Washington players talk to the media as they prepare for the offseason Part II

LIVE: S Kam Curl speaks with the media https://t.co/i1nMmrzWvn

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Kam Curl says no big deal with the knee injury suffered yesterday.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 10, 2022

Kam Curl on where he grew the most from Year 1 to Year 2: “Play recognition, letting the formations talk to me.”

As for which game was his best game: “I don’t know, cuz I didn’t get any picks. I’m not too happy with that” pic.twitter.com/JtWztRgQ3T

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: DT Jon Allen speaks with the media https://t.co/H3uk5lIZfb

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Jonathan Allen is hyped about Washington’s rebrand: “You can see the time and the effort put into it. The jerseys are phenomenal. Everything works”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Jonathan Allen has clearly seen the new uniforms and is super pumped about it. Said he had his doubts going in, but said the uniform “just works” and he thinks fans will love them.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 10, 2022

LIVE: DT Daron Payne speaks with the media https://t.co/9gLgQqGCqO

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Asked if he’s perhaps overlooked sometimes, Daron Payne says “I just like playing football. Not worried about all that media attention.”

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 10, 2022

Daron Payne looking ahead:

“I love this place and I’d love to get a contract done. Only the future can tell.”

Later:

“They saw me from college and thought I was good enough to make it, so they brought me in and let me do my thing. I appreciate that” pic.twitter.com/YCnDPElqlF

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: DT Matt Ioannidis speaks with the media https://t.co/MKcpiUQ5Ws

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

LIVE: LB Cole Holcomb speaks with the media https://t.co/Z2MlO97c5e

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Cole Holcomb is both proud of his/the team’s growth yet is also disappointed by the season overall: “I feel like we left a lot of meat on the bone” pic.twitter.com/oNgCres22A

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Cole Holcomb just went down quite a path and touched on a ton to open his end-of-year-Zoom. Part of it was how Washington has to improve this offseason: “It needs to be self-critical. Don’t look at what your teammate could’ve done better, look at what you could do better”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LB Cole Holcomb said a big challenge for him this season was having his role change often, depending on the package or the game. Could be MLB; OLB, dime ‘backer, etc. Said he would watch film from each perspective during the week to see how he’d react. That’s a lot.

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Washington wants to find a vet MLB this offseason; would love it if Holcomb could stick outside. However: He’d love to focus on MLB.
“I had a lot of trust and respect from teammates, coaches. I could be that guy that can fill that role for them.”

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Holcomb said he wants to “step in that leadership role, take control of the defense… Trust your instincts more and, ‘hey man if you see it, go get it.’ Don’t hesitate.”
That was one area they wanted him to improve: React faster. Early on especially had a lot to process..

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Holcomb was confident Davis would take a big step next year. Said they need to continue building their relationship so when there’s a check, Davis automatically knows how it applies to him.

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

David Mayo reflecting on Jamin Davis’ rookie year: “He came in, there was a lot on his plate, he had a lot to deal with… Obviously, he’s got room to grow but we all do… He’s got plenty of talent and ability and he’s just going to keep getting better and better” pic.twitter.com/ve7SFNE9Vb

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: DE Chase Young speaks with the media https://t.co/tnZbxTqBmn

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Chase Young said his knee “feels better every day.” He didn’t want to put a timeline out there, but right now, he said he’s making “great progress.”

He said he was “definitely hurt” by missing the games.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 10, 2022

Says training camp is possible but just going one day at a time. https://t.co/BqrsbKpPo7

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 10, 2022

Chase Young talking to us for the first time since his torn ACL: “I feel like, as a team, we just didn’t have the season that we wanted to have. I didn’t have the season I wanted to have. The year just didn’t go how you’d want your year to go in general” pic.twitter.com/u7ADvJ92zg

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Chase Young is asked if he’ll attend OTAs. He said he and Ron Rivera were still discussing Young’s offseason’s plan. Didn’t commit either way.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 10, 2022

Chase Young describing his relationship with Ron Rivera: “Like I always say, he’s a dude. He’s always going to be 100 percent with you, a straight-shooter… I feel like that’s why we gel… He’s a dude when, you get around him, you just feel good”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Chase Young said he stayed in touch regularly with guys while he was rehabbing the second half of the season. He’d text Ron Rivera before every game “get money” to get him hyped.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 10, 2022

Chase Young’s review of the new jerseys: “They’re tough, I ain’t gonna fake”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: S Bobby McCain speaks with the media https://t.co/RzYSosOunK

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Bobby McCain said “I like it here; i want to be here.” Now, we’ll see if they can work out a deal. Know they like him and would like to keep, but $$ always has to work out..

