Opening Statement:
"I said I'd provide some updates to you when I had them. I do have an update. [WR] Terry McLaurin has reported and we're very happy about that. He'll start the training camp on PUP (Active/Physically Unable to Perform List) for his ankle. On the business side [General Manager] AP [Adam Peters] and the guys are still working hard with Terry and his rep on the business side of things. While on PUP, just like we do with the other guys he'll be working with the trainers to get back as soon as he can. Same scenario as [G] Sam Cosmi onto the side working there. Wanted to give you the update."
On having McLaurin back:
"It was great, and I'm really pumped that he's here, man. He's such an awesome competitor. We had a chance to spend some time together yesterday; it was great to see him."
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On the severity of McLaurin's ankle injury and on when he could be starting to practice:*
"We don't know much today. I'll have some more follow up. The medical side is doing the assessments and seeing where he is at. We'll put a better timeline together once he kind of goes through it. See where he feels at. The one thing that we know is that we have a really good process for this. We had said it last year, if you remember protecting the player is protecting the team. We follow it, we believe in it, and we also know that it works. A return to play and what that looks like. Sometimes it's just a short time, sometimes it's longer. Once we get all the information, we'll put the whole plan in place for him, and we'll take it from there."
On what it means to be a Commander in relation to McLaurin:
"First word that comes to mind with him when I think of him is, this is an awesome competitor. At his core, that's who he is and that's what I think of. Sometimes you think of somebody, and a word comes into your mind or a thought, and that's what comes to mind with me. That's one of those traits. There's good and then there's excellent at something and that's what I think of with Terry."
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On what he's seen from WR Noah Brown and WR Luke McCaffrey:*
"Luke was one that I saw in the spring first. Where I was seeing the year one, to the year two jump, where you knew that was going to take place. You really did. We've certainly been encouraged by him. It's been great, obviously having [WR] Deebo [Samuel Sr.] there. I've seen some things with [WR] Jaylin [Lane]. Different days for instance, the last three-day block was big in the red zone and some of the tight ends had some more ops than receivers. This three-day block, there's more mixed field things, so we'll just take it day-by-day, but I've been encouraged by what I've seen from the newer players that weren't here before and some who are in the development parts too."
On what he wants to see over the next three days of training camp:
"More just our relentless attitude to get better and that's where you keep pushing, you find this connection of competing against one another over and over again. As it goes, there's more plays so the first day, this amount of plays, second a little bit more, third a little bit more. The playbook expands and you want to see who can stay locked, who can stay in it. There's going to be some mistakes. No doubt about it, but you do want to see who can handle the amount of the install as it goes. It'll be a fun three-day block. One of them that will include padded and that's a different evaluation for the big guys."
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On goals for T Brandon Coleman's first day padded:*
"We're not looking anywhere past just that day. Nothing to add. I think just like anything more reps, more time, more experience, different looks. That's our job to get ready for the season and all these different environments and camps and looks and pass for stunts and blitzes. All of that contributes to the readiness."
On the tight end group:
"It's a deep group. This, I would say is one of the fiercest battles we'll see because there's a lot of unique things. From split out wide pass catchers to in-line blocking, but it's definitely coming in. One of the stronger groups. You're on the right topic for sure. Every once in a while there's a group that's like, man, every single one you want to see more and then the next player you see some things. I saw a great catch from [TE] Tyree [Jackson] the other day that was on an out route. I felt all of the 6'7. I saw a good block, you know, there's just different matchups that I've seen. I'm excited to see that play out in the month ahead."
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On the cornerbacks:*
"We'd love to see progress already from [CB] Trey [Amos]. It's only been three practices, today's number four, but [CB] John Jones being a factor in that. Adding different guys, [CB] Noah [Igbinoghene] inside and outside. We really love the competition. What I've been impressed by the inside players, their ability to communicate, they have to set it. A call happens and things have to happen quickly. We're making progress and we've got some excellent guys to go against to help get them ready."
On the defensive front:
"Yeah, and a lot of it is adding the new guys. Let's face it, the NFL, it's a line of scrimmage league and you've got to be rock solid on both sides of the line of scrimmage. So, I love seeing Brandon and JK [DT Javon Kinlaw] battling for it. Those two just keep rising, keep pushing each other and their best also brings out your best. And that's what I'm seeing so far, and I just want to almost have blinders on, man. All there is, is today and let's go have fun doing it."
On the running back room:
"Yeah, it's almost like the tight ends. I almost brought that up when we were talking about the tight ends, the different skillsets, the different ways to look. The preseason games help a lot at that position because you don't tackle live in practice. So, did he tackle him? Did that happen? I can remember [Offensive Coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] and I met years ago at a college awards banquet and he had coached [Former Texas A&M QB Johnny] Manziel as a freshman quarterback, and they kept blowing the whistle dead in practice. He was sacked, he was sacked and Manzel had told Kliff, 'I'm not sacked.' And sure enough, he was not [laughs]. So, I can remember the live work for somebody who can break tackles, that's a big deal. And so, what are we looking for now at running back, assignment, tracks, the right cut, the right read, almost taking them all the way up into that spot. Can I break a tackle and finish? But it's a really strong group and there's some excellent leaders in that group. I mean, they're tough, they're playing well so far."
On his communication with McLaurin during his absence and on if he knew about the ankle injury:
"We knew at the end of last season the ankle was something that he was dealing with as it goes. So, it's not so uncommon that that lingers into the offseason, yeah."
On if this happened during the season and on if he's still dealing with it:
"Last season, yeah, towards the end of last season. So, that's not that uncommon where it can linger through where it's at. So, that's where it's at. And as far as like communication, yes because part of the offseason being here, so I try to keep up with as many guys as I can. When the newer players get here, I'm starting on them first as we're getting there. But yeah, Terry's easy to communicate with."
On his level of concern with McLaurin's injury:
"I don't know yet. And once they kind of put the process together for what that rehab will look like, I'll have a better sense. I just know, hey man, protect the player is protecting the team. So, let's put the plan in place and then we'll tackle it from there."
On resentment between player and coach during a holdout:
"No, I think in that space, what I've learned is give people grace in that spot. You don't know a coach, a player, who's dealing with what, how it's affected you. So, my number one goal is, man, keep the main thing the main thing between players and coaches. So, it's tricky and it's hard. I want to, in those instances, man, with Terry, I wanted to check in with the man, not the ball player. Good news, most of the time with players being around teammates, locker room, field, that is the happy place. And so being around and connected to teams, that's where most of us feel our best. And so, when you're separate and by yourself, you can feel any kind of way but being a part of a team and specifically this team, there's a lot of energy that goes with that."
On how McLaurin seemed when talking with him:
"He seemed very much like himself. Terry's always a serious competitor, but a pro's pro in a lot of respects. He just handles things in such a right way. I wanted to – really I was checking in with the man, the other side of things are there but to make sure in the midst of all that, just the joy of being here, teammates, togetherness, and he's built a lot with the teammates here. And so, I think that's what people like [LB] Bobby [Wagner] and others were probably referencing and talking about him, 'Hey, that's his side of things.' They know him as the teammate and that's where the love is for them."
On what McLaurin can do and not do while on the PUP list:
"So, PUP is no team, no walkthroughs, no practices. It's really a focus of you count on the roster limit, but you are in let's call it like a rehab mode to get everything ready. You can push that training to get there, but it's a kind of a buildup to get back to play."
