Cornerback Adoree' Jackson
Q: Do you think you'll play Sunday?
A: We're taking it day by day still. Just going out there, doing all the precautions, doing it right by the book and by the plan. Not trying to rush it. Every day, every week it's getting better.
Q: What is that rehab process like for you to get back out there? How do you know when you're ready? Is it like, 'Oh I'm not even thinking about it or feeling it anymore'? When do you know you're good?
A: It's a complete effort. Basically, it's how I feel. But at the same time, they always say they don't want to put a player in a position to further hurt themselves. So, reaggravate or injure themselves, hurt themselves even more. It's a little bit of both – just following the game plan, the procedure they've got me doing, working out, rehab. I'm out there sprinkling it into practice and doing my best with how I'm feeling as well.
Q: Was there a point in time where you kind of felt like, 'I feel like I'm ready,' and the doctor's like, 'A little bit longer,'? And now you're extra ready, if you will?
A: No.
Q: Anything you want to do in practice, or you think you need to prove to yourself, to show yourself that you have the confidence to come back and play in the game on Sunday?
A: Not really. Just go out there and feel like I'm myself. That's pretty much all I can ask for or hope for – just going back out there and feeling like me.
Q: Do you feel like yourself?
A: Do I? Every day I do. Oh, you're talking about on the field. (laughs)
Q: Yes, I meant on the field.
A: We're getting there. We're getting there.
Q: Were you full today?
A: Was I full today? No.
Q: How did X (safety Xavier McKinney) look on the field?
A: He looked good. I mean, I don't know what else. He looked good.
Q: Does he look ready to play to you?
A: I mean, he can move. He just broke his hand. I don't know what else to say; he can run around. I don't know.
Q: After not getting a shot at (Vikings wide receiver Justin) Jefferson last week – the best receiver in the league – how much are you looking forward to getting back? If you guys make the playoffs, it's either (Justin) Jefferson or it's (49ers wide receiver) Deebo (Samuel). How much are you looking forward to getting back and facing a legit guy on a huge stage?
A: Oh, man. Really just looking forward to this week. Hoping we get the win and go from there. But then again, the next step if we make it to the playoffs is not worrying about what may happen. Regardless of the opponent or whoever it may be, I always take it back to 2019. (We) go to the AFC Championship in Tennessee (Titans). It was a Wild Card, and we made it all the way there. So, I don't want to say it doesn't play a factor. But at the same time, you've just got to tackle the task that is at hand.
Q: I assume with your knee, you can run straight ahead with no problem. Is the problem cutting and having belief that you can cut?
A: No. I think that the thing with that is just getting those live reps and not rushing into something, but at the same time, doing the right increments to get yourself ready and prepared. Whenever I get out there – I'm sprinkled in now – be able to sustain it. I can do it once, twice. But can you do it out there (for) 70 plays in that aspect? Just make sure it's strong, healthy, stable to be able to keep doing it play after play.
Q: How difficult has it been on Sundays for you knowing that if you were on the field, you could absolutely help this defense when it's struggling a little bit? But obviously, you couldn't be on the field because of the injury.
A: It just sucks not being able to play with them. That's the most frustrating part in the eyes of a competitor and the eyes of an athlete – wanting to be out there. But at the same time, seeing those guys make plays, I tell them to keep my spirits high when I'm out there rehabbing. I'm out there itching and working to get back out there. So, that's how I look at it regardless of the situation that may play out. It's always frustrating not being out there.
Q: I'm sure you guys don't want to lose him, but you know what guys look for in a head coach. It's pretty obvious that (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale) wants to be a head coach. If somebody hired him as a head coach, how do you think players would react to him?
A: I feel like it would be a bummer at the end of the day. We built that relationship in the spring, coming in and knowing him and getting to know him, besides being here, from outside and different players, actually meeting him, talking to him, being coached by him and knowing him as a person. It would suck, but at the end of the day…
Q: How about if you were on the team that hired him? Would you be excited? Do you think guys would like him as a head coach?
A: I believe so. I feel like he has a great personality, a nice swagger about him and he's a good coach. So, I feel like other players, or whoever that happened, would be ecstatic.
But it does sound like he's close enough where game 1 of a would-be playoff game feels super likely. And I bet he'd suit up against Philly if it ends up mattering.
Both should be real close to 100%
A: I mean, he can move. He just broke his hand. I don't know what else to say; he can run around. I don't know.
I found his takes refreshing, even if not what we were hoping to hear.