Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: How's Josh Ezeudu?

BRIAN DABOLL: Josh is fine.

Q: (Center) JMS (John Michael Schmitz)?

BRIAN DABOLL: Same.

Q: Do you have any new guys that are not going to be practicing? I know a bunch of guys went out of practice the other day.

BRIAN DABOLL: (Tight end Jack) Stoll won't practice. He's in the concussion protocol and (wide receiver) Bryce Ford-(Wheaton) won't practice, he's got a lower leg (injury).

Q: Is (wide receiver Darius) Slayton still out?

BRIAN DABOLL: He'll practice.

Q: So with (center John Michael) Schmitz, you said the same as in not doing anything more?

BRIAN DABOLL: Same.

Q: What's going on with him?

BRIAN DABOLL: Rehabbing. It's getting better, just not ready to go.

Q: Will you keep (guard Greg) Van Roten at center? At what point, do you start getting him guard reps, I guess?

BRIAN DABOLL: We'll keep getting him center reps right now.

Q: Is (center) JMS (John Michael Schmitz), at this point, a week-long thing? Or do you anticipate him maybe getting there at all?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, he's getting better. I don't think it's anything long term. When he's ready we'll put him back out there.

Q: Is anything broken?

BRIAN DABOLL: Broken? No.

Q: What's going on with (tackle) Evan Neal? Because when we came to camp, (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) said he wasn't far. And you guys also originally thought, you said you expected to him be back for the start of training camp. Now we're a couple weeks in, has there been a different injury? Or is it just a setback, or it took longer for him to recover?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's just rehabbing. When he's ready, he'll be ready to go out there. But, he's not ready.

Q: But in the spring, it seemed like he was working towards getting on the field. And you haven't been able to say, has there been a setback? I don't understand why you can't just say if there has or has not.

BRIAN DABOLL: Look, he's working hard. He's trying to do everything he can do to get better. He's just not ready to go yet. When he is, he'll be ready. I'm not going to get into all the particulars. He's rehabbing. When he's ready, he'll be ready.

Q: Is he in your plans for week one at this point?

BRIAN DABOLL: I'm just on today's practice and this week. He won't be ready to go, I would say, against these (Detroit) Lions. We'll take it, however his rehab process goes, which I can't tell you how that's going to go, he's making progress. I think he's doing a little bit more each day. They're backing off on him some days. And when he's ready, he'll be ready.

Q: Are you disappointed that a high draft pick like him, though, has had surgery, we believe, in January, right? Whether there was a setback or not. This has been a really long time.

BRIAN DABOLL: I think you asked that the first time. Everybody's different. Everybody handles things different. It's obviously not my profession in terms of coming back, medically. I know he's doing everything he can do. Whether it's a high draft pick or undrafted free agent, you care about all your guys. So when he's ready, we'll put him out there.

Q: How disappointing has this been that he's a guy, forget a setback from this injury, really needed to have a pretty impressive training camp and he hasn't been able to get on the field yet?

BRIAN DABOLL: Again, we just control what we can control, and I think he's doing that as well. So when he's ready, he's ready.

Q: I understand that you're generally guarded on injury stuff but with him in particular, there was the misdiagnosis initially, fans start to turn on guys if they feel like they've been out for a long time. Do you think it would help at all to give any sort of transparency as to what exactly has been the why in such a long layoff?

BRIAN DABOLL: You know how we deal with injuries. He's working as hard as he can. Everything he can do, he's doing. And that's all you can ask for of a guy.

Q: At this point, when he comes back, is he competing for a starting spot or sliding back into a starting spot, or is he working from the position of the guys that have been on the field have to mold as a starting group and that he's a reserve?

BRIAN DABOLL: That's down the road. Let's get him healthy first, and when he comes back, we'll deal with that.

Q: How much has your plan had to change at right tackle though? Considering that it's obviously taken longer for him to get back than you thought?

BRIAN DABOLL: Change? Yeah, we put (tackle Jermaine) Eluemunor) out there. Played right tackle a bunch. Done a nice job.

