LB Jonathan Casillas
August 29, 2016
Q: What did they tell you about your ribs?
A: No fractures. That’s a good thing. Maybe some muscle stuff going on, some cartilage. I’m sore right now, but there’s no fractures so I’m not expecting to miss too much.
Q: Do you think you’re going to be ready for Dallas?
A: I’m going to be ready for Dallas. I’m not going to miss Dallas. I can’t miss Dallas.
Q: How did it happen?
A: I kind of got folded up on the sideline. It was the play early in the game where Forte had a toss on the sideline. I made a play and I just got bent up a little bit on the sideline. I kind of tried to play through it. Football players try and be tough but when you’re hurt, you’re hurt. A couple plays later, I felt like I couldn’t go anymore.
Q: What do you do for sore ribs?
A: Ice. Ice and rest. We have a great training staff here. Ronnie Barnes, Lee (Weiss), Steve (Kennelly), they all do a great job. They’re going to put a plan together for me. We’ve been just hitting it with some ice right now, taking it slow because it’s a fresh injury. As it progresses and it heals and the inflammation goes down, we’ll see what we can do.
Q: Is it considered a fracture?
A: No. I got a CT scan, there are no fractures or breaks, so that’s a good thing.
Q: Hard to breath at all? I heard that happens to some guys during sleep?
A: It’s a little tough. Try not to laugh, cough, twisting and turning, getting up it’s all a little sore. Like I said, we have a great training staff here and we’re handling it, I feel like, the right way.
Q: Do you feel like you might have to wear something?
A: Possibly so. We haven’t really talked about that quite yet. Like I keep saying, we have a great training staff and I’m sure if I do have to wear something, it’s going to be legit for it.
Q: You say you’re not going to miss that Dallas game but how do you know for sure?
A: Well, I’m not 100 percent sure, of course not, but my goal is to play in Dallas. Whatever I need to do, I’m going to do so I can be ready for Dallas week one.
Q: You’ve been through enough. Considering how the summer has gone up until that point, was it emotional for you to go off and get tests considering how well you’ve been playing?
A: Not emotional. It’s always tough when you come out of a game due to injury, but no, I wasn’t emotional. I just don’t like not being out there with my guys. It was tough watching them play without being out there. I mean, that game defensively we played a pretty solid game. We gave up 20, which is a little more than we wanted to do, but we scored on defense, caused a couple of turnovers. I want to be a part of that. It’s tough when you’re not out there with your guys, but you are a fan then. You cheer on and try and be a coach as much as you can to still contribute.
Q: As a member of the defense and you see Tony Romo is not going to play in the opener, do you sit there and say wow?
A: What’s your point?
Q: Obviously when he’s in there, Dallas is a much better team
A: Well, yes. He’s been playing the game for a long time. He’s an established guy, a Pro Bowl quarterback and he makes Dallas go. I heard they have a pretty good backup, if I’m not mistaken. Dallas, what they’re really good at is running the ball. Their o-line is second to none in the league. If they can rely on those guys, which I’m sure they’re going to do, I think Dallas will be okay without Romo. Still going to be a test for us. It’s not like, ‘oh, we don’t have Romo to play against, we’ll be fine.’ No. They still have 88 (Dez Bryant) on the outside and they’re still going to be able to run the ball.
Q: What do you know about Dak Prescott?
A: Not too much. I’m pretty sure this week is going to be a little bit of New England and a little bit of Dallas. If you ask me that question in two days, I’ll have a better answer for you.
Q: You watch him play in the preseason at all?
A: No.
Q: You heard about it, I’m sure, though?
A: Of course, I did. But I didn’t watch him. Like you said, I heard about him, but when I turn on the film, the evaluation will begin.
Q: Is the true test to your ribs playing around with the little one that you like posting pictures of?
A: Yesterday, I went to a show in New York and she was sitting next to me. I went to move her and that was very difficult and she’s only 40 pounds. Fresh rib injury, you’re not supposed to be doing too much and that was the gist of my movement yesterday. Moving my 40-pound daughter from one side to the other.
Q: How old is she?
A: She’s five.
