Head Coach Mike Macdonald Recaps Week 8, Provides Injury Updates

Mike Macdonald (0:00)

All right, good to see everybody.

Six day week, so today's recovery day, we'll be walking through this afternoon, and then kind of go through the rest of our process. We'll see how tomorrow goes based off of today in terms of the plan. But for all intents and purposes, it's a Wednesday at this point, so off we go. I did want to make an announcement before Sam injured his quad at the end of the game, so Sam's gonna be out this week. It'll be week to week for Sam, he's not gonna go on IR.

Plan is for Drew to start, Jalen will be ready to back up. Drew's still working back from his elbow, so we'll work through that process this week, so we'll be getting both guys ready to play. Got full confidence in those guys, and we have a plan in place, so we're gonna go execute, but in terms of Sam, this guy, he's tough as nails. I think the second play of the game, I'm just asking if I could share this, but he cracked his rib on the second play of the game. So playing the whole game without even making a name of it and playing his tail off and competing, I just think it's worth noting how tough this guy is, and he'll be back soon and later, I'm sure. He said it was a quad injury? Yeah, it's a quad, right?

Bob (1:22)

Do you know when that happened?

Mike Macdonald (1:23)

I think it was right at the end. I think it was the last drive.

Bob (1:29)

What is Drew able to do and not do with the elbow right now? Like, how is he coming along there?

Mike Macdonald (1:36)

He's able to throw.

How much we're working through that right now, but that's the best way to put it. I mean, it's a different injury than Sam had in like the playoffs. Like, he's going to throw the ball throughout the week, but we're just going to manage it. You know, he's not going to take 8,000 throws.

SPEAKER_3 (1:55)

Do you need to add another quarterback this week?

Mike Macdonald (1:57)

We might be adding a quarterback.

Bob (1:59)

Jalen will obviously get a lot of reps as well.

Mike Macdonald (2:02)

Yeah, yeah, they'll be splitting reps for a certain amount of time. I think we just got to take it kind of day by day at this point.

But Jalen will take some practice reps as well. Today is a slow day, so it's kind of hard to tell. We have a plan for Drew to get some live throws later, but I think it's just one of those things like you just have to kind of work it day in, you know, day in, day out and figure what's the best way to get into Sunday.

SPEAKER_4 (2:27)

Do you expect Charles Cross, Rashid Shaheed, Leonard Williams?

Mike Macdonald (2:31)

Yeah, so the rest of those guys, the guys that missed the last game or didn't finish the game, really no update on that. They're solo early.

I'd say they all have a chance to play. We haven't rolled anybody out yet, so, you know, we'll see.

SPEAKER_5 (2:45)

What was Lock's injury and how much has he thrown in the last?

Mike Macdonald (2:50)

It's an elbow injury. All the fancy names, I can't explain that to you, but he hasn't thrown much.

SPEAKER_5 (2:56)

And he got it when he was playing the two games for in September?

Mike Macdonald (3:00)

No, he got it, like, we practiced in the rain and he got it in a, just kind of, it got aggravated in a rain practice.

Bob (3:11)

Just to clarify, you say he's not going on IR, so just week to week he could play the following week? Yeah.

SPEAKER_4 (3:20)

Gray's able, obviously, big ass to have a young player move from one side to the other. And how do you guys kind of think about, you have Anthony there that's got some experience on the right side, or is it better for Gray to get the experience in live reps? How do you guys kind of assess that situation?

Mike Macdonald (3:36)

I think we had to make the decision and go. So we're committed to that. I mean, we're confident in AB going and play good football for us. But also, Gray's going to continue to get better as well.

You understand that there's a process when you, we've played a lot of games with our offensive line attack, maybe missing a guy here or there. You know, Charles missed a couple of games last year, but a lot of consistency and continuity at our offensive line position, which has been great. But I think it's worth it when you bring in a guy like Quenton to add to the group. And we feel like that's going to be a, I think he's one of those guys that's going to be a force multiplier for our group, not just our offensive line, but really our whole offensive unit and our football team. So it's worth that initial investment. Obviously, you want it to go quicker than not. But I think you also have to understand that it's going to be, there is a process involved. The guys are working their tails off. I mean, again, they're constantly, they're watching tape, they're getting after it, they're putting in the time, they're putting in the investment. So I got all the confidence in the world that we're going to have a heck of an offensive line unit.