HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Good seeing everybody. Appreciate you being here. Good practice – our guys are locked in for a very big football game this Sunday at M&T [Bank Stadium]. I do want to mention the Tampa [Bay] area and Florida, with a hurricane coming in, just because it kind of hits close to home because we have family down there – my sister – Joani Crean and Tom Crean and her family live down there in that area. My daughter is at USF, and we actually brought her up Sunday night. So, after the game, I had an airport run to go make, and my wife brought her back up. We know how challenging that's going to be, and for all the people down there – our prayers are with you; stay safe. And then for all the first responders and the people that are going to be dealing with that – the National Guard – we thank them for that. It affects all of us."
Adding Dean Pees as an advisor role. Can you talk about the thinking and what went behind getting Dean here? (Jamison Hensley) "Yes, I'm really excited about it. It's great – [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr] and I talked about that. Zach has been in touch with Dean [Pees] really all the time – he's been kind of a good sounding board and mentor for Zach – I know they're very close. Dean and I go back, as you guys know, a long, long way. His football knowledge, and his ability to just put an eye on things and be a great sounding board and a backup for everybody is super good. I'm glad he's here. It's good to see his face out here, and it can make us better, so I'm happy about that."
The way your run defense has played – it's No. 1 in the league – teams are throwing the ball more against you guys. Does that put more pressure on the secondary? (Todd Karpovich) "Yes, probably part of it. Everything's part of it probably for sure. The] type of games that we've been in; the type of quarterbacks we've played against – the passing games; the receivers that we've faced – all that kind of stuff. We just have to focus on us. Not so much [the] 'why,' it's just [the] 'what.' Playing things really well – really consistently – that's our goal. We had a really good practice today, so just keep fighting for that and keep improving."
You guys historically have always had success against rookie quarterbacks. You've got another one coming in this week in Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. What do you see in him that makes him different from some of the other rookie quarterbacks? (Cordell Woodland) "It's hard to compare rookie quarterbacks, but I can tell you that Jayden [Daniels] is playing at a high, high level. He has his team; they built it around him. [Commanders offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury]'s done a great job there in terms of building the offense around Jayden. They have skill players; they have a really good running back; veteran offensive line. They've been doing a great job – you see it on tape. They have a lot of plays that are ... There's all kind of space out there that they've created with all of that mixed – that chemistry together that they have. We have our hands full. It definitely starts with Jayden, but it's the whole offense, and we have to be on point."
What specific things does Commanders QB Jayden Daniels do that are problematic for teams? (Brian Wacker) "[Jayden Daniels] creates problems in different kinds of ways. He can throw it – he's throwing the ball downfield at a very efficient rate. He's hitting all of the quick-out throws, [and] the RPO throws and the quick-game throws very effectively – he gets the ball out fast on those throws. And then, if it's not there, he's creating plays on the run with his legs. He's not just running, which he is running, but he's also throwing on the run and making plays that way. He's doing it in all those different ways."
The trajectory of the Commanders has had people in this region pretty excited about this game for a couple weeks. With two buzzing teams in the region, how do you sense that, or does it feel different to you or anyone on your team? (Kyle Goon) "That's a good question, and I appreciate it. It's obvious I can kind of be excited about it for the fans and for what it means for the region, and I appreciate that. Especially when you get older, you start appreciating those things probably more and more as a coach, so it's really neat in that sense. Really for us, we're kind of in our cocoon – it's a football cocoon. We are locked in on their football team and just trying to go out there and play our best football against a very, very good football team. So that's where our focus is."
Aside from QB Jayden Daniels, what other challenges do you see the Commanders' offense presenting for you guys? (Alex Glaze) "It's the versatility of the offense. They can do so many things well – everybody's catching balls. Zach Ertz, he's healthy – he's back to being who he's always been. They have two really good running backs [with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler] –both those guys [are] different – completely different guys creating problems in their own way running the ball. They're both downhill runners in different ways, but they get the ball vertical. Obviously, they have speed outside, so it's all those things combined."
