HEAD COACH ANDY REID
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, as far as the injuries go, Leo Chenal’s out with personal issues – I mean, he missed today. He’ll be back in. Then, Cam Jones was sick and missed today. Spencer (Shrader) is the only one really to report. (He) strained his hamstring, (he) did it Monday when training and so he will be listed as out today. Other than that, we sure look forward to the challenge of playing the Raiders, (they’re a) good football team. (They’re) playing confident football on really both sides of the ball. Now, they’ve had a couple changes in there (and) we’ll have to adjust to that but again, our guys had a good week of practice, and we know when the Raiders and the Chiefs get together, it’s always one of those kinds of games. Anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”
Q: Will Leo Chenal be back Friday?
REID: “Yeah. Yeah.”
Q: What’s your expectation for Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu returning for this game?
REID: “I mean, as long as they’re (Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu) okay. We’ll check on it again today, I’ve been trying to take it day-by-day. If they’re good after today then we’ll play them, yep.”
Q: Does Raider Week have any particular importance to you just looking at NFL history?
REID: “Well, there have been a lot of great games. I know both teams kind of understand that there’s been a rivalry for a lot of years, a lot of great players (on) both sides, (on) both teams. That’s really where the – I’d tell you the history started, back in the AFL (American Football League) with it and both teams have good players, and so they battled each other – violently they battled each other (laughs). Again, great competition against each other.”
Q: Is there anything that you noticed from D.J. Humphries?
REID: “Listen, he (D.J. Humphries) looked healthy moving around, (he) felt good. It’s just a matter of him getting back in the swing and then also compounding with just the offense and making sure that he has the terminology down and he’ll go from there.”
Q: What’s a reasonable timeframe for D.J. Humphries?
REID: “Eh. We’ll just play it by ear. I told him (D.J. Humphries) let’s just keep the communication open and we’ll figure it out. That’s kind of what we’ve done with the other guys that have come in and we’ll just keep open communication. He seems like a guy that’ll shoot you straight so that’s what I’d expect.”
Q: What do you guys like about Matthew Wright?
REID: “I think we all have trust in him (Matthew Wright) from having been around him, so we look forward to welcoming him into the mix. I know guys know him and have made him, I think, feel that way coming back here – (we have) full trust in him, yeah.”
Q: What sense do you get from your defense based on how the last few games have gone?
REID: “Listen, there have been some real good things but there (are) some things we have to clean up. The guys are taking accountability for that – and coaches and that’s what’s it all about (and) you work through those things and make sure that you can get yourself where you want to be.”
Q: How are you guys handling Thanksgiving tomorrow and how much family time will you get yourself?
REID: “There are some unique weeks, but we’re making them consistent with what we do and working around it – make sure the guys get enough recovery time. They always have tomorrow off after the walk through and then before they get to the hotel, so they have time to visit with their families (and) do what they need to do there.”
Q: What do the Giving Machines mean to you and your wife?
REID: “I think it’s fantastic because it does good for people – all over the world. It’s an amazing thing to look at and watch and see how it’s grown throughout the country. Then, how it’s giving people a chance to have maybe an easier life that don’t have that.”
Q: How does the tight end position shake out for you and is Anthony Firkser a guy that you might need this week?
REID: “Yeah, that would – he (Anthony Firkser) would be one that we could use in there. Again, he’s another one that’s coming back to us, so we’re familiar with him and kind of what he can do. Obviously, (he’s) a brilliant guy and we’ve worked him in there, so he’s been getting some reps. Yes, he’s one that we could work with, yeah.”
Q: On two-minute drill situations.
REID: “Yeah, we hit it heavy at least once a week, so it’s important. I think most teams probably do something of that sort. I think it’s important – all the details (and) situational football I think is important and that’s one of the situations and we’ve been there a few times, and we needed it, yeah.”
Q: How beneficial is it to have a guy like Patrick Mahomes who seems to constantly be thinking about those things?