Q: But that's obviously a change of plan because you didn't do that in the spring, right?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah. That's why we have (Jermaine) Eluemunor, too. The guy plays right tackle at a high level, and happy he's here.

Q: What's the game plan for the next couple of days?

BRIAN DABOLL: We'll get into that tomorrow. We went pretty hard two days ago, so we'll have a ramp up period again today. We'll do some situational football and then once Detroit comes in, similar to last year.

Q: What do you look to get out of those two days? What's important to you?

BRIAN DABOLL: Good work. Good work against another team. Got a lot of respect for (Head Coach) Dan (Campbell). We've been friends for a long time. Try to practice the right way with one another, like we do against our team. Staying off the ground. Doing things the right way. So it'll be good work.

Q: You said at the start of camp that you viewed (tackle) Evan (Neal) as a tackle as of that point. Do you still view him as a tackle, or do you think there's guard flex there?

BRIAN DABOLL: Right now, he'll be working at tackle.

Q: I know last year is last year, but when you were in Detroit last year, after the first day, a lot of your guys talked about the intensity and how the Lions hit the field with a little bit more intensity. Do you take that experience last year and remind your guys this year about what kind of intensity is needed in these practices?

BRIAN DABOLL: One year is different than the next. We've got a new team. We'll focus on getting better today and then get ready to practice against the Lions. Have two good days.

Q: Is (wide receiver Isaiah) McKenzie down today?

BRIAN DABOLL: Isaiah? He's good.

Q: I know you probably use it as a measuring stick, but when you get to compete against another team for two days, do you use that as a way to evaluate?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think what's helpful is to see them go against different competition. Obviously, it ramps up when you're practicing against another team, but the matchups, guys have gone against the same guys for OTAs and for the first part of training camp. So it's a good evaluation tool to use to see how they go against some other teams, some different schemes. You're not game-planning or doing anything, so you've got to fall back on rules and maybe see something different from the defense, something different from the offense. Go back in the classroom. It's kind of the next step of the process. I enjoy practicing against other teams.

Q: Why two days with the Lions and only one day with the (New York) Jets…

BRIAN DABOLL: It's later on down the road. But at this point, again, (Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) and I have a good relationship. We know how we want to do things, have good communication, and look forward to it.

Q: How critical was it to you to have as difficult a practice as you did the other day, and how did the players respond to that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well. It was hot and long. Some guys went down, got IVs. But that's the necessary part of training camp, and it was a good day. It was a good day of work. A lot of tired guys. So we'll ramp them back up here today and then hopefully have two good days similar to that against Detroit.

Q: Will you do any seven-on-seven against Detroit?

BRIAN DABOLL: We will, yeah. I was just talking to (Dan) Campbell about this this morning. We haven't done seven-on-seven since OTAs. If you want to just go team work, we can go team. But we're going to do a bunch of seven-on-seven, which will be good.

Q: The other thing I want to ask you, just in terms of the special teams. Will you do any live drills with them as far as kickoff?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think (Special Teams Coordinator) Ghoby (Michael Ghobrial) has a good plan with (Detroit Lions Special Teams Coordinator) Fipper (Dave Fipp). Again, it's the first week, so we've done a lot of research on the first week of drills and things like that through the NFL and what joint practices have been the first week. They have a good plan.

Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas

Q: What do joint practices mean for an offensive lineman?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's just another opportunity to be physical against somebody that's not on your team. It's not live, but the mentality that we have is like what it'll be on Sundays, so it's a good opportunity for us to see where we're at.

Q: I guess that would be true to a degree for any other opponent coming, but these are the (Detroit) Lions who a play or a score were away from the Super Bowl. After two days from now, will you know better how you guys measure up against the best of the best?

ANDREW THOMAS: For sure. Like I said, it's not a real game, so it's not that easy to measure, but we can see our physicality, technique, things of that nature, and I'm excited for it.

Q: How much is that the mindset that you have? You're looking to see, 'Hey, this is where we stand against this team, and we know it's a playoff team.' In the locker room, is that how you talk about these afterward?

ANDREW THOMAS: I remember last year just being out there and competing, and you definitely measure yourself to a team that's talented like they are. We're just focused on doing what we can, executing, and like I said, the mentality of being physical, because I think that translates to Sundays.

Q: What did you come away thinking last year?

ANDREW THOMAS: I think we didn't start fast enough. I think that's an emphasis for this year.

Q: How do you feel the line has played the last few days of camp?

ANDREW THOMAS: I would say okay. There is a little bit of movement going on. (Offensive lineman) Greg (Van Roten) is learning the system at center, but I think we do a good job of competing. We're just working on the small details, just with the MIKE points, and making sure we know who's (inaudible) on different protections, and then always working on our technique.

Q: How do you like having (guard) Jon (Runyan Jr.) on your side now?

ANDREW THOMAS: (Guard) Jon (Runyan Jr.) has done a great job. He just moved over, but we're starting to gel, work some double teams together, and get our calls together as far as the pass game. I think he's done a good job.

Q: What have you thought of the play of (outside linebacker) Brian Burns so far?

ANDREW THOMAS: A talented player. I think he's pushing all the tackles that he goes against, and I think he's going to make the defense better.

Q: What's the sense you get in your conversations with (tackle) Evan Neal? Is he growing frustrated that he can't get out there?

ANDREW THOMAS: I don't think he's frustrated. Any player would want to be out there during this time because this is when you can really work your craft. I think he's following suit, whatever the (athletic) trainers tell him, and hoping he can come back whenever they say he's ready.

Q: What have your conversations with him been like, you and (tackle) Evan (Neal)?

ANDREW THOMAS: Just trying to motivate him, just to make sure that he doesn't get discouraged because I've been in that position of not being able to practice. I've been injured, not in camp, but in OTAs. I've been there, coming off of surgery. It's not an easy thing, but I think he has the right mindset.

Q: When you look at the offensive line, everybody talks about last year. Through two weeks, can you sit there and say to yourself, 'We're better.'?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's hard to judge. Once we step on the field on Sunday, when the bullets are really flying, that's when you really know. It's also hard to compare it to different years. Last year, there was so much going on, whether it was injuries, rotation, or so many different things. But I think we have a good group of guys, some veteran presence in the room, and I think that will help us gel together.

Q: The (Detroit) Lions are known as a team that is physically tough, and that people don't enjoy playing. How do you guys become a team that people fear?

ANDREW THOMAS: It starts with your mindset. If you embrace that type of physicality, that kind of toughness, if you practice like that every day, it translates to the field. That's the mindset we're trying to build.

Safety Jason Pinnock

Q: You flexed that high jump after the interception.

JASON PINNOCK: A little something. I used to hate high jump. I was a long jumper. But a little something.

Q: How do you look at these next two days? The Lions were one play or one score away from the Super Bowl last year. Is it a good measuring test for you guys?

JASON PINNOCK: For sure. Anybody, but specifically with them, of course, it's a team who is full of grit and that's hard working, who got a little confidence a little something to them now, so ready to test what we got going on.

Q: And that offense, for you specifically, (Lions wide receiver) Amon-Ra St. Brown, (Lions quarterback) Jared Goff, it should be a good test for you guys?

JASON PINNOCK: For sure. Let it all come together now. Against someone not in our colors, get a little more competitive.

Q: What's your take on how camp has gone so far?

JASON PINNOCK: Overall, great, honestly. Defense coming together. It's a defense that requires a little bit more communication. So, it's very satisfying seeing it all fall together now. Seeing things click for guys, the pre-snap communication, post-snap. I'm excited.

Q: How would you describe (Defensive Coordinator) Shane's (Bowen) personality with you guys?

JASON PINNOCK: With us, he's a jokester. But he's, when we go to work, we go to work, just like anybody else. But he's a jokester. Yeah, that's my guy.

Q: What do you say about the defensive backfield in general? There's a lot of young guys there. What's sort of the outlook you have for you and the mindset of that group?

JASON PINNOCK: The humbleness of the group. Like you said, I'm the oldest. I just turned 25, not even a month ago. So, it's very humble. It's a lot of learning going on. It's a lot of film studies going on. And I've been other places, and it's probably not the same, as far as film studies specifically in the DB room. So, that's exciting. Routes are slowing down for them. And then you just got room to build. You got youth. Their body's good. So, we're ready to roll, ready to run.

Q: You're saying there's more film watching? Do you mean that as a group?

JASON PINNOCK: As a group.

Q: I'm saying they have more to learn, and you have more to point out?

JASON PINNOCK: Both.

Q: How much extra time does that take up and do you have to make a sacrifice instead?

JASON PINNOCK: No, I'm just saying specifically their own film study now. I see it kicking in. The talks in the locker room. Beyond meeting time, that's all.

Q: Drafted as a corner. Convert to safety. Last year you really established yourself as a starter in the NFL. What is it this year? What's the goal now for you going into this season?

JASON PINNOCK: Keep showing who Jason Pinnock is. Getting better. You just said it for me. I switched positions in another country my rookie year, played corner my whole life. So, the game's extremely slow. Every practice I have, every snap, it's just slowing down for me. And I get to show my athletic ability where I know I separate from a lot of guys for what we do.

Q: The thing that really separates good secondaries is taking the ball away. I ask because you had one today. How much of a point of emphasis is that? It was always (Packers safety Xavier) McKinney's big thing? It's like, we got to get the ball. How much of a point of emphasis is that even now that he's gone?JASON PINNOCK: That doesn't drop off. That's what gets you wins. That will get you Super Bowls and that will get you paid. You got to get that ball. So, that's always the emphasis in our room. Always incentives within that. And then if you, same thing, missed opportunities.

Q: How much uncertainty is there? I mean, because on the other side you have (safety) Tyler (Nubin) and (safety) Dane (Belton) and I guess (defensive back) Jalen (Mills. And, in the corner you have, (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott and (cornerback) Dru (Phillips). Is there any concern that nothing seems to be settled or is that what camp is about?

JASON PINNOCK: You just answered it for me. That's what camps about. And you love the competition because everybody's just trying to inch more, inch more. You give somebody something, it's room for comfortability. And there's no room for growth in comfortability.

Q: You were there last year in Detroit when you guys got off the buses. It seemed like they jumped you a little bit. They were really playing with a lot of urgency in the first joint practice. It seemed like nobody was happy that first day for you guys. It seems like you responded the second day, thinking back. I know it's a new year. Do you guys take any of that, the guys that were there, into tomorrow, the idea of what that team is coming here with, that kind of urgency?

JASON PINNOCK: Not really. Truthfully, I don't remember as far as them jumping out on us. But we're going to have the same motto every time we play somebody. You're coming into our home specifically; we take that personally with anybody. You got a different color on, and we're ready to go to work because we've been hitting each other all day.

Q: How important is (cornerback) Nick McCloud's versatility to what you guys can do? When you played with (Seahawks safety) Julian Love here, is there a comparison there?

JASON PINNOCK: For sure. J. Love was our witty vet, very savvy. Nick McCloud, he's gritty, versatile, utility. He just does everything. He knows everything. So, the game is much slower. He knows nickel. He knows outside. He knows safety. Actually, he started for us against the Eagles, I believe, in '22. Yeah, so, he's got to start in almost every position here. And then now it's just multiple systems he's been in. So, you can only imagine how much we could use him.

Q: What have you seen from Dane this year? And then, obviously, Tyler hasn't really been out there as much, but as he's coming back.

JASON PINNOCK: Dane, as we know, I forgot his snap count last year, but he gets the ball. I think we all know that. So, I'm excited, man. I'm excited to be with another safety just like last year as far as X. Just ready to get the ball. That's the biggest thing in our room.

Q: Last year, your signature playing camp was the (former tight end Darren) Waller interception. He's obviously gone now. But how much do you challenge yourself to be the guy now leading a group of very young defensive backs?

JASON PINNOCK: For one, I take it very personal. And I said almost every time I can speak in front of people, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the position that I was granted, earned, and just the respect I got from the building to be able to have the faith and trust in me to lead these young guys. That's the biggest thing. But I'm just grateful for it.