outstanding in both end of the half and end of the game. And then, to win the game on a walk-off field goal, to get in position was outstanding. And then obviously, (Brayden) Narveson hitting from 59 was something that I didn't have on my bingo card today. So, that was really, really cool to see. Jaylen Harrell with two sacks was really great to see as well. He played a lot of football tonight. I thought we did a really nice job possessing the football too. We managed to chew up some clock and keep the ball on our possession. Penalties are what hurt us today. That was tough. Especially early, had a bunch of third down penalties that knocked us into some long yardage that kind of set us back early in the game, in that first quarter in particular. Really both sides on third down, offense and defense, we had some issues. Got to clean those up. But overall, I told the guys in the locker room that people like to say the preseason doesn't mean anything. Well, it means something to us. It means something to the guys that are playing, and so to go out there and play well and find a way to win a game, that matters to us. Again, won't count for the standings at the end of the year, but it does matter and it's important to see those guys play well and leave on a successful note off the field.
The offensive line had five penalties with one declined. How concerning is it that the backups are committing that many?
Anytime you can hit five of them up front, its concerning. That wasn't very clean on our offensive line up front. Things to take a look at, hand placement, things like that. But yeah, five penalties and having one declined, that's not great.
How would you assess, without seeing the film obviously, the play of Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis?
They both did really good things. They both completed the ball for the most part. They didn't put the ball in harm's way too much. I mean, Malik (Willis) had a high ball that got tipped for the interception that could have lost the game for us at that moment. But, I thought both of them did well, they operated well. They led the team down and scored points, both of them. So, I'll watch the film a little bit further with some more detail. I can give you some better answers once I watch it. But off the field, my initial impression was both of them played well enough.
You alluded to the end of half operation. Just how important is that for you to get to go through that process?
Hugely important for me. I want as much of that as I could possibly get. Just managing timeouts, managing situations. I'm kind of pissed at myself. In the first half, where I took that timeout, I think it was maybe 10 or 12 seconds left on the clock. I should have taken it all the way down, and that might have been the difference in them being able to kick a field goal or not. So, learning lessons as we go. But I should have waited longer to take the timeout. But yeah, it was great.
You rallied twice. How much fun was it to watch that? How cool was it to see guys that maybe weren't in uniform celebrate that?
That's the sign of a really connected team to me. That's one of the things that we preach. And just having those guys up and into it and cheering on the guys that they work with every day, and work hard, and go against on a regular basis. To see that kind of energy and excitement in a preseason game is going to serve us well. It's important to see that. So, I'm happy they did, and I had plenty of energy too when he made that field goal to win. So, it was exciting.
59 from Brayden Narveson and you said you didn't have it on your bingo card. It looked like it had a lot more on it. What kind of leg has he shown in practice? What did you think is range was?
He's shown that range. That part wasn't surprising. I was getting ready to punt it, and Colt (Anderson) kind of yells at me, he goes 'Kick it, kick, kick it,' and I was like, alright, we'll kick it. I'll give the kid get a shot at it from 59. Colt had a ton of trust in him. Obviously works with him very closely and understands the range that he has and where he could be accurate from. Great call by Colt to push me to kicking it, and unbelievable execution. 59 yards is no small feat. That's a grown man kick in the NFL. I mean, it's not easy to hit. So, that was great for him to put on tape for himself, too. So, really cool to see.
How do you see the running back competition? Hassan Haskins didn't play any offense in the first half. But he got in the second, how do you see he and Julius Chestnut?
I think it's still a competition. I think Julius (Chestnut) has played well for himself. He's put himself out there. Played well overall, done all the things we ask the running back to do. So, he got the first carries, and then I think Jabari Small's played really well too. We've got some competition there, and I think that those guys have played probably a little bit better than Hassan (Haskins) at this point. Obviously, Hassan is a special teams demon and that matters too. So, that competition is ongoing. We've got another week to go.
Do you feel like Jha'Quan Jackson built on a good week? Was Kyle Philips out because of his hamstring and is he going to miss time because of that?
