HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "I appreciate everybody being here. It was a good practice [and] a good, tough day. We're trying to get better every day; that's what we're working on. On the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, I just wanted to thank all of the first responders, all of the military, the families who are involved with 9/11 who lost loved ones. That day and since, which is many thousands of people, I want to let them know we're thinking about them, and we haven't forgotten them. When I was in my early twenties, I really didn't remember the assassination of John F. Kennedy. My mom and dad were big John and Jackie Kennedy fans. We grew up thinking that the Kennedys were everything – they were it. They would talk about where they were that day when John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. [I] visited the book depository and saw how close it was, [I] saw the whole thing when you do the tour at the national museum there. And I learned about it because I had heard about it, and I realized a lot of our guys in their early 20s are the same. They were kids [during 9/11/01], or they weren't born, some of them. For them, it's the same kind of memory, and to keep that memory alive is so important. It means so much to our country, to our history. We were game-planning, [and the Eagles were] getting ready for the Giants on a Tuesday morning, and Carol Cullen, who worked with our staff, came in and said, 'Turn on the TV.' I turned on the TV and saw smoke coming out of a building. 'It looks like maybe a little plane hit the building.' Maybe it was some kind of plane that hit the building there. I was watching it, and 20 minutes later, all of a sudden in slow motion, it seemed like this huge plane flies into the second tower. You're just like [jaw drops], 'What did I just see?' And then from there on, it was chaos. Sean Landeta was down there – he was our punter. He was down there that day in Manhattan – it was a players' day off. He talks about running from the tower area [and] buying himself a bike and pedaling away so he could get off Manhattan as fast as he could. It was just one of those days that is kind of seared into our memory. I just try to remember that and for all of those involved, and for all of the first responders now, and all of the military people now, and the police, and the firemen, and the medical [people] who do so much for us, please, just thank them when you see them. Just thank them for what they do. Great sacrifices are made, and they risk their lives every single day. With that, what questions do you have?"
You get an extra few days after playing on that Thursday. Even early in the season, is that beneficial? Having those couple of extra days going into a week? (Jamison Hensley) "I don't know. It can be, and in other ways, you could imagine where it couldn't be. It's kind of speculation. It just depends on how we handle it and how we come out and play. That will be indicative of whether it was good for us or not."
What do you expect from Raiders? And how has the preparation been to face them in Week 2? (David Andrade) "We expect a very good football team. It's a very physical football team, a hard-playing team, a tough team, lots of speed, a dominant defensive front four and front seven. [They have] an aggressive [and] fast secondary who can break on the ball and tackle very well. [They have] just a really good defense. And then offensively, [they have] a big physical offensive line, a talented receiving corps, an elite receiving corps across the board – tight ends [and] wide receivers, of course. You know who their guys are, and they're great players. We've played Gardner Minshew [II] before, and he's beaten us before. So, we have all the respect in the world for him as a quarterback. We know how talented and good he is. We're looking forward to the challenge, and it will be quite a challenge."
QB Lamar Jackson was back at practice today and is ready to go. With that being said, [he ran] for over 100 yards on the ground against the Chiefs. He threw some shoulders into some people. Are comfortable with that level of physicality from Lamar Jackson running the ball throughout the season? (Kyle Goon) "I'm comfortable with a physical football team across the board – whatever it takes in a given situation to try to find a way to make a play and win the game, [with] every single one of our guys competing at the highest level to do whatever they can to play their best football, put our best foot forward and try to win a play, win a series [and] win a game. That's what we're all here for."
Is there a fine line between that and also... (Alex Glaze) "We don't live in that world of fine lines. We live in the world of competing – going out there and doing the best [that] you can. There [are] no lines being drawn. The only lines that we have are the lines on the field; the sidelines, goal line, the back-end line. OK, that was a big one. That was a big line that was really important in this [last] game." (Laughter) "Those other fine lines [that] you're talking about, I'm not even aware of those. I don't know what those are."
Are you aware of OLB Kyle Van Noy – he was very critical of what happened at Kansas City with the lack of medical attention he received. Did you hear from him about that? Because he voiced his displeasure. (Jerry Coleman) "Yes. He hasn't talked to me about that kind of stuff. I didn't hear the comments at all. They were sent to me – I read them – and that's about as far as I can get. I don't know what happened or didn't happen. I have respect for everybody involved. I have respect for medical people everywhere in the league, of course, [at] our place, [in] Kansas City, every place in the league, I have respect for. I have the utmost respect for the players and certainly Kyle Van Noy. He's my guy; I love him. This is one of these guys that competes and fights and does everything he can to be the best player he can. That's something that I'm not going to be involved with."
How much can you take away, like you said, you faced QB Gardner Minshew II last year, but it was with a different team and a different system. Is there a lot of value in studying what he did last year versus you guys? Or is it not all that relevant? (Pete Gilbert) "No. I think there's value in it, sure, because they're probably watching that tape and seeing what things they can take from it and use. In this game, I'm sure they'll think about doing that."
DE Maxx Crosby had a big game against you guys last time you played in 2021. He's certainly a game wrecker. How do you account for him on defense? (Todd Karpovich) "Yes. [Maxx Crosby] certainly a game wrecker, no doubt about it. [He's] one of the best players in football. [He's] a very unpredictable player because of his high level of energy. He brings it every single play. He plays almost every single snap. He's up field, he's underneath, he's into you, he's back around the back side, he's spinning, he's knocking your hands off, [and] he's running to the ball. He's just a game wrecker – to use that word is exactly the right word. We're going to have to do everything we can, but you can't put 11 guys on one guy, you have to handle all 11 of their guys as well. So, we're going to have to do a great job with their whole defense, and definitely, he's the guy you put the dot on and understand that he's the top guy that you need to look out for."
We didn't get a chance to ask you. How do you think ILB Trenton Simpson did in his first start, and what kind of growth are you looking from him from Week 1 to Week 2? (Luke Jones) "I thought Trenton [Simpson] played well. [He] flew around, played good football, [he] did a lot of things right for sure, and he's going to build on that. He'll build on that, and he'll keep growing as a player. Out here in practice today, he did some good things, but he did a couple of things that weren't great, and we'll coach him off of those things, too, just like every player. We're just trying to build everybody up as much as they can, [and] Trenton would be the same. [He's a] young guy [that] should make progress for sure, and that's what we're hoping for."
Since the 2022 season, K Justin Tucker is 10-of-20 from 50-yard plus field goals. Among those 10 misses, four of them have been blocked. Are there any concerns with the special teams unit and distance kicking? Is there anything particular about that? (Kyle Phoenix) "No. We just want to make the next kick. That's what we'll be trying to do – make the next kick, protect the next kick, get a good snap, get a good hold, [and] get a good kick. It's definitely [a] one at a time type of a process. You can't be living in the past, [and] you can't be living in the future. He can't even be living in whether the kick is going to go through the uprights or not if you're the kicker. If you ask Justin [Tucker], he'll tell you, 'It's a process thing.' You try to do everything right that play and make a good kick. And if you make a good kick, you have the best opportunity to make the kick through the uprights. That's what all 11 guys out there on that play try to do."
OLB Adisa Isaac was back out there today. Just how much does that help? And where is he at progress-wise? (Brian Wacker) "Well, it will help a lot when we get him back out there. I think he's making good progress. Getting him out there to practice today was big, and we'll see how he responds tomorrow, and hopefully we can build him in here as we go."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On how the Ravens' secondary handled the Chiefs offense: "I think we did well for the most part. I think we made them think. [We] threw some different looks at them. I think we played aggressive. Obviously, we didn't play our best football – especially me personally – I don't think I played well at all. It's a week-to-week league. [I'm] excited to go back out this weekend and make up for it. There was a lot of good stuff on that film to learn from, and like I just said, it's a week-to-week league, and I think we're moving on."
On if he thinks not playing in the preseason contributed to his performance in Week 1: "No, not really, because I don't think that was the case last year [in Week 1] against the Texans, and none of us played in the preseason last year. Weeks like that happen, and you try to minimize them as much as you can. It's just part of the league, and we don't want it to be like that. [The] guys on the other side are good, and we need to come every week prepared; and I feel like we were prepared, it's just a matter of executing, which I think we'll do better."
