*On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2013, Redskins HC Mike Shanahan addressed the media following afternoon practice at Redskins Park in Ashburn, VA. *
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On injuries:
"Hank [wide receiver Leonard Hankerson] has got an LCL. It will need surgery. When that will occur, I'm not positive at this time. [Tight end] Jordan Reed still has a concussion – did not practice today. [Defensive end Stephen] Bowen – knee, did not practice as well. It's a right knee. [Cornerback] Josh Wilson has an inflamed toe. He did not practice. And [safety Jose] Gumbs with the ankle, same thing, did not practice. And [cornerback E.J.] Biggers had full practice today."
On status of defensive end Adam Carriker:
"Carriker, kind of like what I told you before, even though he's on the 21-day list, it's a very longshot he would be up. He's doing rehab. He's lifting weights, working extremely hard, but it'd be a minor miracle if he came back this year."
On the timetable for Hankerson's rehab:
"I would say usually an LCL – just guessing from what they talked about with [quarterback] Robert [Griffin III] initially – it'd be a few months."
On deciding between keeping Carriker on the PUP list or putting him on the Reserve/Injured list:
"Either way he's going to be IR'd if we don't activate him in 21 days. I said there's still a chance – there's a longshot, so that's why we activate him. Basically he's IR'd if he doesn't practice so it's the same thing… I do believe in miracles, by the way."
On if he has spoken to the league regarding tackle Trent Williams' situation:
"I did talk to [Vice President of Officiating] Dean [Blandino]. I can't go into detail about that, but it was a number of issues. I didn't call him just about that situation, but I did talk to him briefly about that."
On if he expects Joshua Morgan fill the role vacated by Hankerson:
"We can play a number of people there but Josh will be the starting Z receiver going into this game. I've got a lot of confidence in him. He had a good practice today. Obviously Santana [Moss] knows that position as well. Nick [Williams] can play both inside and outside if needed as well as Aldrick [Robinson], so we've got some guys that we can flip-flop different positions if needed."
On if his impression is that the NFL is still investigating the Trent Williams issue:
"I really don't know. I think what Trent said and a number of people have talked about and exactly to what extent they're going to investigate it, I really don't know."
On if tight end Fred Davis would be activated if Jordan Reed cannot play vs. San Francisco:
"Yes, he would be activated."
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On if he has to remind the players that they are family after they've discussed their teammates publicly:
"Well, first of all, the guys are family. We don't have any problems with the guys in our locker room. I think everybody expresses themselves a little bit differently. What may be perceived as something that might be a little bit negative, I can guarantee you it's not. We've got a good locker room. As I've said many times, we've got great character. Some people express their opinion certain ways and I think it comes with experience. Sometimes you look back and you say something and you go, 'Boy, I wish I would have worded it differently.' That's just the nature of our business. It's the nature of people being in situations, especially after the game, where you kind of get overwhelmed. I can't tell you how many times I've said something – I know it's hard for you guys to believe that I would do something like that, but – where you say something and you go, 'Ah, why did I say that?' Or I'll say something, then I'll look at the film and I'm going, 'Oh my God, I thought that occurred – it didn't occur.' That's why usually after a game I don't say a whole lot about the game, me personally, because I'm not really sure until I do look at that film. Especially after a loss, sometimes emotions get the best of us. I can guarantee you we've got a bunch of great guys that are working extremely hard and I know they've got to answer some questions because we're all accountable for what we say but I feel good about where we're at."
On if he likes being in "do or die" situations:
"I don't think anybody likes being in that situation. You would like to be 9-1. Those are the situations you want to be in where you don't worry about it – you're just trying to figure out who you're going to play in the playoffs. But obviously we're in the situation where every game is big and you want to play your best football, especially with a Monday night crowd in front of the country."
