Khalil, Derwin, & More On Prep For Eagles | LA Chargers

Khalil, Derwin, & More On Prep For Eagles | LA Chargers

Looking at the the Eagles team that won the Super Bowl, like this this match up for you, is it like how do you look at it compared to other matchups? I mean I mean you can’t really look at it any different in terms of matchups. Uh because I think every team is nameless faces, objects, but uh just in terms of knowing who they have on that side of the ball. Um it’s going to be a hell of a challenge, man. We looking forward to it. Yeah, I know their their line has been one of the better lines in better seasons and we don’t know if Lane’s going to play or like do you get excited for those matchups? Like if you you know Jordan Milada or Lane like I said nameless faces faces objects but you understand who they are and what they’ve been able to accomplish and and the level of football that they play at and so um it’s going to be a hell of a challenge. Jaylen Jaylen is a little different than other QBs with his mobility. Tell me about the problems that he presents when you’re trying to to, you know, solve that puzzle. Yeah, all the problems, man. All the problems. So, because you you talk about just his strength uh to be able to withstand certain tackles in the pocket and so uh it’s going to be a hell of a challenge, man. And um yeah, I’m looking forward to it. What about Squan and the mobility, his strength, you know, talk about him a little bit. Saquon one of the best in the league, man. So, uh, at any moment he could pop a big run. And so, you got to be on your pension cruise throughout the whole game. Just understanding the tangibles they have and the offensive line accumulated with him in the back field and Jaylen in the back field, his ability to run the QB runs and just their scheme in general, man. Uh, it’s going to be a challenge for us. The tush push that they run is really the best way to stay away from that and keep them out of that fourth and third and short. I mean, because I mean, how how do you like no one can stop it? I mean, we’ll see. We’ll see, man. It’s going to be It’s going to be a hell of a challenge. I don’t talk like you talk, but yeah, we’ll see. Yeah. Yeah. Coach Mer was talking earlier about how Tulie has taken on more of kind of a vocal leadership role this year. How have you helped him develop that part of himself? How have I helped him? He said like he’s he maybe deferred to you and Joey the first couple years. Oh, man. man. Uh he came in the league uh mature. He he was 20 year old but he was I don’t know if he was 19. I I used to say he was 19 but he was 20 early 20 and so uh but he was mature and he handled his business business at a high level. And uh yeah you can always see his thought process. He’s his mind was churning but he the words weren’t coming out yet. And so the words are coming out with it now. And so he’s always been there. He’s always been a leader, but he he he met thought his thought process was that me and Joey and Derwin were the guys to be vocal leaders, but now he’s stepping into that role itself. Just understanding, no man, you you earned your right to to speak up and and be a voice um when when we need it. You know what I mean? He’s obviously hit double digits for the first time in the NFL. How much more can he unlock as a pass rusher? How good can he be? Man, I I always I always say the sky’s is the limit for Tuli, man. Um, I’m not expecting him to just stop at 10. So, and I just leave it at that. Monday night so special to you, even as a as a veteran in this league. Oh, you might call me old, bro. I heard I didn’t I heard it. Even as a older guy. I thought you was going to say no. Oh, man. U When the lights are the brightest, man. Um, it’s always special. Always a special moment cuz you know, everybody back home watching and it’s probably the only game on. I know it be two games on sometimes, but it’s one of the two games on and uh it’s always a special moment when the lights are the brightest. Got to ask you about the the the Eagle offense. When you look at Jaylen, you look at Saquin. Tell me some of the challenges that when you look on film, you see from from these guys. A lot of playmakers, a lot of people that can make a lot of plays, a lot of receivers can make plays, running back, quarterback. So, we just got to go out and play our game. Um did you get a chance to look at what Justin looked like today? What’ you say? Did you get a chance to see what Justin looked like today? Oh, yeah. Around the building, I seen him. He looked good. Energy was high. He was locked in from the beginning. Can’t wait, boy. Uh, Monday Night Football, man. How do you uh how do you feel about Monday Night Football? All the lights, man. I love it, man. Ever since a kid, you dream of playing on those prime time games. You dream of just, you know, just those moments. And uh I can’t wait to go out there with my brothers and compete. Uh I know they’re excited. Uh so, we can’t wait. What do you think of uh Tony’s pick and and what did he bring when he’s in the lineup? Oh uh man, we we love him so much. Energy, passion, uh veteran presence, man. Um a guy we love having on our defense, man. He make a lot of plays, bro. And um a lot of fun, honestly. Dwin, I know everyone’s nursing something at this point of the season. How are you feeling healthwise at this moment? Feeling good. Uh healing up good and uh can’t wait to finish this last back stretch of the season. Uh give it everything I got. What do you see when you look at this Eagles defense on tape? You know, they come in here a little beat up, lost a couple games in a row, but they are the defending Super Bowl champs. Yeah, 100%. And uh so with a stat like that, you can’t you can’t take a