CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters on Friday with regard to hosting the Buffalo Bills, injury report, Shedeur Sanders, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
Opening Statement:
“Okay, good work out there in the conditions today, wind was howling, snow, so the footing – guys really had to work on that. So, I thought that was really good work by the team. Obviously, work week’s not done, got work to do tomorrow, but really pleased with the guys and the details and understanding everybody has to do their job in a game like this and understand what’s at stake, all those things. So, still finishing touches tomorrow, but pleased with the work you guys put in this week. So with that I’ll take any questions.”
Kevin, do you know what you’re going to do at right guard?
“Need to see, really, how we come out of it in the next 48.”
If Wyatt’s (Teller) able to play and be active, do you anticipate a rotation?
“Yes, but need to see how we do in the next 48 hours.”
Having to do it again without Denzel (Ward) when you’re going against Josh Allen, how tough might that be?
“Yeah, as you can imagine, Mary Kay (Cabot), you want all your guys at the game – not realistic in December football. So, he’s trying real hard to get back and you can’t rush those types of things, but we trust the guys that are out there.”
He said on Wednesday he was feeling pretty good. So what did the week look like for him and him trying to rehab that?
“He’s pushing very hard. As you know, with all injuries, you have to take a lot of things with how they look, how they’re pushing through it. So, it’s not a lack of one – two in this case. Just not yet ready.”
Kevin, with the running back situation, Dylan (Sampson) out still, Jerome (Ford) on IR. Rocket (Sanders), is there some desire to see…I know he played the opener, but see a little bit more of what he can do in game situations?
“Yeah, we trust Rocket, he’s ready to roll. Obviously, he was ready to go last week – I don’t think we possessed the ball enough on offense to really get a true look at him. So, if you have a series where you can go rotate a guy in, if there’s a longer series where he can go in, I do anticipate him playing. And when he’s in there, we trust him. He knows what to do, he’s been with us really all season.”
You opened Winston Reid’s practice window, but I don’t think he was out there this week.
“Just all part of his rehab.”
Is there anything different that he wouldn’t have been able to do with the practice window open?
“I think just being on the field with his teammates.”
Was he out there?
“Walkthroughs, those types of things.”
Will you guys activate Deshaun (Watson) or will you let him finish the season on IR?
“Yeah, I think we’ll make that decision when the window closes up, which I think is next week.”
Kevin, I think you said earlier this week with Jack (Conklin) and concussion protocol it’s pretty black and white. But have you guys considered shutting him down for the year at all?
“Yeah, obviously we talk about all those types of things, but I’ll just make sure that we keep following the protocol and doing what’s best for our guys.”
There are many ways to quantify what Myles (Garrett) has been doing. He’s seen fewer passes, pass rushing opportunities for sacks than some of the other guys he’s chasing for that record. How does that add to what you’re seeing out there?
“You guys have heard me talk about this, and you don’t need me to tell you this, but what he’s doing with the degree of difficulty, with all the context around it, is so impressive. I do think you need to look closely at those types of things and how many opportunities he’s getting, and the win rate is probably the most important thing to see when you’re talking about these things. I’ve been really proud of Myles in a lot of areas, but also as he’s working towards this goal, which is an amazing, incredible individual goal, he has not put that in front of the team’s goals. He wants to win so badly. If it can happen in a win, that’s what’s most important to him. That’s what drives him, and you see that in how he plays every down as opposed to just those pass downs. So, I think that’s a great form of leadership for your teammates. It’s not outward, you don’t have to say it, but just how you play down in down out, I think speaks volumes of the type of player you have.”
What happens if he gets the award? Do you guys have something planned or do you stop the game?
“I have no idea. Not my department.”
Mike Bloomgren has talked about how this has been probably the toughest season of his career, just because of all the injuries up front and changing pieces and parts, but also highlighted how valuable Joel’s (Bitonio) been in that when there has been so much change. We ask about it all the time, how much of a constant has he been to keep something in sync with them?
“Yeah, I mean, not much left to say about Joel and what he’s doing. And his level of play has been so consistent the whole time I’ve been with him, just everything he does and the way he moves and the intentionality he has and everything he does – it doesn’t happen by accident. To play this many years and to play at that high a level just doesn’t happen. I think it speaks to how he takes care of his body, I think it speaks to how he works during the week to get himself ready. But provides incredible value to this football team on and off the field.”
Have you seen maturity in Myles as he has taken the route to the sack record?
“I mean, I’ve seen maturity in Myles over the course of time because it’s the natural progression we have. But, I don’t view it in the lens of his pursuit of a record or those types of things. I just view it in how he approaches his craft, is what I would tell you.”
Kevin, the way they use tight ends with (Dalton) Kincaid and (Dawson) Knox, how unique is it for them and how valuable are those two guys specifically?
“They target those guys quite a bit. Both really talented in their own right, so they really have what feels like one and 1A, and you can tell me who’s who, but they trust both guys. They put them at the point of attack in the run game, they put them where they’re getting the ball in the pass game. So, they provide great value, really good players.”
Kevin, Yesterday, Jim (Schwartz) mentioned Mason (Graham) soldiering through the rib injury he’s been dealing with and Carson (Schwesinger) still dealing with that ankle, and the toughness that those two guys have shown. For rookies, how impressed have you guys been with those two guys in particular?
“Yeah, incredible. I think speaks volumes of who they are as competitors. They’re made from the right stuff. That’s the exciting part of those two guys, who will be at the center of your defense for a very long time, and they bring an attitude to our defense, they bring an attitude to our football team, I think they bring an attitude towards the organization. Just they will not be denied from this sport. Sometimes you’re hurting, but they are great testaments to our players, players in the NFL. And certainly ,these two guys that play through a lot of injuries and they’re not nearly 100%, but they will not be taken off the field.”
How did Shedeur (Sanders) come through the week trying to rebound from the game that he had? What were you seeing from him all week?
“Yeah, same guy every day, which is what you appreciate about quarterbacks. You’re going to have days that you want back, and the next day you’re back at it, you’re right back on the proverbial horse. And that’s who he’s been, so I’m not surprised.”
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