On if he has any questions about quarterback Robert Griffin III's leadership:
"No, I don't. I don't have any questions about his accountability and leadership. As I said, people say it different ways. What Robert was saying in my opinion was, 'I was trying to get it out of there, throw it away, throw it out of the end zone to fourth-and-one.' He didn't throw it far enough and not very many people can even make that throw, to even think about the flick of a wrist throwing the ball out of the end zone. He can do it very easily. But I understand what Santana meant. I understand what Robert meant. But that's men coming together. You've got a tough loss and a lot of emotions after a game and all of a sudden, hey, you look back and say, 'Maybe I wish I would have said it a different way, but this is what I meant.' I know Robert meant nothing by it. I know Santana meant nothing by it. Both guys expressed their opinion. You'll probably be asking Robert here in a couple of minutes what exactly did you mean by it, and he'll share that with you."
On how Griffin III has done dealing with everything that comes with being an NFL quarterback:
"Which I've said many times – it's a growing experience. It's not easy. I think it's the toughest position to play in all of sports. Usually Robert is dead on with everything – it comes very natural to him. But what doesn't come natural to anybody is going through the trials and tribulations you go through after winning and losing. It's tough. You've got to fight through it and he'll learn by it just like he does with every snap he gets against every coverage. It's a constant learning experience, and that's what you're hoping for your guys that, 'Hey, you know what, nothing is going to be pretty, not every year is going to be pretty, but can you grow from it?' And he's a guy that can grow from it because he's extremely bright."
On the miscommunication on the final offensive play of the game vs. Philadelphia:
"I don't get into detail about that. You look back and you know as a coach the protection did come out the right way, so I'm taking a look at different players on the field trying to look at why a guy ran a certain route, and at that time I really didn't know, but I knew something was wrong. It really doesn't matter. At the end of the day, you get it done or you don't get it done – it's an experience. I know you want to write who said what. I get upset when we have a timeout with coaches, with players, me, making sure that you're put in that situation, everything comes out correctly, and it doesn't happen that way all the time."
On what teams are doing to slow down 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick:
"No. 1, they played a very, very good defensive team. They haven't given up a lot of plays, a lot of points to anybody, and I think everybody can see how well Carolina's been playing. But everybody makes adjustments every year. All defenses will make adjustments to an offense and you just have to adjust as a offensive team. There's always a philosophy that you have going in – some people like to throw the ball, some people like to run, some people like to have a little bit of balance. Whatever type of defensive coordinator you're going to go against, people try to have the ability to take whatever you are doing – the strength of your team – and try to take it away. And if they can take it away, you've got to be able to adjust. That's going to happen to all quarterbacks in this league and people are talking about Kaepernick right now – our team's doing that – well sure they are. He'll adjust because he's got a lot of talent. He's got speed. It looks like he's a hell of a competitor and I just think he'll keep on getting better and better, but there's a growing curve and sometimes it takes time."
On why it is important for his message to be that the next game is the most important:
"When you start looking at games ahead thinking one game is more important than the other then your focus is not going in the right direction. There's only so many things that you can do in a day, and whatever that game plan is, you better be concentrating on your responsibility. And for us, on a Wednesday we've got a certain part of the game plan, on Thursday we've got a certain part, Friday we've got a certain part, Saturday. It takes a lot to concentrate just in those areas to get ready for San Francisco. If you're in the back of your mind getting ready for the game on the following Sunday night, then the chances are you're going to miss something getting ready for the Monday night game."
On Hankerson's seasons ending in November in both 2011 and 2013:
"When I saw Hankerson on the ground, I really didn't see until I looked at the film on how he got hit and it really came late. I don't know if you saw it but it was a hit where he was actually on the ground and a big lineman came right over the top and hit him right in the knee. So when I saw that just watching the film the next morning I didn't have a good feeling that something positive was going to happen."
On evaluating players:*
"That happens all the time. We talked about it at 3-6. We talked about, 'You're always being evaluated.' And these players understand that. You're going to get the best out of somebody. You're going to evaluate them the whole 16 games and we want to see how people perform when there is a little adversity. So yeah, are players being evaluated just like last year? Sure they are, and rightfully so. We'll see what kind of character they have, how they fight, how they play, and they better – we're playing some good football teams."
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