I know nobody's taking victory laps after Week 5, but how pleased are you with how, especially the last three games have gone, with the O-line performing together and playing well? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I think we're making steady progress. I'm very proud of all of the guys. I told the guys that yesterday and I told them again today how proud I am of them, because of the way they've handled things. Sometimes ... Momentum is a tough thing – it's an important thing. Sometimes you kind of ride momentum, [but] sometimes you have to create momentum; sometimes you have to create momentum out of nothing. In that game, it was an expression of that. You're down to the point where the momentum is going so hard against you, and it seems overwhelming, but you still can create your own momentum – you can do it. You can do it in football, and you can do it in life. You have to decide to do it, and our guys did. The game is a great example of that; true for the offensive line, probably. We're still a work in progress – our offensive line [and] our whole team – it's a work in progress. We have an opportunity with that to get so much better, and that's what we're trying to focus on."
Coming off a tough division game; on the road; won it in overtime. I noticed you guys are big on moving on from this past game onto the next one, but do you feel like that type of game really does build a lot of confidence for your team? (Cordell Woodland) "Well, it definitely builds confidence in a lot of different ways in things that you're capable of doing. It's hard to have true confidence until you've actually done something. Different areas in that game – it certainly builds that confidence. But you're not looking back at it – we can't afford to. It's a tough game; it was a physical game; it was on turf; it was hot; it was just a tough division game. Now we have to bounce back from that to get ready for another tough out-of-division game, but a tough physical team as well. It's been a tough schedule, but our guys are up for it. We're in good shape, and we'll be ready to go."
Dean Pees was out here today. Is he going to be at games in the press box, or in the coaching box or on the sideline? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes sir. Yes."
We saw WR Rashod Bateman wasn't out there at practice. Is he dealing with anything that could keep him out of the game? (Childs Walker) "We have ... I would say all the things that we categorize as being just normal after-game type of things that you deal with at this point in time of the season."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On the challenges for the secondary on Sunday versus Cincinnati: "Most of our problems are nothing structural; it's just fundamental stuff. We have to tackle, we have to get off blocks, we have to communicate, and we've been saying this for five weeks now, so it's time to start actually doing it – not coming up here and just saying it."
On how important it is to limit explosive plays against Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: "Yes, especially against somebody like [Jayden Daniels] and the team and what they've been able to do up until now, but I feel like we've had plays like that in every game, and it's just a matter of us decreasing those plays happening, because I feel like other than that, we've having pretty good games. It's up to us on the backend to get that fixed and go out there and play a complete game."
On if going against QB Lamar Jackson in practice will help the defense when facing Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: "Yes, I think so. Going against somebody like that ... [The first team players] don't go against [Lamar Jackson] as much during the season, obviously, but during [training] camp and stuff like that prepares us for mobile quarterbacks in the league. Jayden [Daniels] has done super well so far. Not even just with his legs, he's done great with his arm, and [he] completes the ball at a high rate, throws it downfield really well, and his receivers are playing well. [Their running] backs are running hard, and it's another challenge for us to come in, as a defense, and get our job done."
On if making critical stops in the Cincinnati game will show the team that they can make those plays: "Yes, definitely. It's just [about] consistency. We gave up 38 points, and the offense did everything in their power to get us to win that game. Obviously, Marlon [Humphrey] had the big pick at the end, but other than that, I don't really know how much the defense did for us to win that game. It's up to us to go back to the drawing board [and] see what we did wrong. It's only Week 6 right now, so still we have a long way to go to be able to fix this thing. Hopefully, at the end of the year, it all comes together. There are some bright spots, but we just have to be doing that more often."
On if expectations of what they want this defense and secondary to be is a talking point this week: "Yes, I feel like it always is. There is always a standard that we believe we need to meet and then exceed. We always talk about [how the] season is a bunch of highs and lows, but you're steadily progressing, and I feel like we've, at least in the secondary – just being as blunt as possible – we kind of plateaued in our getting better throughout the season. I feel like we've had good weeks, like Buffalo. We've had bad weeks, like last week, and I feel like it's up to us to fix that and go into this week and try to right that wrong against a good offense."
On his reaction from the sideline to QB Lamar Jackson's second touchdown pass to TE Isaiah Likely: "I was actually thinking about this the other day, but I feel like we're almost numb to it at this point. We were just on the sideline like, 'Alright, sweet. We got a touchdown.' At least that's how I felt, because I've seen it so many times now, but I won't really be able to appreciate it until like Lamar [Jackson] retires or something, and then they make like a big highlight of his career. 'Damn, this dude was doing stuff like literally no one has ever done before.' It's demoralizing as a defense to go against that, I'm sure. I'm glad he's on my team, and I don't have to deal with it. It's just stuff like that; he's making spectacular plays to win us the game and keep us in the game. It's awesome to see from the perspective of being on his team, but at the same time, I feel almost like he shouldn't even be in a position to where he has to do that where we need to win the game. I feel like the defense should have given him a cushion, especially how well the offense was playing. It's up to us to make that game not as close as it was, but yes. He's an incredible player, and I'm glad he's on our team."
On if he'd hypothetically rather tackle QB Lamar Jackson or RB Derrick Henry: (laughter) "I don't have a problem tackling either of them, to be honest. Probably, Lamar [Jackson], because I never get to touch him [in practice]. I just want to hit Lamar like one time, but that probably won't happen. Or if it does, I probably won't be here anymore."
On what bringing in Dean Pees says about leaving no stone unturned to get better: "We're kind of confronting everything right now, and I think that's a great part of our organization and our defense; there are no egos. 'Z.O.' [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] could have easily been like, 'No, we're going to fix it in house,' but to be humble enough and be willing to bring somebody in who knows what they're doing ... When Dean [Pees] was with the Falcons, on my Top 30 visit [in 2022], I was talking to him for a good bit, and he got to pick my brain: I got to pick his brain, and we were just talking for a good while. He's a great guy [and] knows ball, so it's good to have him here. It's just another set of eyes. It's not like he's going to come in and start calling the defense, but he's somebody who's seen a lot of ball. It just helps us out a little bit."
On Dean Pees initial interactions in the building: "In the defensive room today, [Dean Pees] introduced himself. A lot of guys like Marlon [Humphrey] ... I think he was Marlon's [defensive coordinator] for a little bit, I'm not sure, for one year, but older guys in the room know who he is and have been around him. He introduced himself today. I'm sure he's going to have a good impact on what we're doing here."
On the regional rivalry aspect of this game: "I think it's pretty cool for the fans. Obviously, we play AFC North games, and we play those guys every year, twice a year, so that kind of takes up all our energy when it comes to rivalry stuff. I guess there is the 'Beltway Rivalry.' I don't know if there is a trophy or something like that." (Reporter: It's The Battle of the Beltway.) "The Battle of the Beltway? Well, that will happen on Sunday. It would be cool – I know some people who are D.C. fans – to have some bragging rights against them. Yes, I guess it's kind of a brotherly rivalry – I don't know, maybe Philly a little bit. It's going to be pretty cool to have the whole region focused on one game."
On if there is motivation to win the game in case they run into Commanders players in D.C.: "A little bit, yes. I've bumped into a few guys down there. I guess we haven't played. We played in preseason, and they broke our [preseason win] streak, so I guess we might be a little mad about that, but other than that? No, not really."
RB DERRICK HENRY
On reaching career milestones of 10,000 rushing yards and 100 scrimmage TDs last week: "[It's the] next week. [I'm] focused on what's going on now. I'm thankful and grateful for that milestone. I've talked about it a lot, [and] it's time to move on."
On how he sees the opportunities in the running game playing out this week: "[I have] no expectations. [I'll] work this week, prepare, practice execution and let it translate to the game. [The Commanders] are a good team who are playing well together. They've got a good defense. We've just got to execute during the week, just so we get out there and we play on all cylinders on Sunday."
On if offensive success can roll over week to week: "I don't really try to focus on the last week's success. It's a new week [and] a new opportunity. What happened last week really doesn't matter; you've got to prove it again. I think momentum is a big part. When you're in a rhythm, and you're executing plays very well, there's a lot of stuff you can build stuff off."
On the freeze frames of his runs that make him appear like he's smiling: "That's just how I run. I've been doing that since I was a kid." (laughter) "I know people get a kick out of that, but that's just how I've always ran."