team like that lightly. Uh no matter what’s been going on, um like you said, they’re still uh the defender champs. So um I mean, looking on film, a very strong defense. Um I mean, Shu has I mean got studs at every level, Dline, secondary, um you know, whatever it is. So, um, true true honestly in the process of still breaking it down right now. But, um, kind of just, um, kind of just still in the process of game planning, but, um, you know, I still I still, uh, feel good about the stuff we have right now, but um, you know, like I said, when I look at a very very good, very strong defense, I’m very excited for the matchup. I know you’re excited to play every every game, but Monday Night Football, man, it’s it’s a little different, right? Yeah, that’s something you grew up watching. Uh, some some uh, you know, um, you know, as a as a football player having having aspirations of being in the league, you always have that in the back of your head like, man, it’ll be cool to, you know, play on Monday night. Um, and shooting now we’re here. So, um, shoot, like I said, we’re going to, uh, you know, game plan, practice as hard as we can, and, uh, you know, do our best to prepare to show up on Monday. How did your guy Justin look today out in practice dealing with what he’s dealing with? I forgot he was dealing with some of the way he was playing. Uh, you know, uh, but, you know, that’s just the type of guy he is. Um, you know, very, very, uh, tough guy. Um, you know, he was still at practice, um, you know, uh, throwing, you know, um, so very accurate. Um, to honestly look like he hasn’t lost his stuff. right now just getting him through practice and stuff. Right. Right now, get him through the week and um you know, getting him prepared for Sunday. Is everything smooth when you cut when you move side to side? Yeah. Yeah. And I feel great. I feel just back to my old self really out there. So, if it was up to you, you you play, but you have to wait obviously for Yeah. Yeah. It’s up to me. I want to always play, but I got to wait for the dot. Whatever they say goes, you know. Did they tell you like the I guess when you were out held out last week like the re was it you they’re seeing something they don’t feel like you’re ready yet or uh I’m not sure there’s just whatever dot sees I know they see more than I can see so it’s whatever he says. So so there’s no there hasn’t been like once you can do this you can play like there’s there’s never like that. How how badly do you want to play? I want to play bad. Just be out there help my team out. Just be out there with the guys really. What were you able to do, if anything, to keep your conditioning up while you were hurt? Yeah, I mean, we got all type of like equipment down here just to keep my routine just in shape really just uh whether that’s being on the bike, whether that’s doing like treadmill stuff. So, just different things like that helped me a lot. After a long layoff like that, like what are the areas that you need to catch up on, I guess, when you get back? Like, for example, last week in practice, just what was it? Was it kind of the conditioning? Was it just kind of being on the field again? What was the biggest area? I mean, yeah. I mean, I’ve been around like the whole time, so I’ve been a means, everything. So, the the mental part really hasn’t stopped for me. I feel like just just being back being back in the groove of it. Just really is the main thing. Just with the way Kamani has been running the ball, too, just what excites you about both of you guys, you know, potentially getting back out there. Yeah. Yeah. It’s amazing just to see him uh go out there and just uh produce the way he does the way he did and everything like that. So, I feel like just him coming back with me and everything like that, I feel like uh that’s definitely going to be special. Me and him going to definitely be special. How impressive was it to see the offense just on the fly having to run everything out of the pistol and the shotgun after Justin got hurt last week? Uh I mean it was amazing. I feel like they did amazing at it. I mean uh every chance he got he took it. So I feel like uh he just did amazing overall. How different is the week when you’re getting reps in practice and you know there’s a possibility that you you might play Monday night? Uh yeah, nothing um honestly nothing really changes from my process other than um I get physical reps other than mental reps um for these last couple days. But uh I mean just as tough as hell, so I know if he can go, he’ll go. Um but if not, I’ll be ready to uh ready to play. That’s my job. When you look at this Eagles defense on tape, what do what do you what do you see as as this group? They’re coming in here kind of a little bit of a wounded animal, losing a couple in a row, but they are the defending Super Bowl champs still. Yeah. Uh great team. Um played in some tough games and have have been in every game. Um really good defense from from the Dline secondary and obviously the backers. Uh and I have some familiarity, you know, playing against them and game playing against them in Dallas, which has been cool uh to uh you know, look back and see how well they’re playing again this year. Uh great team, very well coached. Um yeah, it’s going to be a tough game regardless. the nature of the week. If you’re not the starter, you’re not getting first team reps on a regular basis at quarterback. How helpful can this week be for you in in your growth and development as quarterback, getting these reps that you normally wouldn’t otherwise get? Uh yeah, it’s it’s been fun. It’s been cool to um you know, be able to throw to these guys. Um I’ve said a couple times this week, but uh you know, Coach Sanjay is so detailed on