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Bobby McCain played for Brian Flores in Miami. Flores was fired today. “Coach Flo is a good coach, a real good coach… sucks…. I’m sure he’ll have a job real soon. It came as a surprise for most people; I would just say I know he’ll bounce back.”

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

William Jackson III said he was on track to play in Sunday’s finale before catching COVID. He’s speaking to reporters now. He said his virus left him with mostly headaches, nothing too bad.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 10, 2022

William Jackson III said a big adjustment for him was using his eyes right. When playing man, of course, focused on one guy. Played more zone this year, said needed to get used to seeing more of the field, using peripheral vision more. Ongoing…

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

William Jackson said things started clicking for him after the Tampa Bay game. Said he was thinking less and just playing.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 10, 2022

William Jackson III attributes Washington’s third-down defensive struggles to overthinking. Thinks at times the defense tried to play things too safe instead of simply cutting it loose pic.twitter.com/VTn35LoOZD

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: CB Benjamin St-Juste speaks with the media https://t.co/SYSA0c4CRP

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Benjamin St-Juste said since he had two concussions in a short amount of time, his recovery took longer. The concussions created anxiety, he said. St-Juste wanted to get back to play, but Rivera and others advised him to rest.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 10, 2022

Benjamin St-Juste was at home in a dark room when dealing with multiple concussions in a short amount of time earlier this year. Felt a lot of anxiety and “couldn’t shut [his] brain off” because he wanted to get back so badly. Says those were the first two of his career pic.twitter.com/jGeedqerPB

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

CB Benjamin St-Juste missed 10 games during his rookie season while dealing with concussions. Said he had two in short amount of time. Though the first 2 he’s had, Rivera and the staff advised him to remain patient with the breadth of his career in mind.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 10, 2022

Shaka Toney on how he feels after his rookie year: “I’m humble as ever. I think I did some things well in my rookie year, stuff that didn’t show up on the stat sheet… I’ve just got to build on it. I haven’t arrived” pic.twitter.com/4ca7Ztqzbm

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Shaka Toney says he still has a lot to prove. “I haven’t arrived”. Says to feel that way has to put his stamp on games. Did not do so this season.

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Toney played Kenny Pickett twice. Says he’s tough. Saw glimpses of what he can do and did do this year. “Nor surprised” what he showed.

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 10, 2022

Troy Apke isn’t thinking much about free agency right now (he’s due to hit the market as his rookie deal is expiring). Just focusing on improving as a defender and special teamer pic.twitter.com/Ud5hgWQcyQ

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LIVE: P Tress Way speaks with the media https://t.co/xbG0B7hplh

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 10, 2022

Tress Way was really impressed by Joey Slye this year: “Watch the rotation of the ball. Watch how consistent their contact is throughout the entire game. Joey Slye hits a ball that’s coming out of a Juggs machine man. Every ball looks the exact same” pic.twitter.com/ZaJ0xl6utW

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

How did Tress Way feel watching Dustin Hopkins kick last night in the Chargers-Raiders game?

“I was all puckered up man”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Tress Way has some thoughts on the next name for Washington:

Redhogs; “You can keep the HTTR acronym rolling with that.

“Definitely dig that Commanders vibe. That just SOUNDS like DC”

“I’m pro it ending in S”

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

Tress Way says he’s down with “Red Hogs” since it harkens back to the old days here. Also vibes with Commanders and Admiral but needs to end with an “s.”

That said, he’s not been asked for his opinion.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 10, 2022

Cam Cheeseman summing up his first NFL campaign: “It was one fun ride.”

Says he had to “re-find” himself since he didn’t play in school that final year before entering the draft. That was a difficult process for him early on pic.twitter.com/ZZI17oZ0TS

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 10, 2022

LS Camaron Cheeseman says he would like to get an endorsement deal with a cheese company.

“Anybody — Velveeta — anybody wants something with The Cheese, I got you.”

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 10, 2022