OPENING STATEMENT: “As far as the injuries go, we really don’t have any to announce to you today. When you’re out there, Neil Farrell has been excused just for personal reasons. He’ll be back here tomorrow. Look forward to the challenge of playing the Lions, we know they’re a heck of a football team. Obviously, they finished the season strong last year and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) has done a great job with that group over the last couple of years. He’s got a couple good coordinators. He’s got good players, so our guys know that. We’re going to prepare ourselves for a heck of a football team and a great environment here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Anyway, with that time’s yours.”
Q: With Chris Jones not being here today is he ruled out for Thursday night?
REID: “I can’t tell you – I don’t know what his agenda is or when he’s coming or when he’s not coming. We’re rolling right now, haven’t put much thought into that.”
Q: Did you foresee at any point that you would be entering Week One without Chris Jones?
REID: “You’re never sure how it’s going to work out. You’re dealing with too many people on this type of thing, so these things can go either direction. Again, I don’t spend a lot of time on it. I had 90 guys in the offseason that we needed to make sure we’re going in the right direction. Now we’re getting ready to play a game, and you’re either here or not here. That’s how I go about it.”
Q: How do you keep the noise out of the locker room and not let it be a distraction that Chris Jones isn’t here?
REID: “The guys know how the business side works. The guys that have a chance to play are excited to do that, so I’m not worried about that part.”
Q: What kind of challenge is Lions Defensive Lineman Aidan Hutchinson for the offensive line?
REID: “He’s a good player, he plays both sides, right or left. He’s a heck of a player. Their defensive front is solid. They’re a good bunch right there. The offensive line has really got to have a good week of preparation for that.”
Q: What is the status of Kadarius Toney for Thursday night’s game?
REID: “Right now he’s good to go, so he’s moving around pretty good.”
Q: Is that the same for L’Jarius Sneed?
REID: “Yeah. I’d just say – I mean we’ll take it day-by-day, but right now I’d tell you they’re good to go.”
Q: How do you feel about your pass rush without Chris Jones or Charles Omenihu?
REID: “We’ll be okay. We’ve got good players, so we’ll be alright.”
Q: With Neil Farrell Jr. not at practice today do you anticipate him being active for the game Thursday night?
REID: “We’ll see. We’ll get him back here tomorrow and see how he does working his way in there. He’s in shape, that’s one thing he is because he had been playing, so I’m not worried about that.”
Q: So is there a chance he plays Thursday?
REID: “There’s a chance, yeah.”
Q: How excited are you and the players to play in the NFL Season Kickoff Game and have the whole league focused on you?
REID: “The guys are – listen right now the guys are focused in on the Lions. All the other stuff is how it is, it’s going to be an exciting environment, but right now, we’ve got to make sure we’re not looking at all that stuff and we’re looking at the Lions. They get your attention when you watch the tape.”
Q: What stands out about Lions Quarterback Jared Goff?
REID: “(Lions Quarterback) Jared (Goff) is a good player we know that. We had the one game with him at the Rams a few years back, and we have a lot of respect for him. He had a heck of a year last year, so we are aware of Jared.”
Q: Is there anything you want to see in practice this week to feel like Kadarius Toney is ready to be active for the game Thursday?
REID: “Just practicing. He practiced the other day – fast – and he’ll get in there today and do the same thing. Then we’ll just take it day-by-day (and) make sure he’s feeling alright with his leg, and I’d tell you the same thing with L’Jarius Sneed. Same deal we’re just going to play it by ear.”
Q: Given that Kadarius Toney has not seen many reps leading up to the season do you anticipate easing him in or will he be full go?
REID: “We’ve got enough guys that we rotate anyway, so I think he’ll be alright.”
Q: Does the opening game get you more excited than other games? Is it still as exciting as it was when you were younger?
REID: “Younger, I appreciate that (laughter). Yeah, it’s exciting, it’s great to get the season going is what it is, that’s where you get excited. You understand it’s a long season, but you’re focused in on every game and you maximize yourself every game. This week, it’s the Lions, and you’re dug in and cranking on that. The important thing to the players, especially the new guys the young guys, is that it’s faster than what we just had. It’s not preseason, so the tempo ramps up another notch.”
Q: How concentrated will you be on making sure all the receivers are involved and in rhythm late in the game?
REID: “We’ll see how it works out, but we have the flexibility to do that. We’ll see how things go. I think we’ve got a good plan for that. (Lions Defensive Coordinator) Aaron (Glenn) is going to give me a million different looks on the other side. He does a great job coordinating that thing, so it’s important that our guys focus in on getting to know what he does. Then we have the confidence that they can function out there and if they get a chance that they function there.”
Q: When you look at the tape for the Lions what do you see they do well on offense?
REID: “It all starts with their big guys; they’ve got a nice group of offensive linemen. Obviously, their quarterback (Jared Goff) is a heck of a player. They’ve got a new addition in there with the rookie (Lions Running Back Jahmyr Gibbs) who is a dynamic player and they’ve got good wide receivers and tight ends. They’re fully loaded at all the different spots; they showed that last year. You’ve got to be ready for the run game, pass game, they do a variety of different things. (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) does a nice job with the offense.”
Q: You have the target on your back coming off the Super Bowl win, so teams are motivated to play you. How do you make sure your guys are motivated as well knowing that?
REID: “Well sure – the guys know all that. They understand that; that’s how they work. They’re not going to change that part, that comes with the territory, and you’ve got to make sure you’re ready. The way to get ready though is get good at today and start there. Let’s practice and make sure that we have an idea what the defense and the offense from the Lions is doing and then what we’re doing offensively and defensively. Likewise with special teams.”
Q: No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls in 20 years. Why do you think it is so hard to go back-to-back?
REID: “You know I tell you it’s hard to get one. It took me 20 years to be on that end of it, to have that opportunity with these guys so it’s tough, it’s a tough deal. You don’t look at that, you look at what you can control and that’s your play right now. You have a good day today, and you back it with another good one tomorrow and then you get yourself ready mentally and physically to play against a really good football team. Everything else takes care of itself. You just have to take care of business now.”
Q: When was the last time you talked to Chris Jones and how did it go?
REID: “Not trying to be a lawyer, but I don’t really want to talk about it. My thing with him or anything else there. I would just tell you (General Manager Brett) Veach has had communication there with his agent that’s the important thing right now.”
Q: Jimmy Buffett passed away on Friday. Do you have any stories about him or were you a fan of his?
REID: “Yeah, I saw him play a few times at the Greek Theatre in LA. Great guy, very few guys can be a great singer and a writer period – of books – and he did it all (he was a) renaissance man and then he still sailed through the Bahamas (laughter).”