QB Daniel Jones -- December 18, 2019
Q: How is your ankle feeling?
A: It’s feeling better. I think I’m progressing well and doing more and more. It feels good, just have to keep it going that way.
Q: Coach said you took the majority of the snaps with the first team. Is there anything you are implementing or testing? What did you do to push the ankle?
A: I think just moving around on it and taking a few more reps. It feels good, it feels like I can do everything I need to do. Keep working through and hopefully I can continue to improve throughout the week.
Q: Second chance to see the Redskins. What are you anticipating? It’s a different scenario for both teams personnel wise.
A: They’re a good defense. Obviously, you said there’s some personnel changes from when we played them earlier in the season. They do a lot of different things, they do a lot of good stuff. Pressure, coverages, they mix that stuff up pretty good, we’ll be ready for that. It’s the same system, the personnel is different, but it’s the same system. We’ll have a good plan in place for it.
Q: The last couple of weeks, what did you learn or take with you from being able to watch the game from a different perspective and now apply when you are back out there?
A: I was able to see Eli prepare and how intense he is and some of that stuff. The type of things that he does and working through that with (Alex) Tanney. Still preparing like I was going to play. You see things from a different point of view and I think that helped. (I’ll) continue to work the ankle this week and hopefully get back out there.
Q: You said you played through a high ankle sprain last year. What was the biggest challenge in playing through that?
A: Some of the planting and maybe getting out of the pocket quicker, changing directions quickly, some of those things. It feels good moving around at practice. Continue to do what the trainers tell me to do and hopefully by the end of the week, it will feel even better.
Q: Is there anything you need to prove in order to get to the next level?
A: I’m not sure. I think it’s showing the coaches and the trainers that I can do everything and I’m able to move around like I need to. Whether that’s in the pocket or getting out of the pocket, I’m able to do all those things.
Q: How close were you last week?
A: I felt good through the week and obviously it’s a process. I feel better this week. Through it, I felt like I’ve progressed every day and every week. Hopefully I’ll continue to do that through this week and I’ll feel even better Sunday.
Q: Would you be able to describe how much you want to get back out there?
A: Missing any time is tough and you want to play obviously. Everyone wants to play, everyone wants to be out there. I’d much rather play than watch, I’m excited to hopefully get back out there. There’s a process to this and it’s part of the game to be able to handle this, be able to recover and get back out there. I understand that and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.
Q: With two games left in the regular season, if I could ask you for one thing that you really want to polish up when the offseason begins, what would that be?
A: There’s a number of things. Ball security is obviously the big thing and making sure that I’m doing my part in protecting the ball. Making sure as an offense we’re protecting the ball. That way it gives us the best chance to win. That’s the most important thing in these last two weeks, is to win games. My role in that, ball security plays a big part in that. I think that’s the one thing.
Q: What was it like for you to see Eli have that moment and see the fans show him all that love? From your perspective, what was that like?
A: I was excited for him, that was a cool deal for the fans to do that for him, coach Shurmur and the whole team. That was a special moment and it was cool to be a part of it, cool to see it. No one more deserving, no better guy for that, for sure.
Q: You were at practice throughout the week with Eli, did you see it meant more to him?
A: I don’ think so, he’s a very consistent guy in his demeanor and his preparation. He’s never going to make it about him, you know you always feel like it’s about the team and doing what he can to help the team win. I think that’s just who he is, I think that’s what you see when you are around him every day and what you see when you are out there on the field.
Q: For you, personally, when you talk about the ball security and turnovers. How fine a line is that with wanting to be aggressive and not pulling it back but still doing that at the same time? Have they told you to pull it back at all?
A: Understanding that fine line and being able to play with that, being able to protect the ball but also being aggressive is our job and what you’re trained to do, what you’re coached to do. That balance and that skill in being able to do that is what you have to do to be good at this level. I’ve worked on it, but I think you have to be able to do both.
Q: Do you feel any pressure to win to try to take heat off of your coach and general manager?
A: We all want to win. Everyone in this locker room is doing everything we can to win every game. Coaches and management have supported us and believed in us. We’re certainly going to do everything we can to win because that’s what we’ve done. That’s where our minds are.
Q: What’s the best gift you have given or received for Christmas?
A: When we were younger, we got cool stuff, we got a puppy one Christmas. Hopefully it’s a good Christmas for gift giving. We’ll see.
Q: Do you have a Christmas wish list this year?
A: Try to finish the season strong. Enjoy time with family around Christmas. I’m focused on getting these last two wins.
Q: Does that last Redskins game the last time you won seem like a long time ago?
A: Yeah, it was tough stretch for us through the middle of the season. We’ve done good things here and there and we have to build on that and do it more consistently and build off the win on Sunday.
Q: You have two more starts. When you look back at the season, what do you need to do to say, ‘you know what’ that was a successful rookie year’?
A: I think win two games and making sure we’re in position to win the games. I’m doing my job in preparing to do that. I think that’s the biggest thing, to win the games.
Q: Have you given much thought to the offseason and how you are going to handle that?
A: Not much. I haven’t put together any type of plan for that. I’m focused on these last couple of weeks and focused on trying to win these games.
Q: You said you did a little cutting when getting out of the pocket. Is there anything you haven’t done?
A: I’ve simulated everything I can through practice and I feel good doing it all. I’ll continue to work on it throughout the week and hopefully continue to get better.
Q: Are you wearing anything on it?
A: Just tape.