On how long it takes to get fully in sync for pre-snap adjustments as a defense: "I think you're working on that all year, honestly. It's something that you can't really take your foot off the gas with, because you get kind of undisciplined with it, and then you're not really showing any looks, and the quarterback knows what you're in, so you kind of have to drill it every day. Coach [John] Harbaugh has done a great job of coming to the defense, especially the DBs, and telling us to hold our looks or to do a better job of showing this disguise – it really helps us a lot as a defense if we do that. We're always getting better at it as we go through the league, but I don't think it's something [where we] necessarily hit a threshold, and you're like, 'OK we're good.'"
On the defense's breakdown on WR Xavier Worthy's TD reception in Week 1: "That was on me 100%. I was supposed to go back to the half; I played the wrong call. It wasn't on [defensive coordinator] Zach Orr, it wasn't on Marlon [Humphrey] or anybody else – it was on me. If you watch the play, you can probably tell that we're missing a half safety. I got kind of mixed up and was supposed to go back to the half, and I take the blame for that."
On if he was surprised by the Chiefs' heavy use of the middle of the field: "It's something that they do a great job of – putting their receivers and their skill players in positions that they're successful with. They did a great job with Rashee Rice – putting him on ... getting mismatches with him. Again, I'm underneath, and it's something that we harped on today, and this past week, while we had the time off, just talked about our leverage as underneath players; if they're going to beat us where they need to beat us at and not letting people cross our face and stuff like that. Which I think Week 1 – I don't know how many undefeated seasons there's been in the league in history – maybe the Dolphins that one time, but every other Super Bowl champion has had a loss. I don't think the season is a disaster or whatever it may seem, or some people may be making it out to be. It's something we can definitely learn from, and I think it's good for something like that to happen early in the year, so we get better."
On upcoming matchup with Raiders WR Davante Adams: "[Davante Adams] is definitely a top receiver of our generation. Somebody that I grew up watching – he and Aaron Rodgers always seemed like they were on the same page. He's one of the best to do it at his position. The utmost respect to him and everything he's done, and it's going to be a challenge for us going against him and everybody else that they have on their team. [The Raiders] have some talented tight ends. I played with [Raiders TE] Mike Mayer in college for a couple years – he's a great guy [and] a great player. [Raiders QB] Gardner Minshew [II]'s a great quarterback; he beat us last year at home. [They have a] good running back; good run scheme; great receivers as well. It's kind of funny with this league, there's never a 'week off.' You play the reigning Super Bowl champs, and then you have a great team like the Raiders coming in. It's a challenge, but I think we're going to be prepared for it."
On how eager the team is to play again following the long break after Week 1: "I was actually talking to somebody earlier – I think it was early Friday morning after the game. We got back [and] probably got in my bed at 5 a.m., and I couldn't sleep. I didn't feel like I played well, and I'm like, 'I cannot wait to get back out there on Sunday.' I literally dreamt about the Raiders game – going out there, making plays and stuff like that. It makes you that much more hungry, and I feel like a lot of guys are in that same thought process with it. I think that's what makes us great – we're all competitive and want to do well. We're just bred that way."
On what it's like to see QB Lamar Jackson make big plays on the ground: "It's fun, obviously. It's fun for us [that] we don't have to go against [Lamar Jackson]. Thank God we never have to play against him, hopefully. He does such a great job of knowing when to do what, and he showed that last week. If you're not going to account for him or not going to [use a] cage rush and keep him in the pocket, then he's going to run for however many yards he ran – like 100-something yards. That hidden yardage keeps the ball going [and] keeps getting first downs. And then you've got guys like Isaiah Likely out there making big plays and Justice Hill – all these people that are making big plays for us in addition to Lamar doing what Lamar does. That side of the ball just has so many threats and weapons. I think the O-line played great as a whole; and that's a unit that is gelling, and they've been through a lot and are only going to get better. I'm just excited to see what Lamar and the offense does."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On if he believes that he's made improvements as a runner: "I remember, in [training] camp, you guys asked me [about] what I want to improve on, and I [told] you, 'Everything,' so each and every time I'm out there on that field, I'm trying to improve with everything I do. So, I guess so."
On not practicing on Monday: "No, I was good. I was good. I just took a day off – that's all."
