Nick Sirianni

Q. Has a course of treatment been determined yet for QB Jalen Hurts? (Zach Berman)

Nick Sirianni: I’m not going to get too much into that. I know there’s a great deal of interest in Jalen’s health, but I’m not going to get too much into any of that. Jalen’s health is of the utmost importance to all of us in this building, [we] care deeply about Jalen. Like I said, I’m not going to get too much into that.

Q. Were you able to explain why he did not have an ultrasound until you guys left? (Jeff Neiburg)

Nick Sirianni: Everything that we did yesterday, from all parties, putting out the detailed statement is — I think you guys saw that, obviously. Again, just not going to go too much into that. That’s why the detailed statement was put out. I’m here to talk about other things than that. Like I said, while also commenting on that, Jalen’s health is of the utmost importance and just want him to get back healthy.

Q. I understand you don’t want to say much about it. Totally understand that. A lot of people are concerned about QB Jalen Hurts out there. Just simply, how’s he doing since the latest ultrasound? (Dave Uram)

Nick Sirianni: I don’t want to speak for him on anything. I appreciate your guys’ questions, and I know that you guys have a lot of questions on that. Again, that’s why we put out the detailed statement yesterday; all parties put out the detailed statement yesterday. I love Jalen, and again, just want him to be healthy.

Q. When did you let the team know that he had the blood clot and he wouldn’t be playing on Sunday? (Ed Kracz)

Nick Sirianni: Not going to get too much into that. [QB] Tanner [McKee] was out there yesterday and went on as business as usual. That’s where we were.

Q. Because that happened after a day of practice already, what’s the challenge now for QB Tanner McKee on a short week to get ready? (Dave Zangaro)

Nick Sirianni: We do a lot of things. Practice was a shorter practice on Wednesday, just with some of the things that we have going on. Even within that, we do a lot of things that are developmental periods. We do a lot of situational periods that are 1-O versus 2-D and vice versa. On a daily basis, when we’re out on the field, we do our developmental periods because I think it’s so important that the guys that are backups that don’t get a lot of plays in practice, and they’re running scout team and they’re running the other team’s plays, they’ve still got to go out there and hear our plays being called and execute our plays, which is the whole point of the developmental periods.

I’ve done that with Frank [Reich] a lot when we were in Indy together. We made a big emphasis on that. We’ve done that since the day we’ve gotten here, particularly even emphasized it more when we got [former Eagles QB] Gardner [Minshew] after training camp in 2021. Now, that was a guy who was not only not hearing our play, needed that because he hadn’t run our plays at all [since] he didn’t have the whole training camp. I have a lot of faith in Tanner, was able to go back and watch some of the games that he’s been able to play in and really excited for his opportunity but obviously bummed for Jalen.

Q. What have you seen from QB Tanner McKee from the perspective of — he started out as QB3 and then moved up, but just how is he handling things? (John McMullen)

Nick Sirianni: I think he’s handled everything awesome. He went in as the third quarterback. He just continued to get better through the reps that he was getting, showing more and more confidence within the new system that we’re running. The confidence that he’s playing with, the confidence that he gives his teammates, confidence he practiced with yesterday, all very important to build trust. I think that he’s done a great job of that, [even] when the circumstances weren’t exactly what he thought they might be or what we may have anticipated them being. He just kept working and putting his head down and controlled the things that he could control, and it’s a good example of that. Looking forward to his opportunity.

Q. I know that you don’t want to talk too much about QB Jalen Hurts, but what was your reaction when you heard the news ahead of the Jaguars game and then recently when you heard about the movement in the blood clot? (Krystle Rich)

Nick Sirianni: I’m always concerned for our guys. Jalen and I have a special relationship, and there are times I’ve said to Jalen like, ‘Man, I know you like I know my brother.’ I feel like I’m getting up there in age that at some point I’m going to be like, ‘I know you like I know my son.’ Jalen and I are too close in age there for me to say that. That happens — Why do I know that and why does he know me like that? We’ve spent a lot of time together. We’ve been to the highest of highs. We’ve had lows. Through all that, this connection piece, this together piece, tough, detailed, together is not — We walk our talk also. The connection piece is very important. It’s so important between a head coach and a quarterback that we’ve worked hard on together because we know how important that relationship, that example of that relationship, is to everybody in the building.

Your first reaction is always the care for the player because this is not just a coach-player relationship. Hopefully, that’s how our entire building feels. It’s not just player-to-player relationship. It’s not just coach-to-coach relationship. It’s not just coach-to-player relationship. That’s because there’s been so much work done to get to know each other and to be together, because we know how important that is to winning. Quite frankly, it’s why we love being part of a team. There are a lot of things — There’s nothing like winning a game. I really feel like there’s no other feeling quite like it, but the feeling that happens when you’re tied together as a football team and you win a game, pretty powerful. At the end of the day, my first reaction was always concern because I love Jalen.

Q. Looking ahead to Sunday, in terms of play calling, what level of flexibility and potentially in-game adjustments do you need to see out of Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion as he deals with QB Tanner McKee as a starter this year? (Krystle Rich)

Nick Sirianni: I think a lot of that happens throughout the week. There are some things that you may not do with Jalen out because Jalen’s such a unique player. Then there’s going to be adjustments that have to be made in the game because of things that the defense is doing or hopefully you’re executing at a high level. If you’re not, you have to adjust and you have to adjust to what your guys are doing and what the team you’re playing is doing. We have to be able to, as always, move the ball down the field with efficiency and stay ahead of everything and hit some explosive plays. Then also, we have to be able to protect the football and that’s always going to be key for our offense.

Q. There’s a lot going on around the team the last couple of weeks. What’s the number one thing required from you as a leader in this moment? (Tim McManus)

Nick Sirianni: I think that one thing that I’ve learned throughout life, I wouldn’t just say through just being a football coach, is that adversity that you go through has the ability to unite. Adversity that you go through has the ability for growth that sometimes you might not be able to have when everything is smooth sailing. I think it’s so important that I’m always, as the head football coach, walking my talk. I think as people have asked me, how do you build culture — just like whatever, if it’s another coach or whatever — I think I’ve always said to them, you’ve got to know what’s important to you: tough, detailed, together. You’ve got to be able to show people what’s important to you, not just with your words, but on the film. You have to be freaking relentless of coming back to that over and over. ‘I’m tired today.’ You’ve got to be relentless coming back to that. You won’t be relentless coming back to that unless it’s dear to you, which is that first one.

The most important one that I always save last, is you better walk your talk, because then you’re full of crap if you’re not. I’ve said it before: You triple down in moments that you’re going through adversity. This isn’t the first time we’ve gone through adversity. A football team is not, and us as people are not, immune to adversity. Everyone’s going through it. It’s coming for everybody. Those things are really critical in those situations. This is why I’ve said to you guys in the past, I’m grateful for adversity because of the growth that happens from it and the things that happen from it and the unite that happens from it. Now you’re in it again, the experience that happens from it.

Q. Where’s QB Cole Payton in his development and his readiness level should he have to step in? (Ed Kracz)

Nick Sirianni: I think he’s worked his butt off. He gets plays in those developmental periods. He gets reps on the scout team as well. He works extremely hard with the coaches after practice. He gets even more reps there after practice with [Quarterbacks Coach] Parks [Frazier] and with Gummy [Offensive Assistant/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Montgomery VanGorder], just continuing to go [through] different things that we have as tools — With the way we watch film, some of the tools we have [like] the SkyCam camera — There’s some really good teaching tools that you have, [with] camera angles that you get from practice, and also SkyCam cameras and primetime games, and now it’s happening more and more.

That camera is so valuable to see it from a quarterback’s perspective, where you can kind of go through it of all the clips that we’ve saved in the past, and he can sit there and watch it and go, ‘OK, this is this play, this is this coverage here. I’m going [and] I’m ripping this ball.’ Also, the virtual reality stuff. Quarterback is a unique position, and you have to be creative in how you find ways for guys like Cole — and Tanner for that matter. He’s been using all these tools as well to get reps when reps aren’t as many for guys like that.

Q. What have you seen from RB Dameon Pierce this week now that he’s gotten first team reps and everything at running back? (Martin Frank)

Nick Sirianni: Like I said to you guys, I have so much confidence in him. I’ve seen the same guy every day that is working to get better every single day. That’s working on every fundamental that he has and, yeah, just excitement. He’s the same guy every single day going in there just with his mental approach and the way he works. I’m looking forward to watching him carry the ball this weekend.