Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.21.25)
Opening Statement:
“Okay, really good, what was our Friday practice out there. Very spirited, very crisp. So, I was pleased with that. That’s our first time doing that, in this mock week, if you will, so I was pleased with how energized those guys were. Very competitive, finished with two point plays there in a competition, so well done. Then we’ll set our sights on Saturday at our place. Looking forward to the opportunity for our football team to get out there and play some football in front of our fans, which we’ve been on the road these last two weeks, so excited to get down there to Huntington Bank Field. We’ll play our starters in this game, it depends on how the game flow goes, but between 20 to 25 plays. There will be some guys that get out of there a little bit sooner than others, but it’s really an individualized plan for each guy, but you will see the starters out there. With that, I’ll take any questions.”
How did you see Shedeur (Sanders) respond from getting back out there yesterday? Do you expect him to play on Saturday?
“He’s feeling better and better. So, barring any setback, if he comes in not feeling good tomorrow, which I don’t anticipate he would, he would play on Saturday.”
I know you take it person by person, but even guys like Joel (Bitonio) and Myles (Garrett), do you think they’ll play a little bit?
“Everybody should expect to play, as you know Scott (Petrak), just on an individual basis. We’ll put the guys out there based on what we think they need.”
How about Dillon (Gabriel)? Do you anticipate Dillon playing in this game?
“Yes, yes.”
Will he be the backup?
“Joe (Flacco) will start the game. Dillon will play second. Shedeur will play third.”
Has Isaiah Bond done enough that you are going to be able to look at him Saturday?
“He should be able to play Saturday as well, yes.”
Kevin (Stefanski), do you have any update on (Quinshon) Judkins?
“I don’t have an update.”
Did Bookie (Nathaniel Watson) get hurt yesterday in practice?
“He did.”
I know they’re all disappointing, but it seemed like he made a bunch of plays in the preseason game for you…
“Yeah, stinks. These injuries…it is what it is. I know it’s football, but on the personal level you just hate this for these guys. He’s worked so hard, going through a lot. He’s playing well, so yeah, it’s tough.”
What does it say about Bond, that he’s ready to play after three practices?
“Well, I think mentally he’s very, very sharp and we knew that. So, he picked up everything very quickly. Now he’s not going to play a game on Saturday. But I do think it’s appropriate, safe, all those things. I think he’s ready to play a little bit on Saturday.”
Now that another camp is over, did you like the urgency, attention to detail, all those things for the players?
“Yeah, I definitely, I felt their urgency and they felt mine throughout (camp). Since we’ve been back, going back to April, in our minds training camp doesn’t end until September 7th, so we’re constantly trying to build on what we’ve done the day before, Zac (Jackson). But I’ve been really pleased with the mentality of these guys, and it’s something that continues to grow. It’s never a finished product in that regard, because as we all know, it’s a long season.”
They felt yours, was yours any different this camp?
“Yeah, you’d have to ask the players, honestly. But we just know what’s at stake, we know what’s in front of us.”
After Shedeur’s start against the (Carolina) Panthers, what would you like to see him build on and do in this game?
“Yeah, you know, no different, Mary Kay (Cabot) for young quarterbacks in general. Shedeur, Dillon – continue to operate. I know it’s boring, sounds boring, but we want those guys to go out there and get us in the correct plays, run the offense, spread the ball around, all those things, but nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that we don’t ask them to do out here on the practice field.”
You said yesterday that (Kenny) Pickett will not play. Why exactly is he not playing? Is he not ready?
“Not ready. Health.”
About Mason (Graham), where do you think he’s grown the most in camp and what have you noticed about his development?
“Yeah, he’s grown in a bunch of areas, I think physically, and what his body looks like, his strength, his quickness, all those things. I think mentally, obviously, very good grasp of what we’re trying to do. I think defensive tackles are going to show up more in games and live settings and those types of things more so than out here in practice. So, he’s done a really nice job, and it’s a matter of, you know, this idea that these guys are finished products is just crazy. So, he’s a rookie. He’s going to continue to get better and through just sheer hard work and taking it day-by-day.”
How’s that kicking battle shaping up, Kevin?
“Yeah, pleased with both guys. Obviously, as we go into this preseason game, but both of them are hitting it well here at practice and in the games.”
How do you think Shedeur has handled everything? From all the installation you guys are trying to teach him from a football perspective and then a guy that’s starting now, he’s third or fourth on the depth chart, just all that comes into this transition?
“Yeah, I think with young players, especially get to this week, we give them a game plan, and here are the plays and we put in a lot of plays that we will not run on Saturday, but we want all of our players to get used to the volume that goes in. So, for all these young quarterbacks, young players in general, but it’s a lot, and I think those young quarterbacks understand they have to spend a lot of time with it. We have all those meetings, we have all those walkthroughs, but I was glad that they in particular got the rhythm of what this game plan week feels like.”
You said you feel the urgency from this team, what does that urgency look and sound like?
“Hard for me to say. I would just tell you, and this is – I can’t sit here and tell you it’s unique to us, or unique to this year, or unique to this week or whatever it might be. But our players are excited about the season. They’re excited to compete, and I think they’ve never wavered from the work that’s required. So, we’re not there yet. September 7th isn’t tomorrow. We have plenty of work left to do.”
Kevin, it looked like Nik Needham played some cornerback in the slot. Did you make that change because of the injuries in the cornerback room?
“He’s been doing that in practice. I can’t remember if he’s – I think he’s gotten some reps in games in the first couple games, but that’s something that he has the ability to do. He’s done in his past. It’s based on just his versatility.”
Kevin, we’ve seen Carson (Schwesinger) every day out here as a rookie making an impact. We saw it again today. You drafted him for a reason, but how impressed are you with how far along he is? Is he a little further ahead than maybe you thought he’d be at this time?
“Yeah, hard to say, Daryl (Ruiter), on the second part of the question. I would tell you I’m very impressed with him on a daily basis. Both the plays he makes on the field, what he’s able to do in the building. Making those calls is no small feat for young players, and I think the veterans on this team recognize and respect that he knows it. They respect that he puts in the work, and he does make plays out here on the practice field they hope translates to the game.”
Kevin, every injury is tough, but for Bookie (Nathaniel Watson) especially, starting to really make a name for himself on that special teams unit, how tough is it to lose that? What are you saying to the other guys who are now going to have to step up in that role?
“Yeah, very, very hard, Cam (Justice) on a personal level, for when you lose a guy due to injury. Now, he will bounce back, he’ll rehab, he’ll be back. But you just hate it for where they put themselves in position with all the hard work that they put in the offseason. He’s a guy that was here every day, so that’s where it’s very disappointing. We all also know that the next man up and people have to step up, and in his absence we’re going to ask some guys to certainly do some things that maybe they haven’t done. That’s just part of it.”
Every time we talk to Joe (Flacco), he talks about not taking any opportunity in this league for granted. Do you feel like that enthusiasm shines when no one’s around?
“Yes. You know, Joe’s interesting in that he’s been through a lot. He’s been the starter; he’s been the backup. He’s been on many different teams. He’s been in many different offenses. So, I think his perspective is unique, and I think that he gets to share that perspective, fortunately, to our team, our young players. But I think he has the right attitude, the right mentality where he does take this one day at a time.”
Do you have a plan for Isaiah (Bond) whether he will play with the ones, twos or threes?
“Working through that.”
Did you say Tyler Huntley will play?
“Potentially, but there’s only so many snaps.”
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