On his excitement for the home opener: "Just being in front of our crowd, in front of our environment, knowing the fans get to experience us in that stadium. And I believe we've got some new additions going on at the stadium, so that will be dope for the fans. But I'm looking forward to it, man, and I believe [that] everyone wants to see us, especially at home."
On his developing relationship with RB Derrick Henry: "I believe [that] our relationship is going very well – it's only the first game of the season – and I believe [that] it will get even better as the games go on and as we keep playing along the season."
On if running the ball 16 times each game is sustainable: "I don't know. I'm not trying to find out. But we've got Derrick Henry, we've got Justice Hill – those guys. But I'm going to do whatever it takes to win, and in that type of game, sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do."
On what goes through his head when deciding to lower his shoulder instead of avoiding the contact and head out of bounds: "I'm playing football. I'm just playing football. [There's] nothing really going through my head at that time. It was ... I didn't want to get hit. I'm going on the sideline ... I think I've [gotten] hit like that before – going on the sideline [when] I'm about to step out and somebody hits me. So, it was like, 'I'd rather hit you before you hit me.' That's all that was."
On why he really tried to initiate contact this past week: "[That's] a little competitive spirit. And sometimes, when I'll be on the ground, I'll already be falling, and those guys still [are] hitting me, and I don't get those calls. I don't know why, but I'm going to look into that. I'm going to look into that."
On how he felt physically, given his slight weight loss this offseason: "I felt great; I'm not going to lie to you. I believe, someone was like, 'I don't like his weight. He lost weight, and I don't know how he'll look out there, and those guys are huge,' and I'm like, 'At the end of the day, I'm a grown man, too, just like those guys.' So, I feel pretty good. I came out [of] the game [feeling] pretty good. We're going to keep it going."
On his connection with TE Isaiah Likely and when he first saw something special in Likely: "Was it ... I think I'll always say this: The Buccaneers game [in 2022] – I think Mark [Andrews] was down, and that was [Isaiah Likely's] first game – he showed off. I mean, he showed out. He did what his job is to do – step in. [When] the first guy [was] down, he stepped up, and that's pretty much what he was doing [last week], because [the Chiefs] were doubling Mark all game. Like, every time we play them, they've got a thing for [No.] 89; they don't want 89 to do anything. But 89 is doing his part, because he's getting other guys open – that's the biggest thing – and Likely took advantage of it."
On facing DE Maxx Crosby and what he remembers from their last matchup: "[He has a] high motor, [a] high motor. That guy [Maxx Crosby], he's a great edge rusher, man. My hat's off to him. He was high motor. He was just going at it all game. I was like, 'This man here ...' I was laughing with Maxx. He was trying to get after me, and I was talking trash back. He was like, 'But I love your game, Lamar,' and stuff like that." (laughter) "But he's a great edge rusher. He's definitely a great edge rusher." (Reporter: "Was that during the game?") "Yes, he said that during the game, and I was like laughing with him a little bit."
On if he has a target playing weight for himself over the next couple months: "I mean, I'm good right now. I don't have a target weight. I'm just going to keep playing and doing what I'm doing. I'm not worried about the weight, [and] the weight is not worried about itself; we're just going. I'm cool."
On how much he currently weighs: "I don't know – 200-something." (Reporter: "Fast enough.") "Fast enough. I can get away." (laughter)
DT NNAMDI MADUBUIKE
On the reason he wanted to go by the name "Nnamdi": "So, it's funny. If I call my dad right now or my mom right now, they'd be like, 'Oh, Nnamdi. How are you? How was practice going?' [I'd say,] 'Oh, it's going [well]. The team is looking good,' so that was the name I had [grown] up with since I was a little kid. In our heritage, they give us almost like an American name and a Nigerian name. [My] first name, 'Justin,' is on my birth certificate, but my middle name, 'Nnamdi,' is what I was raised [with] and called, and people here call me 'Beeks' as a nickname, so I just changed [my name] to 'Nnamdi' because I just know in my heart that was the right thing to do. It's been on my mind for a while. 'Dafe' [Odafe Oweh changed his name] when he first got here, and I guess you could say I drew some inspiration from my boy. But yes, that's really how it came about."
