Q. With all the uncertainty around the quarterback spot, who's going to take most of the first team reps at practice today?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, we'll go out there. We don't usually tell you guys what reps or anything like that, but we've got a plan of what we want to do. We'll see how today goes and how warmups go and how individual goes in 7-on-7 and then team.
Q. What do you remember about Ian Book, and what compelled you to bring him back?
NICK SIRIANNI: Ian, obviously highly productive college career that we had opportunity to get him after he had played a little bit in New Orleans. Really enjoyed our time with him when he was here and had some high hopes for him.
Obviously it wasn't -- we didn't keep him around, but that was for different circumstances as far as other guys stepping up and playing good.
Yeah, really liked him. I just liked the person, liked the player, has played and started a game in the NFL and had played good football for us in the preseason. So familiar with a lot of things that are here and excited to have him.
Q. Is it fair to say that his signing is related to the uncertainty of Jalen's status?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, an opportunity to add Ian here this week and took advantage of that opportunity.
Q. Is there anything you can tell us about how Jalen's feeling, how he's doing. Is he in the building?
NICK SIRIANNI: He's in the concussion protocol, so not a lot I can comment on on that. We'll give you an update after today.
Q. How comfortable are you to have a guy like Kenny with that starting experience in case you have to pull that trigger?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, very much so. I feel good about that. We feel good about that room. Like I said, Howie's done a great job of building depth here.
When Jalen was out in our game this week, he wasn't the first starter to have to miss some time. That's what's the great part about it. But the team, you hate when you lose a guy and they're not able to go, but it gives other people opportunities to step in and play, and I think that's what's happened consistently here this year from Fred Johnson to Isaiah Rodgers to Grant Calcaterra.
I'm excited about this team, I'm excited about the depth we have, and Kenny's included in that.
Q. Kenny was a starter most of his two years. When he came as a backup, how did he embrace that, and what has he brought to this position?
NICK SIRIANNI: Just very professional, wanting to learn new things and continuing to grow his game. I just think he's been great for the room and a great addition to the room. So I just felt like he's treated it from day one as how does he get better every day and not worry about the circumstances he's in, but how does he get better every day? I've seen improvement from the moment he stepped in here.
Q. Is Kenny's status still uncertain for Sunday?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, we'll get you that. You saw the report the other day. We'll see how practice goes today, where he is today, and we'll get you the report tomorrow, but we'll see.
Q. Obviously A.J. and Avonte are great players. Would you like to see somebody else involved as far as receiving goes? Do you think it makes you a more dangerous offense when you have multiple guys beyond the top two?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, the pass game is always going to run through those guys. They're so dynamic of players. I think what's unique about us is that not a lot of teams have the two 1A receivers like we do. You want to give them opportunities. You want to give them chances.
You can't always predict where the ball is going to go. The different defenses take the quarterback different places with the football. So there's opportunities for guys. I feel good about Saquon being a threat to catch the football, no doubt. I feel really good about when Dallas is in and Grant Calcaterra, their threats to catch the football, and you kind of combine their stats and see the production they've had.
I do still feel really good about our third wide receiver with Jahan and the other guys that are filling into that role as well. Different things call for some different guys to be in there.
Again, a lot of different options for us to be able to throw the ball to. That's a good problem to have.
Q. Would you like to see a situation where you can get some of your main guys rest over these last two games if the situation presents itself? Obviously with the No. 1 seed almost out of reach, would that be a factor in how you play these last two games?
NICK SIRIANNI: Just worried about beating Dallas right now. This is a good football team that has played really good football over the past month. All our focus and attention is on them and the things we need to do to have success against them.
We'll have to be on our stuff because it's a good football team, it's coached well, and with good players.
Q. What's different about them than what you saw however many weeks ago down in Dallas?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, as you watch them, they have a lot of good players that make a lot of plays. So that's what your focus is on every single time. Then you have more intel for them because you've played them so many times. Maybe not Coach Zimmer, but I have so much respect for Coach Zimmer and the coordinator and the head coach he's been in this league for a very long time.
As you prepare for that first one, you see 11. You see 11 flying around everywhere. You see Bland flying around everywhere. I know they have some -- Diggs is out, and 13 is out, but they still got good players, really good defensive line. Kendricks, we'll see where he is at the end of this week obviously. Really good players all over the place, and I'm specifically speaking of obviously defense right now.
So you've got good coaching combined with good players. Going into that first game, that's what we thought. We didn't really think about how they were playing or certain things as far as their record that time. We just know how good the football team is, and it's still the same thing going into this game.
It's the same thing can be said for that offense with the offensive line and also with Lamb and Cooks and all the guys that they have over there. Obviously Cooper Rush plays good football when he's in, very efficient.
Then you've got a very dangerous special teams unit with Turpin, always a danger to do great things with the football.
Like I said, going into the first game and going into this game, we see a dangerous team that's well coached with really good players. We have to be on our game to go out there and play well.
Q. Why did you feel compelled to call and apologize to Zach Ertz?
NICK SIRIANNI: I'll just keep my conversations with any guys private. I've got a lot of respect for Zach, great football player, great person to be around. I really got a lot of respect for Zach and all the good things that he's done and my relationship with him.
Q. Britain Covey has been a full participant the last couple weeks and is still listed with a neck. Is he inactive because of the injury, or is it just a depth thing?
NICK SIRIANNI: I won't get into that. You've seen the injury report. Got a lot of confidence in Britain and the things that he can do.
Q. When he's full, that means he can participate in practice. Does that mean he's able to participate in the game?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, not going to get too much into that. Like I said, have a lot of confidence in Britain and the player and the person.
Q. With your quarterbacks, is this a situation where you have a good sense of what it's going to look like and you just want to keep quiet for competitive reasons? Or are you still waiting to find out?
NICK SIRIANNI: I'm still waiting to find out. Probably a little bit of both, to be quite honest with you. A little bit of both, but still waiting to find out.
There's a lot of -- again, as you guys know, when you're in concussion protocol, I have no say in that, and Jalen has no say in that. That's completely up to the doctors, as it should be.
Q. (No microphone)?
NICK SIRIANNI: Again, you'll see today.
Q. Vic on Tuesday mentioned Bryce Huff only working individuals. Is that a calculated ramp-up, or are you guys only trying to feel where he is?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, any guy that comes out of injury, you've got to ramp him up. Everybody's a little different in how you have to do that. That was what we did with Bryce, and we'll see as it progresses.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports