“When you’re trying to work with a young player and see how they do — and certainly a player that’s missed some time— that’s the right approach, rather than just throw them in full,” McDermott said.
Perhaps surprising, Hairston played while not having a full week of practice as he was limited all three days and was activated from IR Saturday.
“A little bit (surprising), but not totally taken back. We had a somewhat of a window of a rep count that we wanted to try and land in. And it’s not easy, due to drive length and whatnot — and then how the game goes,” McDermott said. “I thought the medical staff did a good job getting him to the point where he was able to get activated and then practice the way he was.”
Hairston made one tackle and it was a clean one, a solo open-field hit to hold a reception to a short gain.
“Jahmile Addae and Joe Dana did a great job getting him in situations to kind of prepare him for that,” DC Bobby Babich said. “I think that allowed him to breathe a little bit. There was his first action there, but he was pretty good in coverage.”