Q. How did Bryce look throughout the week into today?
DAVE CANALES: Better and better. Handled the week really well. Each day just kind of ramped up some of the things we were exposing him to. He looked awesome, working with his guys, just getting in there, leading, communicating, and physically just looked like he's ready to go.
Q. Dave, as it pertains it Andy and Mike White, what will go into your decision making on the depth chart, the actives, et cetera?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, Andy will be the backup this week. He demonstrated the ability to control the ball, throw it really amazing, unbelievable. Very grateful that he's able to play through stuff like that and wants to be there for his team. You know, he showed that. He threw well yesterday. Came back today, threw well again.
So excited to have him there.
Q. Dave, signing Mike White to the 53, how much flexibility does that give you with the practice squad knowing that you have quite a few guys questionable?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, it gives us a great chance for him to be the emergency third on game day and be able to count him that way, especially just in the situation that we're in. And if it gets to that point, then I've got full confidence having him here for a couple of weeks, being able to work through things, you know, on the call sheet and levels of comfortability with what we're doing. He had a couple really nice practices. Threw the ball well, so I'm excited for Mike and see what he can do for us as well.
Q. I know this is kind of off to the side, but Jonathan Brooks I saw was kind of catching some passes and moving half speed. What's the latest on his recovery from your perspective?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, it's a part of the plan. He's moving right along, getting some higher high speed mileage. They're doing some start-stop stuff with him as well and he's handling that great.
At the same time he's been really engaged, involved in it, and connected with his teammates. I love that in him. I think at times that type of situation can be challenging for guys, where I've seen where guys can kind of float off and disengage with what's happening.
JB loves that room and being around the guys. Big smile and a lot of great energy from him. So I'm just really happy with where he is at.
Q. This happens all the time in the NFL, guys miss a game, they come back. When you do miss that game, how challenging is it for a player to just jump right back into the heat of the battle? Do you give them any advice? I know they're pros, but is there anything they need to do to sort of acclimate themselves as quickly as possible after getting back?
DAVE CANALES: Just practice. Just get back out there, back to the things that we count on. Our process leads to good results. Being out there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, doing what you normally do leads to success. The engagement with the material and certainly physically throwing to your guys and getting that timing and rhythm back.
This is a group that's continuing to improve, Coker, from one week to the next. You know, this past week just another step in the right direction with his confidence and the things that he's doing as well. So it's a group that's continuing to grow together and that's what we're looking for to push forward.
Q. Bryce is getting the ball out I think it's the fastest time of his career last time I checked. I know we talked about Micah earlier in the week. How much more of an emphasis is that this week? Like you're going to have to get it out quick to avoid that rush.
DAVE CANALES: Micah Parsons is a great player. We take that approach every week. I want that ball to come out. I want great decisions. I want anticipation. Those types of things, that's what has really led to Bryce being really decisive, owning the concepts, owning what the design of the play is, how to attack different coverages and where the ball should go.
And that's really just a part of that. Also it's a part of group making quick decisions for him, presenting themselves in zones, creating separation versus man, and giving him somewhere to go with the ball. I always take that approach regardless who we're playing. Certainly this week with Micah we have to know where he is at all times and make sure our plan fits that.
Q. I know the players are pros, but how much do you talk to them on a game like this going to a place like Lambeau? Do you bring up the history? Do you want them to know the history? Do you want them celebrate it? Did you just want them to treat this as any other game?
DAVE CANALES: I want both. That goes for Lambeau Field and also other places we get to go and play. Creating the moment, creating the opportunities so that guys can understand in different modes. Having a championship mindset is all these games matter, all these games are helping us prepare for what it takes to win late in the season, what it takes to win in the post-season.
You got to be able to play in hostile environments and this is going to be a really loud environment. We treat it like any other road game. At the same time, let's appreciate football history. Let's understand where this league started. The evolution of it and our part and our contribution to that as well is to push football forward, to play excellent football, great quality football the way that it's always been played.
It's a physical game, a violent sport. It has been since the beginning. So make sure that we're playing the type of football that we can be proud of.
Q. Off the cuff here with Matt LeFleur said today he hated Halloween and any other holiday that falls in football season. Just to be clear are you pro Halloween so we have this on the record?
DAVE CANALES: It's a fun time. It's a really good time. My kids were excited this morning, I mean last night getting their costumes ready for the day. You know, there are some K-Pop Demon Hunters going on in the house right now, dressing up in different ways.
So that's kind of the craze right now. There will be a little bit of that and then there is a League of Their Own kind of throwback baseball tip of the cap to October baseball right now.
Pulling for the Dodgers by the way tonight. Got to come through in a big way. But the Jays have been doing a great job.
Q. Knowing how much you value the run game, how have Rico and Chuba responded this week, and what have you seen from them in practice?
DAVE CANALES: Just work. Just hard work, and that's what we count on. We count on all those guys, Trevor included, when they get in there that we can count on them. Whether it's in the run game, pass protection or running routes, just everything you got every single play.
That's the mentality this group has. I love that room. Bernie does a great job with those guys, getting them ready, taking care of the ball first and foremost, and running with violence.
Everything they do I ask them to do it with violence. That's what we want to see out of the guys and that's what they showed this week.
Q. You just talked about Lambeau Field. As a guy who grew up as a historian of the game, like have you thought about how cool of a moment that will be as a head coach, Brad as OC, all you guys getting to coach at Lambeau Field as the primary voices for this team?
DAVE CANALES: That hits me every week. That hits me every time on Sundays when we go out to whatever stadium. Here Bank of America Stadium or wherever we're at on the road, it just kind of strikes me what a privilege this is that we get to do this and to be a part of a legacy.
I take that seriously. You know, I think that the game is supposed to be played a certain way, with a certain level of effort and enthusiasm. It's a passionate game. I want those things to show up.
It's always been about the basics, about the fundamentals. You think about all the commercials where they have these student body left, student body right. We want a seal here and seal here. It's all these basics of football those are the things that still work now.
And it's about pad level, about playing with your knees bent, about playing grounded, feet in the ground, finishing the play with your hands on somebody in a violent way.
I love being a part of that legacy and passing that on and making sure our players don't take that for granted. This isn't just about their career. It's not just about making money. This is about being a part of something that's so amazing that our country really embraces. It brings people together. It brings families together. I had 12 or so family members come from Los Angeles to come see us play here in Charlotte. It brings us together in special ways. I love all that part of it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports