DL Myles Garrett:
On how Falcons QB Matt Ryan compares to other QBs faced this season:
"He is talented, just like all of the others. He can make throws anywhere on the field. He can be hot and cold sometimes. Just have to make sure that we keep him off of his game, keep him frustrated and get pressure on him."
On if he notices opposing teams game planning against him this season:
"Yes."
On reacting to opposing teams' schemes:
"It is frustrating sometimes, but you just have to do your best. Work through those things. Fight through double teams. Fight through trips. Open up opportunities for others to make plays, as well."
On if it is rare for him to have a one-on-one matchup with an OL:
"I would not say that it is rare. It is uncommon. Usually even when I do get one on ones, it is a quick throw so the percentage of me getting there is lowered, as well. It is not going to stop me from fighting out there and trying to get to him, whether it is a quick throw or if he holds it for three or four seconds."
On how his run defense has developed this year:
"It is hard to say. They do not run at me enough. It might be asking for a lot, but I wish that they would run my way maybe a little bit more often. We will see."
On if he expects a chip block or a double team on most plays:
"Usually. Yeah, but can't let it stop me."
On if he was double teamed often last year:
"It was not as frequent as it has been this year."
On if the double teams change when he lines up inside:
"I usually get the guard and tackle if I am [outside]. If I slant inside, I have the center and the guard. Usually, they are accounting for me. Have to take two for one."
LB Christian Kirksey:
On if he knew he would be out for the season when the hamstring injury occurred:
"No, I did not think that it was going to cost me the rest of the year, but I got an MRI and it was worse than I thought. I am on IR, but whatever is best for the team. If I am going to be absent these weeks, then we have to move forward. I am still going to be a vocal leader. I am still going to be here. You are still going to see a smile on my face. Nothing really is going to change as far as how I am approaching helping this team, but unfortunately, I will be off of the field."
On if he tore his hamstring:
"No."
On if he tried to keep a chance to come back and play this season:
"It is a hamstring injury and those are kind of tricky. When it comes to playing at full speed, you have to have your hamstring 100 percent. It is going to take some weeks. Given that we only have a certain amount of weeks left in the regular season, it would be kind of hard for me to come back that fast. I understand it. It sucks, but my head is in the right place. I am in good spirits. As long as I am living and breathing and able to still help my teammates mentally and help guys who may need some help in the linebacker room or anywhere else on the defense, I am always here. I am just going to continue to be the person that I am."
On if he expected to miss four or five games and that factoring into the IR decision, given the team has seven games left in the season:
"Yeah, it makes sense. I am not a selfish person. If I know I am down and I can't be the type of player that this team needs me to be, then the decision that we made was the right one. I do not want to put myself in a position where I hurt this team. Right now, I am just trying to get healthy as fast as I can and still be a team leader for the guys in this locker room."
On LBs Tanner Vallejo and Genard Avery filling in LB roles:
"When I went down last week, I thought that Tanner did a great job getting in there and making the plays that he made and just hopping right in there and doing what he was asked to do. Genard, he has been playing well for us this whole season. He has been playing not like a rookie. He has been playing like he has been doing this for a while. I am excited to see them go and take the top off of this and just be the best players that they are expected to be. Like I said, they can always ask me for help. I am going to stick around here and do my best to be the best that I can be."
WR Jarvis Landry:
On the team regrouping to get back on track:
"It is going well. It has been productive with the installs and the way we have been practicing and things like that. We will get a chance on Sunday to execute."
On if the transition to Cleveland has been bigger than he anticipated, given the adversity this season:
"It is a part of the transition, but things like that happen during the season and we just roll with the punches. You find ways to each day get better, challenge yourself and challenge your teammates. At the end of the day on Sunday, we all get an opportunity to go out there to win the game. That is the biggest thing, and that puts everything else on the backburner."
On if he has to fight to keep a positive attitude:
"No."
On if he has the mindset that there may be things a rookie quarterback is not able to do:
"I do not put limitations on (QB) Baker Mayfield, and I am sure nobody in here does. I know a lot of who he is is going to continue to grow and get better with experience, but there are throws that – he can make them all. Everybody is confident in that and understands that."
On helping Mayfield during his rookie year:
"Just staying positive and continuing to make plays, using the weapons and getting the ball out of his hand. I think he would say the same thing."
On Browns WRs being healthy this week and how that impacts the offense:
"It is going to give us more chances to spread the ball around and guys to make plays down the field, underneath or wherever it may be. When you have more options on the field, it is more field and more grass that the defense has to cover. We will see."
