Transcript: Head Coach Brian Daboll

Head Coach Brian Daboll

October 27, 2023

Q: (Quarterback) Daniel’s (Jones) status?

A: He will be out this game. So will (running back) Brightwell.

Q: Say that again…

A: Gary Brightwell and Daniel will be out this game. Everybody else will practice, and we’ll revisit like we normally do on Friday.

Q: Where does (tackle) Andrew (Thomas) stand practice-wise?

A: Getting better. Yep, getting better.

Q: Daniel was questionable last week, out this week. Was there a setback or something changed?

A: No. They told me he’d be out this week, so figured I’d give it to you guys.

Q: Did he have a scan today or yesterday?

A: No, again, I just talked to the medical people, and they told me that he’d be out this week. So, I told you guys you’d be the first to know.

Q: What’s he doing at practice? We see very little. He isn’t taking any team reps, right?

A: He takes scout team reps.

Q: Oh, he does?

A: Yep.

Q: When did that start?

A: Last week.

Q: Wednesday?

A: Last week.

Q: A long time ago?

A: Last week, yeah.

Q: How are Andrew Thomas and (center) John Michael Schmitz (Jr.) progressing?

A: Good. I think they’re getting better, so we’ll see how they do today and reconvene and make a decision.

Q: Does one have a better shot than the other?

A: We’ll see. Again, we’ll see how it goes today and then we’ll sit down and see what’s best for them and best for us.

Q: You said yesterday that John Michael had taken team reps. Has Andrew taken team reps yet?

A: He’s doing different things. He’s getting better. So, we’ll see how it goes today.

Q: You know that this obviously is a crosstown rivalry. It’s a big thing, especially for the fans. What do you expect it to be like on Sunday?

A: There’ll probably be hopefully a ton of Giants fans there, I'm assuming they are. They’ve been great all year. Obviously, there’ll be some Jets fans there. So, got to do a good job. We practiced noise in both areas, offense and defense. There’s going to be quite a bit of fans there. It's an important game for both teams. Got a lot of respect for this tradition, the competitiveness. Every four years, we get a chance to play one another in the regular season, so anticipate it being loud.

Q: (Jets Defensive Coordinator) Jeff Ulbrich was talking yesterday, and he was saying how because of the Jets defensive line, they’ve seen a lot more quick passes and teams have been trying to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. They’re predominantly a zone team, they’ve transitioned a lot more to man. Have you seen that the Jets have done that?

A: Well, I mean, they have their core thing that they like to play. Whether it's a zone, they definitely have the corners to play man, and the guys to play man. So, again, you try to give your team as much of the different looks that you think you might get. But again, they're a very good defensive front. They roll a lot of guys in. They got a lot of pressure, and they have good cover players.

Q: What has impressed you most about (quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor) in the two games he’s played?

A: I've said this before: he's a pro, he’s done this a long time, he's played in a lot of games. He studies, approaches the game the right way, has good leadership about him. Has gotten the ball out, giving our guys a chance to make plays on the ball. He’s done a nice job.

Q: We asked him last week about the play in Buffalo where you guys didn’t score. Obviously, you were not happy about it. He talked about how he’s pretty even keeled.

A: He’s very even keeled, yeah.

Q: Between him and Daniel, who’s also even keeled, who would you say wins that even-keeledness?

A: Not me. Not me (laughs).

Q: Did the medical update Daniel include any projections on what this means past this week?

A: I’d just say we’re on this week, and we’ll see what happens next week. He’s getting better. He’s getting better.

Q: Has this gone longer than you expected with Daniel?

A: I never expect anything with injuries. Whenever the medical people tell me, that’s what I go with.

Q: When you say he’s getting better, what do you mean exactly? That he physically feels better or that he’s able to do more at practice, or what exactly do you mean?

A: I’d probably say, again, it’s not contact stuff. He’s throwing. He feels better every day. He’s done a good job here with the things that he can do out here on the practice field. Take it one day at a time, but he’s getting closer.

Q: What test or step did he clear to get him into scout team reps? Prior to that, he wasn’t doing it, you didn’t feel comfortable with that, but then he gets cleared for that. How does he get cleared for that?

A: All I’ll tell you is I meet with the (medical) trainers and the doctors and what they tell me he can do, that’s what we do.

Q: When you told us a couple weeks ago that Daniel is going to play again this year, was that based off what the trainers have told you or was that just your hope? Like, you hope he plays again.

A: I’m not going to go back to that. Appreciate the question. I’d just say he’s getting better, and we’ll see where he is next week.

Q: I guess I’ll ask it again then. Do you think he’ll play again this year?

A: He’s getting better, and we’ll see where he is next week. I don’t have a crystal ball with injuries, but he is getting better, and we’ll see where he is next week.

Q: That is a little less declarative than what you were previously.

A: Yep.

Q: So you can’t answer that in the affirmative?

A: Again, I just go with the information that I get. Today he was out. He’s getting better. We’ll see where he is next week.

Q: You understand that a couple years ago it was kind of similar pattern. He practiced for a little bit, and then he was shut down, so you understand why at least we’re wondering.

A: No, no. I appreciate the questions. I’m not going to give you an answer that I don’t have right now. He’s getting better and we’ll see where he is next week.

Q: Do you have a good idea of what your offensive line is going to look like Sunday right now?

A: We’ll see. We’ve got some guys practicing today. Again, we’ll see how it goes today, then have a better answer for you on Sunday.

Q: What has (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) shown you this week and do you feel confident using him on Sunday?

A: He has done a good job. Tracked the ball well. Done a nice job in the role that we are going to ask him to play, and he’ll be ready if we need him.

Q: With the line, would you only put an offensive lineman on the field this Sunday if he could play the whole game?

A: Not necessarily.