Head Coach Mike Macdonald Gives Final Updates Ahead Of Week 8 vs. Bears

Mike Macdonald (0:02)

Taking no questions on injuries. No, I believe the injury list just came out, so hopefully that clears everything up, but I'm sure there'll be more injury questions, which is okay.

SPEAKER_2 (0:16)

What did you see from Jedarian and Zach this week? The amount of work that they were able to get?

Mike Macdonald (0:22)

Guys have done a really good job. Our team's done a good job.

Having Quentin come in in the mix too, like in shaking up the offensive line a little bit, I thought just had a really good process. And I think the message to the team too is also, hey, it's Friday for us. So there's still time before the game where really our focus should shift to really dial in the details and making sure our kind of mind, body, spirits are in the best spot going into the game.

SPEAKER_3 (0:52)

What's the plan for how Zach and Jedarian will be utilized in this game?

Mike Macdonald (0:58)

Well, we have a plan for Zach and with JD, I think if we were to make a move, I think that would happen on Monday to my knowledge. So we'll see if that's what we do. We got some things going on roster wise that we're working through right now. So we have a plan for Zach.

SPEAKER_2 (1:16)

With Nelson, obviously he's coming in, catching up in a hurry. What did you see out of him and how the line looked with him in there?

Mike Macdonald (1:23)

Yeah, pretty much on brand of how you expect them to go. I think it's pretty cool that it's great to see him in Seahawk year, you know. But I'm excited to see our guys play. I think they've done a great job this week with the changes and really the focus on being able to stack off of last week and really the rest of the year.

You know, we'll have to figure out some solutions as the game goes on, going against a really good team. And that's part of the course and we'll go from there.

SPEAKER_3 (1:56)

Just to clarify, so Jadarian doesn't have an injury designation. So if he's not activated, it's not injury related on Monday. Could be some other reason.

Mike Macdonald (2:08)

Yeah, we're just going to let the transaction speak for itself on that one.

SPEAKER_4 (2:15)

How does Rashid's league go? Obviously he's out, but how's he progressing from all of it?

Mike Macdonald (2:20)

He's doing well, doing well. He just wasn't able to make it to the game, obviously. And we'll see next week. But he's done a great job.

SPEAKER_2 (2:27)

Do you have a sense that it's just this game or is it a couple of weeks kind of thing?

Mike Macdonald (2:31)

Yeah, right now he's out this game and we'll recalibrate next week.

SPEAKER_3 (2:35)

Do you do anything extra with all the shuffling on the line, new left tackle, new left guard, new right guard, as far as procedural operational to prepare for that?

Mike Macdonald (2:45)

Well, I just think, you know, our coaches did a great job of calibrating, you know, what's easy transition for Quenton, what's kind of a stretch, how much of the stretch do we want to go for this week and finding what the right medium is between what we can go out and nail and execute, versus what we already want to be able to do. So, this is problem solving, you know, one day at a time.

SPEAKER_2 (3:15)

With Nelson coming in, obviously, he has so much to learn from the Seahawks' point of view.

SPEAKER_5 (3:19)

But what has he taught his teammates with all the veteran experience that he's brought in?

Mike Macdonald (3:23)

I'm not sure yet. He's only been here a few days. I'm sure that'll continue.

It's just a process, you know, I think, but I think right now, like, there's a little bit of, like, a shock that, hey, this happened, and then I think now you're feeling really the excitement from both parties of understanding, like, how much is going to make our club better, you know, so. We're a few days in, for hopefully a longer relationship, and I can tell you just how psyched we are that he's here. It's really cool.

SPEAKER_3 (3:55)

I know that Elijah has been out for a little bit now, and Nick Caller up two totally different kinds of tight ends.

Did you notice his impact in that game? Nick Caller.

Mike Macdonald (4:06)

Yeah, Nick, someone that's done a great job when he's had his opportunities with us, and we expect the same, just moving forward. He's a physical player, and I think probably underrated ability to catch the ball and get forward, you know, move forward, but yeah, I mean, I'm thinking, you know, the duo play that hit at the end that we scored on, he made a great block on and wish it got lined up a little quicker, but he made up for it.