On the reaction in the locker room to his name change: "It's been good. Everybody is like, 'Oh, Nnamdi. I like that.' Everybody is saying they like it. [There is] a lot of good buzz on social media and stuff like that that I've heard. For me and my family, it's just the same old. Nothing has changed. It's just for everybody else that didn't know."
On how his family feels about him going by "Nnamdi": "My dad was pretty excited, because that's really all he calls me. He never calls me 'Justin,' so he's like, 'Yes, show the world who you really are,' and all that kind of stuff. I've been doing that, but I guess the name speaks for itself. Yes, that's how it came about."
On what it's like to be on the field with OLBs Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo and DT Travis Jones: "It's great. Just like we're on the field together in practice, I expect us to be on the field together in the game. When we're out there, we're destined to make some plays and make something shake, and that's what we practice to do, and that's what we're going to do. [We take] it one day at a time and just believe in each other."
On the trick to catching Raiders QB Gardner Minshew II in the backfield: "Cage him. We have to take advantage of the O-line. They want to run the ball. We have to stop the run, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to stay locked in, and definitely he got away from us last year, but this year, he's coming back [to our] home, and we're definitely going to make it hard for him, for sure."
On if it felt like it took some time to get adjusted in the game last week: "I wouldn't say so. I guess, obviously, it's a different game. It was the first game of the season on Thursday; it was a little different. Maybe [we had] a little jitters here and there, but I think we got settled in as the game went on. We just fell short by a couple inches – literally – so [it left] not a good taste in my mouth, but we're here to go and practice, bounce back and get focused."
On if he noticed a difference in how the Chiefs were matching up or blocking him last week versus last year: "Yes. [There were] definitely just more slides on my side [and] more different double teams. [They were] holding more, but I'm not going to complain. They're not going to call it, especially in their house, so [I'm] just controlling what I can control, focusing in on things I can do and getting it done."
On what he's seen from DT Travis Jones this year and his expectations for him: "Yes. Travis [Jones], he's focused. Definitely, the Travis last year and the Travis this year [are] a whole different Travis, in a good way. He's focused. He's locked in. He's asking me more questions than he did last year. He's really trying to dial in and be the best that he can be, and I love to see it. It's a long season – it's a long journey – but he's progressing, so all good hopes for him, for sure."
On if there is a sense in the locker room that they're excited to play an opponent other than the Chiefs, who they've played in their last two games: "No. I think that was more on the outside. In the locker room, it was more just about ... obviously, the last team we played before the Chiefs was the Chiefs, so we were watching a lot of [tape] of the game last year, and it was just all up in our heads. At the end of the day, it's just [about] the next opponent, and then after the next week, it will be [about] the next opponent and the next opponent. It's a long season, so in the locker room, that's what we're really focused on. Outside of that, [the] Chiefs game [is] over and done with. [We're] focused on the Raiders this week."
On if he's playing at the same weight he did as last year: "I'm a little bit lighter, probably 5 [or] 10 [pounds] lighter. My body fluctuates. It's weird, but I try to stay between 290 and 285 [pounds] – around that area. Last year, it was more 295, 300, maybe 303 [pounds]. [I'm] just a little bit lighter, but I'm trying to stay twitchy, stay quick, agile [and] all that stuff."
On if losing weight was his decision: "Yes, [I wanted to be] just a little bit lighter. Yes, it's something I wanted to do consciously. In the offseason, I watched what I ate, drank a lot more water [and] stayed away from fried foods. [It was] just those little, little things so I could shed a little weight, and I feel better."
On if he thinks about how effective he could be depending on his weight, like former Rams DT Aaron Donald did: "Yes. In our division, I think I have to stay a good 290 [or] 280 [pounds]. These guys are really bringing it, but that's the way that I feel. I believe [it] works for me, and for [Aaron Donald], that works for him. He's a little bit lighter. I heard he was playing at like 255 [pounds], really, but that's just him. For me, I feel like the weight that I'm at right now is best for me, and I feel like in the future, if I need to cut, and I feel like it's best for me, then I'll do that. But right now, I'm good where I'm at."
OL PATRICK MEKARI
On the offensive line's performance: "It was good. [There is] a lot to work on. [It was a] frustrating loss, but it's good to learn from the mistakes, watch the film and just keep going."
