TE Evan Engram -- August 24, 2020
Q: I want to ask you about sort of the speed and the intensity that you’re practicing with these days and if it feels different to you than maybe in the past. Is there an added energy to you? An added urgency?
A: Definitely myself, for sure. Just getting out there with all of the new staff, new coaches, and new offense, energy is very high. The urgency is high. Every day is a process to attack and to get better. It’s something that we’ve all bought into and we’re trying to get better at each and every day.
Q: Was today a good example of all the different things that you can bring to this team in terms of blocking and catching downfield and the various roles that you can play?
A: I just try to show up each and every day and do what I’m asked. If that’s going to be physical in the run game, if that’s using my speed to get down field and get open in the passing game, then that’s what I’m going to do. I’m just coming in, finding ways to get better and do whatever I’m asked for the team.
Q: Joe (Judge) was saying the other day that he loves watching you practice. Of all the compliments you get, explosive, game-breaker and whatnot, how big of a compliment is it when a coach says to you he likes watching you practice? Why do you think that is?
A: I think Joe’s just a very high energy guy. He’s been honing in on us about attacking the details and finding ways to get better each and every day. For me, that’s just my mentality right now. Each day is a new day. Each day is an opportunity to get better and to attack and to empty the tank. It’s definitely exciting to talk to Coach and to continue to work to get better. Like I said, every day is a new opportunity. I just love to work each and every day.
Q: Did what you went through last year change your mentality at all? Did it change the way you feel, like after missing that much time, did it change the way you attack each day?
A: I’m living in the now. Last year is last year. I just know I’m blessed to be healthy right now and to be back on the field with my guys. Like I said, each day is an opportunity to empty the tank. I’m not going to take that for granted.
Q: I wanted to ask you about the defense. You’ve been practicing against the defense and I’m just wondering what your impressions are about the unit? What’s different about them? What do you think that unit’s going to create as far as problems for opposing tight ends like yourself?
A: Oh man, our defense has been working really hard. I’ll tell you one thing, they’ve been real physical in practice. Each day, we come out and compete to make each other better. They’re flying around, they’re communicating, they’re improving each and every day. From a tight end group and as an offense, I know that the physicality and the attention to detail that they have is forcing us to get better as well and to attack those things as well.
Q: Is anybody really standing out, especially from that very young secondary that you face?
A: I think all of the guys are working their butts off and improving each and every day and making us better.
Q: George Kittle and Travis Kelce got huge contracts in the last couple of weeks. I was wondering your reaction to those, and if it made you think at all what you could be worth down the line?
A: I definitely saw that. I think it’s awesome for those guys. They’ve worked their butts off, they’re very talented guys and leaders of their team. That’s kind of my motivation right now, is to just come in and continue to get better with my talents and to continue to push my team. I’m not going to worry about the numbers and the contracts. My focus right now is just becoming a better leader and a better teammate and a better football player.
Q: You’ve had time to digest what the offense is going to look like and everything and what you can do here. What do you envision you being able to do over the course of a 16 game season?
A: I’m basically just going to come in and do what I’m asked every day. That’s being a complete football player. That’s being physical in the run game, that’s being dynamic and flexible in the pass game. We have a lot of talent on our team. I just need to come in and do my part, continue to work as a unit and to be successful on Sundays.
