Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury previewed the offense coming out of the bye week and with multiple players, including WR Terry McLaurin, potentially returning to the field on Sunday:
On getting WR Terry McLaurin back, his impact in the 2025 offense
“Yeah, we'll see how the week goes. If those guys can make it back this week be great, but at some point I expect to have him back and I mean, they're two high end players for us. I think the way teams play us, the way they have to try to defend us will change when you have options like that outside. Just their professionalism, the way they work in practice, the play making ability, it will definitely give us a boost that we need.”
On the practice reps for QB Jayden Daniels
“We want to maximize who we are as an offense. I think there's been moments where we move the ball but we're not scoring enough points, and we need to find a way to enhance that. That's certainly a good way to get some of your best players back on the field and playing on a high level.”
On the Broncos defense, pass rush
“Historically, on pace to be one of the best ever when you're talking in number of sacks. So just a relentless play style. Very talented players, just outside guys, whether it's Zach [Allen] inside, like they're loaded. And the way they are just really relentless in their pass rush. I think you can tell us it's an unselfish nature with which they play. Vance [Joseph] has done a great job creating one on ones in his scheme that lets those guys pin their ears back and hunt. So it's a tough challenge, like trying to figure out how to block them in every play. It's been a long week.”
On Broncos CB Pat Surtain Jr. expected to return
“He’s one of those dominant corners in the league. There's not many, I'd say, that are shut down guys, if you will, and he's one of them. So if he's gonna play into the boundary or travel, you gotta know where he's at. He's one of those guys that can eliminate one of your options on each and every play, and just even in the run game, he'll stick his nose in there. So I've been really impressed by his play style, and if he's back, it's definitely a plus for them.”
On how to evaluate the future and win now simultaneously
“I think that's always the fine line you walk in this profession. But, we just overall as an organization, we just need to play better football and that's our focus right now. And so whoever that is that will lead us to, that is who's going to be out there. And I think, you'll have those discussions I think week to week is, hey, what does this look like? Who's the best players we need out there right now. But you have to figure out, like, are we trying to continue to win play at a high level or you reach a point at some point where you need to see what you got? I think we're still in it at this point. And so we got to put our best players out there and try to win games.”
On the new additions to the WR room
“They've made plays when they needed to. There's plays they like to have back, obviously, but very conscientious, hard working players that you could see with development, the way they work, the professionalism, they got a chance to have a nice role in this league. And so that is exciting to see some of those young guys when they had their number call make plays.”
On renewed emotion with injured players like Jayden Daniels returning to practice
“I think it just lifts up everybody the way they carry themselves, the way they practice, the way they approach the game, just their communication on the field, the way they talk to young players. And hey, you could try this on this play, that it lifts everybody up. And so I think all of us feel a boost to see some of your best players back on the field. The level of practice, level of execution - when those guys are out there, guys don't want to let them down either. It's that type of character these guys possess. So they're leaders and guys want to make plays for them and want to play good for them. And so it's definitely helped us as a unit offensively, having those guys back around.”
On staying patient with Jayden Daniels’ recovery process
“He is wanting to be out there as soon as possible. There's no doubt. But he also understands, he's got to get healthy and be 100% so he can play his style and the way he wants to play. And so I think we've done a nice job of working with him to do that, and soon as he's ready, I'm sure he'll be out there.”
On adjustments with Terry McLaurin following injury that sidelined him for bulk of 2025
“I think just as many walk through reps as we could get when he wasn't able to go full speed, I think that's been really good, just getting him more dialed back into the offense and a comfort level, and so far, I've seen that. I think having him away for a while was tough, but he's been able to walk through with us, really stay in tune with the offense the last few weeks, and I feel good about where he's at.”
On having HBO’s Hard Knocks inside the building
“I talked to the guys. We had a tough year the year they did it with us. You don't hardly know they're around, and they don't try to make you look bad. Never have, never will, and we get final say. So just be yourself. I think it's a cool thing to highlight some of the players that have, their stories and kind of the type of people they are. So it can be a positive as long as you let it be.”
On helping Jayden Daniels take care of his body better on the field
“It’s a learned behavior. There's no doubt. And in this league, you sort of survive, there's certain hits you have to try to avoid, and you have to take some stuff off your body, if you can at that position. So I think that's just the more he plays, the more comfortable he'll get in being able to do that. But he's played a certain style his entire life. He's been relatively healthy his entire life and football career, and so I think it's just a learned behavior. The more reps he gets, the more live game reps he gets, he'll figure that out, and know kind of when the party's over, know when to protect himself.”
On reduced snap counts for RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
“I think just overall as an offense, we have to play better. I think getting, if we're able to get some of these outside guys back that'll help open some things up. There's no doubt teams have been packing in the middle and kind of challenging us in some different ways, but Bill's right on track to where you want to be. He's a young player that's still ascending and figuring the game out, so he's just going to keep working hard, and I'm sure that number will go back up.”
Whether Kliff views protecting Jayden Daniels as part of his job responsibility
“I don't ever call it in a way to try and protect that. So I think that's when you get yourself in trouble. It's just us being on same page with how he's gonna play and being smart. Like I said, we can talk about all we want but when he's out there, he's got to understand you're carrying the entire organization with you anytime you're out there. And to be err on the side of caution, if there was a hit, you can take off your body. But I'm gonna call it like I call it, try to call it a way that plays in his favor and the way he likes to play and then we kind of go from there.”
Whether Kliff knows what the offense could look like despite injuries
“I don't. I know it looks a lot better at practice when they're out there, obviously, guys like that flying around and have done it at a very high level in this league. So we'll see - we're all just trying to maximize who we are with this group before this thing's over and see what we can become.”
On Josh Conerly’s progression, tough matchup ahead vs. Denver
“He’s had a bunch of them, but that's life as a rookie in the NFL, and just continue to grow and compete. I think, been really proud of the physicality in the run game. Been proud of like the resiliency. He had some tough matchups early, going through that streak of those three guys and came through it and got better each week. And so there's another huge challenge with their rushers, and just continue to fight and learn. I think everything he's doing is right on track. It's just, there's gonna be some tough moments as a rookie.”