Can you describe kind of the energy or the mood and the vibe in the building now coming in the home stretch?
As we head into the home stretch of the season, the energy in the building is absolutely electric. There’s a sense of confidence that’s grown week by week, and it’s infectious. Our guys are walking around with high morale, knowing that we’re playing our best football when it matters most. The belief in one another is as strong as it’s been all season. We’ve built a tight-knit team, and it shows in the way everyone is supporting each other, both on and off the field.
There’s also a strong belief in our mission. We know what we’re capable of, and everyone is locked in on the goal ahead. Whether it's the offense, defense, or special teams, everyone knows their role and is fully committed to the team’s success. The belief in our system is unwavering. We trust the process, we trust our preparation, and we know that if we keep doing things the right way, good things will continue to happen. As coaches, we’ve always believed in our players, and now more than ever, they’ve bought into the system we’ve built. The vibe is that we’re on the right track, and we’re ready for the challenges ahead. Everyone in the building is focused, motivated, and prepared for the stretch run, and we’re excited to finish this season strong.
Is quarterback a priority for this team in the upcoming draft?
Quarterback is definitely not a priority for us in the upcoming draft. We’ve got Kurtis Rourke, and we couldn’t be happier with his development and the early success he’s had. To go from being drafted at the end of the fourth round to leading our team to the second seed in the NFC playoffs is a testament to his hard work and his talent. He’s been outstanding – fourth in the league in passing yards and leading the top-scoring offense in the PML. Kurtis has proven he’s the real deal, and we believe in what he brings to the table.
Kurtis has shown poise, arm talent, and leadership that you don’t often see from a rookie quarterback. He’s exceeded expectations in every way, and we’re excited to continue building around him. We’ve got a lot of faith in him as our quarterback moving forward. He’s the guy, and we’re fully committed to him. The way he’s played this season shows that he’s not just a flash in the pan – he’s a cornerstone player for our franchise. So, no – quarterback is not a priority for us in the draft. We’ve got our guy, and we’re ready to keep moving forward with Kurtis leading the way.
Can you speak to the overall team health?
The overall team health is looking great at the right time, and we’re in a good position heading into the playoffs. Most of our key players are back, and we’re excited to have everyone firing on all cylinders as we make this push. We’ve dealt with injuries throughout the season, but now it’s about peaking at the right time, and it feels like we’re there. Unfortunately, we did lose Bucky Irving for four weeks in the final game of the season, which is a bummer, but we were able to manage it. That’s part of why we made the decision to sit Rachaad White and many of the starters for the final game – to make sure we stayed healthy and prepared for the postseason.
Luckily, we were able to add a great running back in Khalil Herbert through free agency, and he’s been in the building getting ready for his role. With Rachaad White and Kaytron Allen needing occasional breathers, we feel confident that Herbert will be able to step in and make an impact when needed. His experience and ability to run between the tackles will help us maintain a balanced attack. While we hate to lose Irving, we feel like we’ve built enough depth to handle this situation and continue moving forward with confidence. We’re in a strong spot health-wise, and we’re ready to make a deep run in the playoffs.
