WR Darius Slayton
December 24, 2020
Q: The last couple games, what do you make of your numbers not being where they traditionally are? We’ve seen you on the injury report. Have you been dealing with something for five or six weeks that’s slowing you down? Are teams playing you differently than they were earlier this season?
A: I don’t think anybody is 100 percent in Week 15 in the NFL. Everybody is a little banged up. I wouldn’t necessarily say it has anything to do with that. For whatever reason, the numbers haven’t been there. Over the past month or so, we’ve played some of the best ball we’ve played all season. At the end of the day, I go out there and I’m trying to win. Whether I have a million yards or two yards, at the end of the day I’m trying to get a win. As long as our team comes away with a W, I’m okay.
Q: Do you feel like you’ve been finding other ways to contribute? I can’t say I’m an expert on wide receiver blocking. Do you feel like you have been finding other ways to contribute or has there been any frustration that you guys are winning and you’re not having as big a role?
A: You try to block. If you have a route, not every route you run, you’re the primary receiver. Sometimes you pull attention away from other guys for them to get the ball. Just kind of taking my role as the weeks go.
Q: Did you think the way you were putting up touchdowns was sustainable? Did you know something like this was going to balance out?
A: I didn’t know, it’s only my second year. Obviously last year, I felt like it was kind of one of those things where I did it once so I can do it again. Obviously, I’m not on that kind of pace this year. Like I said, we also have more wins this year. At the of the day, if you ask what I would rather have the touchdowns or the wins, I’ll go with the wins.
Q: Can you put your finger on what’s been missing in terms of putting the points up. I think eight out of your 14 games, you haven’t scored 20 points. As you look at it, can you put your finger on it? Freddie Kitchens says he feels like you’re close right now. Obviously, the results aren’t showing that.
A: I would echo what he said. We are close. If you watch the games, like last game, we got down in the red area. The reality of football is sometimes you’re right there and just a couple inches here, a couple inches there is the difference between us throwing for three or four touchdowns and throwing for zero or one. I would definitely agree with coach Kitchens saying we’re close. We just have to execute a little bit better.
Q: You came in with Daniel (Jones) and kind of worked your way up together. What do you see from him? You’re seeing a side of him not playing, struggling through injury, trying to get back. How much of a lift would it be for this team if he gets to play? What are you seeing from him through this very difficult period for him?
A: I definitely think it’s shown his toughness. It’s 100 percent shown his toughness to us. We know he’s fighting his hardest to get back out there. He’s fighting his hardest to play. At the end of the day, when you go out there on game day, you’re trying to be as effective as possible. It’s been unfortunate that he’s been banged up over these last couple of weeks. If they put him out there on Sunday, I look forward to playing with him.
Q: The fact that the last time he played he did not run with the football. Can you guys win that way?
A: Yeah, I think we can win however we need to win. At the end of the day, in football, just in general, people say the good teams find ways to win. There’s no magical one way to win every single football game. At the end of the day, if we go out there and we execute at a high level then we’ll have a chance to win the game.
Q: No disrespect to Colt McCoy, but if Daniel can play this Sunday. Do you think that can give a lift to everybody? He is your starting quarterback.
A: Either way, I think Colt or Daniel have both played full games this year and in games that we have won. I know everybody on this team has a tremendous amount of faith in both of them. Either of them that they put out there on Sunday, we’ll be comfortable with and be ready to roll.
Q: Two weeks ago, you guys were in the driver’s seat to win the division. Now this Sunday, if you guys don’t beat Baltimore and Washington wins, you’re eliminated. Can you speak to that? Would you view that as a blown opportunity even though this is a young group and a first-year coach? Given the fact that you were where you were two weeks ago, how would you view that if it doesn’t work out?
A: Well I can’t see the future so I wouldn’t say it’s a blown opportunity because we haven’t blown it yet. I think that we’re still in a position to win the division. All we have to do is go out there and win our last two games and take care of business. In any scenario, as long as you hold the cards, you can control your own destiny. I think that’s any situation you want to be in because it’s something you can directly affect.