On if the loss felt more draining than others: "No. I mean, I don't know. I think there was a lot of hype from outside, but it's Week 1 of the regular season – the 2024 season. So, like I said, it's a frustrating loss. Again, there's a lot to learn from and grow from, and there is growth in the mistakes. When we have mistakes, from Week 1 to Week 2, we grow from it, [from] Week 2 to Week 3, we grow from it and then just get better [as] the year goes on."
On QB Lamar Jackson's style of running: "Yes, [Lamar Jackson] is great at everything he does. We're trying to win the game. I never want to see him get hit – in any fashion – but he wants to win the games, too, as you can tell. So, he's fantastic."
On if the chemistry of the offensive line will improve with more time playing together: "Definitely. Definitely. I think [that] we've got to communicate better and just the non-communication [and] understanding of what we're expecting each other to do ... That's part of playing next to each other for a long time, and it's a part of, again, going from Week 1 to Week 2, [Week] 2 to [Week] 3 and growing from there."
On the challenge of facing DE Maxx Crosby: "[Maxx Crosby] is a great player. He's got a lot of different stuff. Just shutting him down, that's the plan."
On rotating at the tackle spot, and if that's something he's still adjusting to: "Yes, we did it a little bit last year. It's definitely not something that I think is typical [of] an offensive lineman. But that's what the coaches want, and we make it work."
On mentoring the young offensive linemen despite also competing with them for playing time: "Yes, absolutely. I mean, we're all competing for a job here, but I just want to have the best offensive linemen we can have, and if that's me coaching someone else to be better, then so be it. I'm here for the team. If I have an opinion on something, and I think I can help someone out, I'm going to share it, even if we're competing for the same job. So, that's how it is; that's how I'm going to be. So, yes, it doesn't matter who it is – practice squad, 53[-man roster] – I want everyone to be as great as they can [be], because people ... Marshal [Yanda] was like that to me, [and] James Hurst was like that to me, so I want to pass it along."
ILB ROQUAN SMITH
On what the team's mindset is heading into their Week 2 matchup with the Raiders: "[I'm] looking forward to this game. [You] know [Las Vegas is] led by a great coach in [head coach Antonio] Pierce. [I] know their [offensive coordinator Luke Getsy] a little bit from Chicago. And then the defense – I know those guys play well. [I'm] excited about the matchup. They pride themselves on physicality, and so do we, so it'll be a good one. It'll be the home opener, so [it's a] great way to open up the season at home."
On how big of a focus communication has been in practice this week: "Communication's a huge thing. Like I always preach – communications breeds understanding. Each and every play, [if] we communicate with each other, and we're all on the same page, we're a hard defense to beat. But when we lack in those areas, then that gives teams opportunities to take advantage of that, so we just have to look ourselves in the mirror – each and every individual – and know that we're going to keep our communication up to a T. That's all it's going to take, and if we do that, our ability will take care of itself."
On how important it is for everybody on the defense to hold themselves accountable: "Yes, absolutely. I think that's the main thing. It's about looking yourself in the mirror first and foremost before you can ever approach anyone else with something. It's something that [linebackers coach Mark] DeLeone told us – came from more so [from late offensive line coach] 'Joe D.' [Joe D'Alessandris]. When you look yourself in the mirror each and every day, if everyone practiced or played like you, how would the game fair out? And I think if you ask yourself that kind of question, that should give you your answer."
On the challenge of facing QB Garner Minshew II: "Yes, absolutely. [Gardner Minshew II] is a veteran [and has] been in the league for a while. He's very crafty. I'm excited about the matchup. [I] know he's very elusive in the pocket [and] can make guys miss, but we've got to stick true to who we are as a defense and apply pressure. And when you apply pressure, [you] can force some mistakes."
On his takeaways after watching tape of the defense against the Chiefs, and if the result feeds into his mindset heading into Week 2: "That was last week. We lost, so we move on. And there were definitely mistakes in that game, but we're not harping on last week. This is a long season, and we know [that if] we do what we have to do, we'll see those guys again, so I'm not worried about that anymore. [I just know] that this is going to be a huge AFC matchup this week with the Raiders, so we're very excited to welcome those guys in, knowing [that] it's going to be a good one."
