What's the challenge of getting ready for a game like this with Patrick Mahomes out and no playoffs at stake? What did it take inside for you to play hard today?
We just want to go 1-0. It's not really a message, just play football. Just a little kid and get the opportunity to come out here and play the game that you love. You kind of put your whole heart into it. That's kind of what the mindset is. We're privileged. I don't want to lose sight of that. I don't ever want to lose sight of that. Regardless of how grim it looks inside the building, on the outside may be looking like. So that's the mindset we have. And there's a sense of gratitude and humility we have toward that.
What's the locker room and the sideline like when you see Gardener Minshew leave the game and it's another injury in back-to-back weeks at the quarterback position?
Yeah, I know obviously our offense was deflated. Defensive wise, we pour our hearts out to him, he gave his all for us and it really goes all the way back to training camp and OTAs just getting us ready for the season and just being the scout team quarterback and you go out there and he gets this opportunity to go play for real. So your heart kind of goes out for him, I know the offense was kind of a little bit deflated at that moment, but it's always the next man up and I think Chris (Oladokun) came in and did a great job on a shorter week, not having prepared or anything and going out to execute the offense for us.
Andy Reid said a lot of guys are playing injured, they could have taken a day off if they wanted to. What does it say about these guys? That even though you are technically out of the playoff chase, you're still trying to make the best you can out there on the field.
Yeah, I mean, like I said, I kind of look at the big picture part and the privilege to play the games you have, opportunities you have, you don't want to take any stuff for granted. The group of guys you're going to work with, the coaches, the staff, everything changes every year in this league. So, I think a lot of guys here are embracing that. I mean again, it's grim right now, but inside the building, people that you kind of grow with, learn how to win with, and the journey that we've been on, I think we just kind of put it on the line for those guys.
How difficult is it to get yourself amped up for a game that you know you're out of?
I play in the NFL, baby. I've got the opportunity of a lifetime. Any opportunity I can go out there and go make plays and have fun with the guys, I'm going to do it.