On what Washington's defense does well: "I think they have a disruptive front [and] experienced linebackers who've been playing well [and] who do a great job. They're playing well in the back end, too, so I think they have a solid all-around group. When you have momentum on a team, and you're playing complementary football, that's kind of hard to stop, and I feel like they've been doing that very well. [Their] offense is playing well, and [their] defense is picking up for them and back and forth. They've been doing a great job."
On if he resents that people are surprised at how well he's playing given his age: "No. I don't really focus on what people say. [I] just worry about what I do, week after week, prepare myself and get ready, [and] try to work as hard as I can just so I'm playing at a high level on Sunday."
On if he expected to be leading the league in rushing: "If I didn't, then I wouldn't be playing. I always have high standards for myself and what I'm capable of doing."
On getting a shoutout from Emmitt Smith: "Emmitt [Smith] is just a legend; he's like the G.O.A.T of Florida. All of the kids who play running back look up to Emmitt – he's like Michael Jordan to us. That was very cool, and I appreciate him taking out his time to make that video."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On where he feels the offense is at currently: "We're just taking a step in the direction right now. We started off slow. We started the season off slow, but we're taking strides in the right direction."
On Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: "I've been catching glimpses of [Jayden Daniels'] play on social media and stuff like that, and he's going off. He's doing what we saw in college – what got him the Heisman [Trophy]. No doubt."
On the offense's collective work: "Everybody is just doing their one-[of]-11, contributing to the team and doing what's best for us. That's what's getting the job done."
On if the crowd noise in Cincinnati caused the fumble in overtime: "No. It was just a mishap, that's all. That's all it was. It wasn't anything to be worried about."
On the regional rivalry with the Washington Commanders: "[We're] just trying to come out with a 'W.' That's what it's been ever since I've been here. Each and every time we play those guys, we're trying to win, whether it's preseason or regular season or wherever else."
On if he agrees with Commanders QB Jayden Daniels saying that he doesn't want to be compared to anyone: "I agree. [Jayden Daniels] is his own player, [and] he's his own man, at the end of the day. We're just trying to make a name for ourselves, not anyone else, so I agree with that – definitely."
On the evolution of the quarterback position from where it was when he entered the league in 2018 to where it is today: "I'm just glad that teams are just accepting that now, instead of just guys going through [a] hassle and trying to get mocked or whatever. But guys are proving it [by] just stepping in the league and doing what they are supposed to do, so that's helping it out even more."
On if his achievements in Baltimore have influenced teams to think more about dual-threat quarterbacks: "I don't know. I'm not the one picking the players; I'm just trying to be the player I can be for my team."
On how much of a boost TE Charlie Kolar has been to the offense: "We [always] knew what Charlie [Kolar] can do. I'll say [that] it was just up to him to just make the catches and make the runs after the catch. Hopefully, [he'll] score next time and not just get caught all the time." (Laughter) "But he's doing what we've all seen in [training] camp and in practice and stuff like that."
On if he's ever gotten the sense that there's any dislike between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.: "I don't know. I'm not out much to know, so I really can't call it. Hopefully, I have fans down there, but I've got them here in Baltimore, so it really doesn't matter."
On if the only win he'll celebrate will be winning a Super Bowl: "Yes, probably. But we've got to just win these games right now; that's all that matters – is just winning these games."
On if he's happy with how he's playing and the accolades he's receiving: "I'm happy with the win. But I'm grateful for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for each and every time it does happen, but I'm trying to win; that's when things like that happen. I'm just trying to win."
On how much he watched QB Jayden Daniels in college: "I wasn't really able to catch games. I really don't catch a lot of college games, but when I did watch [Jayden Daniels] play, he was just doing an amazing job; that's why he had my Heisman vote."
On if the offense is in a groove and if that can carry over from week to week: "Yes, I believe we're in a groove right now, [and] like I said before, just taking strides in the right places. We just have to keep going, keep our head down and just focus on the task at hand – just keep trying to win."
On if he ever thinks about how other quarterbacks look at him like an inspiration: "I really don't sit back and think about it, to be honest, I believe, just because I'm still playing and it's still, I believe, early in my career. So, I really don't sit back and dwell on it. So, I don't know."