Yeah, Kyle's (Philips) out with the hamstring. I don't know when he'll be back. I'm hopeful that he might get back for practice, potentially the game. But we wanted to make sure that we got a really good long look at Jha'Quan (Jackson) as a returner, obviously with how he returned last week and what we've seen in practice and his performance at receiver in the game. He earned himself a really long look, and we want to make sure what we saw last week was real. And he has continued to stack competitive days as a receiver and a returner. That's a really positive step for him, and it's really good to see him make some plays in the passing game as well.
David Martin-Robinson seemed to step up big in that fourth quarter for you. What does he fall in that tight end hierarchy?
Yeah, he's making a push. He's really done a nice job for an undrafted player. He's been a nice surprise for us. He's got a really unique ability because he's a really smooth runner and smooth catcher. But he's also physical and he's strong, so he can do a lot of things for us, particularly special teams is one of them when you're fighting for that third and fourth tight end spot. Really, really pleased with where he's at and what he's shown us, and excited about his potential as a tight end. I think he's shown that every week now.
Do you have a better feel for rookies Jaylen Harrel and Isaiah Iton on the defensive line? Are you building depth there?
Yeah. Building depth with those guys is always going to be important. It was good to see Jaylen (Harrell) with some production tonight. That was great. I'll know more when I watch tape tomorrow, with Isaiah (Iton) as well. But anytime that you've got some depth you can build and guys—that even if they don't make your roster—are practice squad players that you feel good about elevating if you get in a pinch, those are the guys you're looking for and as many of those as you can find. So, I thought those guys played hard and played well tonight.
Nick Folk is automatic, but he can't hit from 59 yards. Does that make you take another look at that spot?
At this point, no, I don't think so. But I think it was good to see a hit from 59 and Narveson hit it. So no, I don't think that changes much at the current moment. But it was really a positive development for us and for him that he can put that on tape and in live action to hit that field goal.
As the news came out about Arden Key, what are your thoughts on that suspension being overturned?
Same as they were the last time we talked about it. It's a league matter, and until we get any kind of official word from the league, then I'll refrain from comment, just like I did last time. So, that's about all I can answer on that one.
Throughout the whole time, have you held hope that it would get overturned?
It was in the league's hands for the appeal process. There's nothing I can do or say or we can do as an organization. It's in their hands officially. So, you just wait and yeah, you're hopeful, of course, but you wait and you see what happens.
It was a little surprising to see as much of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine tonight as we did. What was the thought process behind him playing a half?
It was just good to see him play. We wanted to put him in position to make some plays for us, which he did. It was good to see him get in the end zone. Not that I need to see a lot from NWI (Nick Westbrook-Ikhine). I know what he's capable of and how productive he's been. But when you've got as many guys as we have, he's kind of forced into action. So, he's got to be able to play a little bit, and hopefully it allowed the quarterbacks to play well. Sometimes there's a comfort level in having some of those types of players out there with you. And that's just kind of where you're.
Is him playing and Treylon Burks not a reflection of hierarchy? Or is that just different guys, different situations?
Different guys, different situations. Different positions too.
With injuries kind of happened at the inside linebacker spot, obviously Chance Campbell continues to build off the momentum in practices and games, what else does he need to show you or do you feel like you're seeing a lot from him?
Seeing a lot. I think he's really done a nice job of stacking competitive performances, showing that he's capable of being one of those backup inside linebackers that's contributing on special teams. I mean, he flies around the field, he plays really hard. He's got a ton of energy. So, seeing a lot of great things from him in two games, and he's made a really strong case for himself.
Are you seeing a lot from that group of corners with Tre Avery, Jarvin Brownlee Jr., Eric Garror, Gabe Jeudy-Lally, these guys. Are they contributing to your liking so far?
Yeah, I think that preseason can be challenging for those guys. They're going up against different offenses and sometimes the balls get over their head. I thought they've competed really well though. That's the key point. When you're evaluating those guys, it's more about are they doing what they're supposed to do? Are their eyes right? Is the technique right? Are they being competitive on the football? And so far, I've been pretty pleased with what we've seen there. I'm sure there's plenty of room for improvement, it's not perfect. But, I've been, particularly with Jarvis (Brownlee Jr.), been really happy with what we've seen out of him.