the receivers that uh it’s been an easy transition um for me, and we’re super thankful for it. I’m super thankful for it cuz all these guys, the scout team guys, the the practice squad guys, they all run the routes the same. Um he coaches them, you know, just as hard as he coaches. You know, Keenan and Q and Lad and those guys. So transition’s been smooth, man. We just look forward to the opportunity. We This is exciting game for us and uh we look forward to it. They’re a little bit of an injured animal even though they are the defending Super Bowl champions. They’ve lost a couple. Uh what are you expecting from them coming in here on Monday Night Football in front of the country? Yeah, I think uh they’re hungry. you know, uh, everybody knows what happened today their the past couple games, so we know that they come out swinging. So, um, uh, we’re ready for it and we’re looking forward to it. How much do you like playing on Monday Night Football with everyone watching? Uh, yeah, I love prime time games. You know, you get to u everybody’s, uh, watching you and and the team. So, yeah, it’s it’s good. Trying to prepare. You don’t know play yet, Justin or Trey. Looks like Justin’s probably going to play, but that’s not out there yet. And so Greg told us that there are plays that are Justin strength, plays that are Trey strength. What t what does that do for you guys in terms of preparation where you kind of kind of play for maybe a little bit wider playbook this week against the Eagles? Uh I don’t know necessarily wider playbook, but just it’s plays that we’ve been installing from training camp and stuff like that for just in case situation. So it’s plays that we already know and already have installed. So it’s just brushing up. with what you were able to see of Justin today. What you what did you think? Uh what? Sorry, what’ you say? With what you were able to see. You heard me. With what? What you were what I was able to see? Yes. I mean, that’s not those decisions aren’t up to me, but yeah, it’ll be uh it’ll be up to the people that make decisions, so that got nothing to do with me. Yeah. [Laughter] Yeah. Um no Jaylen Carter for the Eagles. What else does this Eagles def defense pose for you guys? I mean, they got good they got good players at every level. So, I mean, their D line wasn’t just Den Carter. They got other guys on there. They got edge rushers. They got Jordan Davis. Um, they got linebackers that are solid, DBs that are solid. So, it’s still a challenge. Um, and we got to respect everybody that’s out there. So, my last question to you, Monday Night Football, eyes of the country going to be watching. Uh, how special is that to play in that environment? Oh, I mean, you can never take it for granted. I mean, we’ve done this a lot, but it’s a lot of it’s a lot of fun every time. you’ll never take it for granted. How’ Justin look out there to you? I mean, I think he’s he’s working through whatever he’s working through. U it’s not really for me to comment on how he looks because I’m working on practicing myself, getting better myself. Um so I mean, to be honest, not really paying that much attention to him as much. Uh just focus on protecting him. So, uh yeah. Uh not really sure. Are there any particular challenges for you guys as O lineman when the playbook could be, you know, things that are pro Justin strength and things that uh you got to prepare for for Trey strength, Trey type plays if he plays? Uh I mean at the end of the day is the playbook is the playbook, but coaches do try to do a good job of not over complicating things for us. Um and it’s allowed us to be able to go out there and play fast no matter who’s back there. Um at the end of the day, like I said, they’re both good at what they’re good at. Um and then they’re both good at some of similar things. So, at the end of the day, I mean, we got a job to do. We just focus on doing it. This Eagles Eagles team coming in is a little bit of a wounded animal, even though they are the uh defending Super Bowl champions. What do what do you see on tape when you look at their defense? They’re going to be missing Jaylen Carter this week, but formidable defense obviously. Yeah. I mean, I know a lot of those guys got chance to be able to play play ball with a lot of those guys back in college and what you see is what they are. Young, very fast, very physical defense. Um, I got a lot of respect for the way that they play, for their coordinator obviously. Um, and uh, you know, they they are the defending champs, you know, and we treat them with that amount of respect. Um, but you know, we have a we have a challenge in front in front of us and we’re excited for it. So, I mean, that’s just what it is. And my last one to you, Monday Night Football, man, eyes of the country watching. How how different does that type of game feel than a than a regular Sunday game? I mean, I think there’s a little bit of extra juice to it, you know, not you know, it’s it’s a fun environment, you know, at the end of the day. Um, you know, but it is another football game and that’s not allowing the moment to be too big. just going out there and executing is what it’s all about. Um but yeah, it’s a fun environment. It’ll be a fun game against a really good team and that’s what it is. [Music]

LA Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Derwin James Jr., and more speak to the media during Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season ahead of the Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. The Bolts discuss quarterback Justin Herbert’s recovery, the mentality of facing the defending Super Bowl Champions, and their impressions of Nakobe Dean and the Eagles’ defense.

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