On how good he feels about the pass catchers on offense: "Our guys are doing a great job – receivers, tight ends, running backs, fullbacks. Our guys are doing it all right now, and we're winning games, so that's all that matters."
On if his mindset changes for a game when the opponent has a high-scoring offense: "No. I didn't even know their average. No, no."
On what having a pass-heavy offense does for the confidence of the offense: "We [always] knew what we could do, [from] just back in [training] camp, when you guys would ask questions about Derrick Henry joining the team. It's a pick-your-poison type of offense, and it's showing. Just like you said, weeks before, it was a heavy-run [offense]; sometimes [Henry] didn't get the ball as much; we felt like he should be getting the ball more; he did, and we still came out with a loss. But when the team is playing when he's running the ball great, and the offensive line is just protecting well and receivers are running routes and catching touchdowns [and] tight ends are doing the same, we're all just joining together, and it's helping us win. So, we've just got to keep doing things like that."
On if he takes any satisfaction on the wild TD to TE Isaiah Likely on Sunday: "Not at all. I'm trying to win. I'm trying to win."
On what it means to have fans all over the world wearing his number: "That's a lot of love. I appreciate that, because to me, I'm just Lamar [Jackson], but to other people, I'm much more. That's dope to be a part of."
On the video of the lady in the restaurant in Cincinnati that WR Zay Flowers posted: "We were just sitting down. Well, it was supposed to be private for us. It was me, Eddie Jackson and Zay [Flowers]. We were just eating, and the guy who owned the restaurant just kept letting people [in], like, 'Oh, yes. This person ...' I almost cursed." (laughter) "I don't know this lady. A black lady walked in [and said], 'I'm a Louisville fan, but I'm a Cincinnati fan.' She was nice, [and] she was cool. The other lady came in, and she [said], 'We're going to kick your ass.'" (laughter) "I was like ... I got mad, so I'm like, 'She's going to be the reason we end up winning.' I wonder how she felt after that, though." (laughter) "She has probably seen it. One of her grandsons or someone probably showed it to her. Just be a fan next time; just let us play. Let the guys do the talking; you all just be the fans."
On if the stiff arm on DE Sam Hubbard was for that lady: "No. It wasn't for her." (laughter)
DT NNAMDI MADUBUIKE
On his late-game sack last week against the Bengals: "It was winding down in the fourth quarter, and we definitely needed to make a huge stop to win the game. Me and 'Jabo' [Davis Ojabo], we ran a little [pass rush], and I got through there and [brought Joe Burrow] down and stopped their momentum and stopped what they [had] going on – tried to discombobulate them – and it worked out. Yes, that's kind of how it went."
On Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and how similar he is to what the defense sees every day in practice with QB Lamar Jackson: "[Jayden Daniels] is a great player. [He] has a lot of hardware from college. [He's] a great athlete [and is] playing really good ball, so it's going to be a great challenge for us, for sure."
On the similarities he sees between QBs Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels: "They're both really, really fast. They both can run the ball. They can throw the ball really well. So, yes, those things ... They both won Heisman [Trophies], so I mean those things are similar. But at the end of the day, it's the next opponent; that's how I see it. As the days are going on, we're getting more dialed into what really [Jayden Daniels] does best and trying to see if we can make him one dimensional."
On his approach to playing a quarterback who is really good at escaping pressure and getting out of the pocket: "Just hit him. Just get in his face and hit him. That's the approach every week, really. It [doesn't matter] if you're a pocket passer or if you're a dual threat or whatever it is; just hit him. Stop his confidence or just stop whatever he feels like is going to work and just try to make him one dimensional, and that's when you can really have fun in the pass game and all that stuff."
On making teams one dimensional and what the defense is doing to improve against the pass: "Just us working it out in practice and just trying to get better. We're not perfect, but we're working our way to get to where we know we can get to. But [we're] just taking it one day at a time and just trying to really slow the offenses down – our opponent's."
On his perspective of this local rivalry: "My take is it's going to be loud. There are going to be a bunch of [Commanders] fans here. Obviously, it's going to be rocking. It's going to be a great game. It's going to be high excitement, but I feel like all of us in the locker room, we're not really dialed into all of that; we're dialed into just executing the plays and just making it about us, at the end of the day."
