Colts 26, Texans 20
Q. When you look at coming from the practice squad, they said you worked with the offense a lot, the first team, during the week. How comfortable did you feel? You obviously played a good game. What was it like today to go from practice squad to playing a prominent role and catching a lot of balls?
CHAD HANSEN: Well, I mean, this is just something I envisioned myself doing from the beginning. It was great to get that opportunity, and I think my coaches did a great job getting me ready for this game, just mentally being able to know the plays like the back of my hand so I don't have to go out there and think, I can just go out there and play free, and it was awesome to have Deshaun trust me like that and give me some chances.
Q. You're on the practice squad, Chad; how tough is it to stay dialed in every week not knowing if you'll ever get the chance during the year but then you get it with a suspension to Will and to get on the field?
CHAD HANSEN: Man, it's tough. It's tough. Especially this year with all the COVID restrictions. Like all the practice squads and all that stuff, it's hard for practice squad members to get brought up. It was a blessing to get that opportunity. I just wanted to do the most when I got it.
Q. In training camp you made a lot of big catches with Watson. You guys seemed to have a good relationship in camp. How much did that help you today actually getting on the field?
CHAD HANSEN: Yeah, yeah, I worked with Deshaun in the summer and created that relationship and created that trust where he was able to throw the ball to me and not worry about where I was going to be or if I was going to catch it. I'm just really appreciative of him putting his trust in me to give me those opportunities really.
Q. When it comes to this week specifically, what kind of stuff did Deshaun do to help you get on the same page with everybody?
CHAD HANSEN: Well, I mean, he's a great leader, so he leads by example. So I know what the standard is when I walk in that huddle. I prepared like I was a starter this week, and he helped me with my confidence and all that stuff. He threw me balls during the week and helped me with that confidence going into this game, so I think that was huge for me.
Q. You guys were able to stay in this game, fight in this game. You're down to the 2-yard line. I know a lot of this is new for you, but what was that ending like and just being in that locker room, for you guys to get that close in this game and fall short at the end like that?
CHAD HANSEN: Yeah, I mean, it's tough. It's a heartbreaker, but that's what makes football great. There's so many emotions, and the good thing about this is we've got them in two weeks. We're going to have to have a short memory, get ready for Chicago and then be able to play them again come two weeks. We'll be ready for that.
Q. When you look at you're a fourth-round pick and you're away with the Jets and then you get this chance, just your thoughts on your journey to get to this point where you're contributing and having a big game after a lot of years of kind of toiling away at it?
CHAD HANSEN: Man, you know, it's been a journey. I haven't played meaningful football in two and a half, three years. Just being able to go out there and perform, it was just a blessing, and just kind of speaks to staying ready. It's a crazy business. I mean, with Will going down, it's next man up. If you're in there, you've got to play like a starter. That was kind of my mentality going into it. I was kind of treating this mentally like I've been the starter all year, just so I don't have any jitters, I'm not nervous, so I could go out there and perform.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports