Nick Sirianni

Q. Nick, was there any kind of resolution from the special teams coordinators talking yesterday about using a tee on kickoffs? (Dave Zanagro)

Nick Sirianni: Obviously, with that, everything we’re doing is within the rules of the game, and we’ll continue to do the things that we need to do that give us the best chance to win each and every game. That’s how we’ll proceed as Philadelphia Eagles.

Q. How do you feel about TE Zach Ertz after this week of practice? (Brooks Kubena)

Nick Sirianni: I think the guys in general had a good week of practice. We’ve got one more day here. That’s going to be an important part of our process. Guys look good. Zach had a good week. Tight ends in general had a good week. We’ll see where we are at the end of the day.

Q. With WR Makai Lemon, there’s been some stuff that in the backfield, gadgety type plays, haven’t seen as much of over the middle. Is that an area that you feel like maybe you could focus on a little more with him or is it just kind of like you guys have a lot of mouths to feed and he’s just kind of got to be patient? (Jeff McLane)

Nick Sirianni: I want individual success for all our guys. Those individual goals don’t happen, though, without team success first. Everything we do is going to be to help us have the best chance to win. Makai’s going to be a big part of that as we continue forward because we know he’s talented. I feel like he’s looking better each week throughout practice because that’s your best indicator of what the game’s going to look like. Of course, I’d want him to have 10 catches for 100 yards, and Smitty [WR DeVonta Smith] and Tay [WR Dontayvion Wicks] and whoever. That’s just the way the season goes, and we’ll see where we continue to go. I think Smitty and Tay have had a good start to the season, and there’s things that Makai’s doing that a stat sheet can’t show, and we’re pleased with where he’s continuing to go. His touches will come because he’ll be out there because he consistently does the right thing when the ball’s not going to him.

Q. With guys like TE Zach Ertz and DB Kenny Moore II, who haven’t gone through a training camp or played football in a while, what kind of things do you look for as far as getting them ramped up within a practice week in order to play? (Martin Frank)

Nick Sirianni: You’re just looking at their movements, seeing how they’re moving, how they’re feeling after practice and whether they’re learning everything and learning the system. There’s habits that the guys that have been here have practiced over and over and over and over again, and you’re doing your best job to catch them up on those habits as fast as you can, whether it’s tackling, the way we go about that, the way we go about strip attempts, the way we go about protecting the football. That comes with time. Every situation’s a little bit different, and everybody’s situation’s a little bit different. I wouldn’t say there’s a checklist to say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re looking for,’ but just asking those questions to ourselves after every practice: ‘How did he look? How does he feel?’ And asking the player that as well. Just got a lot of hands-on deck to answer those questions. Like I said, everybody’s a little bit different in their readiness to go.

Q. After the game, QB Jalen Hurts said he can’t put in the words the responsibility that goes into playing quarterback in the league. Can you put that into words, what goes into playing quarterback in this league? (Zach Berman)

Nick Sirianni: It’s hard work. I’m not sure I can either. It’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of responsibility. It’s a lot of credit, and it’s a lot of blame. It takes great mental toughness to be able to sustain the ups and downs that all these players go through on a weekly basis. I’m not sure I could put it into words, but there is immense responsibility to an organization and to a city in playing the most important position in sports. I’m sure glad we have Jalen Hurts playing the most important position in sports in Philadelphia because I love him and everything that he’s done for us and everything he’ll continue to do for us. I always say about [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman], I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this and I feel the same way about Jalen. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this journey.

Q. Seeing how you spent the offseason looking for a new OC and liked what Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion would bring with a lot of the under-center play-action stuff, if you look at the numbers, you guys are at the lower end of having play-action. Is that just a byproduct of the struggles to get the outside zone going and you can’t marry it as much with the run, or are you surprised that it’s as low as it is, all the effort that you guys put into — (Jeff McLane)

Nick Sirianni: Right now, it’s a low sample size. We’ve been doing some no-huddle stuff as well that — sometimes you’re running different things from those areas. We always knew there’d be a mix of some of the things that we’ve done in the past and some of the new things that we want to bring. I think that we’ve had good production on the ones that we’ve done. It gives Jalen really good space from the line of scrimmage between him and the line of scrimmage. He’s handled those nicely, and our guys have handled it nicely. Some of that, too, is being in first and second down and manageable and not being behind the sticks. We know that we’ve been behind the sticks a little bit. I think that’s a fair question. I think it’s just early and it’s early in a sample size, and [I] imagine we’ll have this conversation again or not. We’ll see where we are at that particular point. It’s a little early right now because we’re still figuring out who we are and what we do best and all those different things.

Q. I know OLB Jonathan Greenard’s still limited at practice. Is he doing more though than he’s done in previous weeks? (Zach Berman)

Nick Sirianni: He’s had a good week. He’s had a good week. It’s exciting to have him out there. We’ll see where we are at the end of today. Like I said, today’s a very important part of the process, but I feel like he’s had a good week. It brings good energy. I’ve really enjoyed, I mean, I’ve hated that he hasn’t been able to go in for him and for our team, but I’ve really enjoyed being around him on the sideline and what he’s like on a game day. He’s got a lot of knowledge, and he’s really good with his teammates, and that’s been very noticeable to me, and I’m excited when it’s the time to get him back out there. He’s worked his butt off to be able to get back out there as soon as possible. I’m excited to have that leadership that I’ve seen him show when not playing. Excited about him, and he’s had a good week, though.

Q. How have C/G Drew Kendall and C Cam Jurgens looked like with another full week at center and off guard respectively? (Martin Frank)

Nick Sirianni: It’s always important that when we can, we have those pads on and so they can work those combinations while also understanding that you got to know and learn how to practice without pads. They’ve done a nice job both those days, really taking advantage of the days that we had the pads on and then also just the communication and all the things and still being able to go through it without the pads on. They’ve had a nice week, and we’ll see how that pays off. It’s about the preparation, giving yourself the best chance to win each week. It doesn’t guarantee anything. It just gives you the best chance. I feel like those two guys, where they are playing in new spots, have had a good week of preparation, and they got to have another good day today.