 All right, just a few things here before I get started with questions. It's been a minute since I've talked. Just an update of some of our injuries. Guys that we're anticipating back made good progress over the by. Jalen Dalton, Arnold Abercady, we feel good about Elijah. Hopefully, you know, see how the rest of the week goes for Elijah. We took Matt Hennessy off, so he started his clock. We'll see how that goes. So that's the good news with the health. The only one that we're still, you know, we'll have to see as the week goes is Chuma, Adoga, so we'll evaluate that the rest of the week. A lot of those guys coming off the by in a pretty good spot. So coming out the right time here for us, especially up front. In regards to, you know, roster moves, we didn't make a switch at quarterback. So Desmond Ritter will be the starter. It's a performance-based decision. Obviously, where our circumstances are. I talked last time about trying to get over the hump, some of these close games and where we try to push the offense. We feel like it's the best decision where he's at or the team's at as we prepare to go down to New Orleans. So, Simon Logan Woodside for depth of the quarterback. That move was made as Marcus goes and he's got an old chronic knee he wants to get evaluated. They have nothing to do with this decision. But he'll go, so he's not here right now. And we'll see how the rest of the week goes, but I anticipate him going to IR. With that, I'll open up questions. Well, you have to put the bat around on the decision. Move some of the rationale after you all get to go with the big move at quarterback. Yeah, well, a lot of things he led. So, and that's part of our job. It's what I get paid to do as you're evaluating, right? So really in the last month or so, you know, we've been in some of these close games where we're at in the season, where I thought we were trending. We've met a lot of progress offensively. Obviously, some things we've evolved and tried to push to in the passing game. And, you know, we're close, but, you know, we need to get over that hump. We feel also the growth from Desmond that we've seen. He's been one play away all season, but feel very comfortable where he's at right now to be able to handle the game plan to operate at full capacity. Other than, again, we would have adapted if he had to play early in the season. To feel really, really good where he's at right now. So both those things factored into it. And again, I wouldn't have made this decision. Didn't think it was in the best answers for this team. Not only short term, but probably a long term as well. So that's led to a lot of that. It's about other things there, D-Led. Sorry, on Marcus, you said it's Marcus who you're anticipating going on an IOR, and he's not going to be able to do that. I would anticipate that, yeah. And that had nothing to do with the move here, Josh. But there's, you know, a lot of athletes. Some chronic, nothing that's been an issue this season. But that's their prerogative. And so, you know, as this happens, you know, that's why we signed Logan on Saturday to make sure we have depth there. And we'll, you know, once that decision is made, then I'll update you. But he's not here right now. So, in case, you know, just give me a full transparency. But he would, if you had not made the switch, this would not have come out. He wouldn't have done it. Josh, I'm not a medical expert. Just telling you it had nothing to do with the decision. And we'll just see how the week plays out. Not the first time you've had that conversation with Marcus. How did it go? How did he take it? Yeah, well, I'm in a different role. You know, obviously, Mike Rabel was the head coach then, and that's the head coach's decision. Obviously, it was that coordinator. So, a lot different this time around. Completely different set of circumstances. So, those are never easy for any position. Certainly, some of those high profiles, a quarterback that gets his most attention. You know, obviously, aware of that as well. But you try to be truthful. And whether they agree or not, you know, those are the conversations you have to have. And that's what we did and had it in person Thursday morning. In terms of making this decision, at what point did you start to think that this would possibly be the way that you go? Well, I mean, you're constantly evaluating where you're at, where your roster's we've done this at other spots. You know, we all know what big part of this league what drives a lot of ratings and outcomes is the quarterback spot. So, I mean, you're always looking at it, like I said, in the last month or so. Been in plenty of close games. Again, those are things that we need to see evolve in the passing game as we've evolved this season, like the progress we've made in the running game. Again, something that we think can benefit us. And certainly, not only in the short term, but hopefully the long term. So that's what you're evaluating. You know, our objective is to win. You know, as a rookie, he's never taken an NFL sound in our other season game. Do you have to alter maybe how much of the playbook would be available to you? I think if we had to do that early in the season, we would have. I mean, that's what you do as a coach. And you're always going to lean into the strength. You know, you're playing certainly at the quarterback spot. You know, I'm not rigid to that. But there's certainly now where he's at and the growth and improvement that we feel he's made. Not a lot right now, Michael. Otherwise, that factored into as well. If I thought that we had to restrict him, that wouldn't be the best move. That wouldn't be fair to this team. So that certainly factored into it. What all point did you start to maybe get comfortable with him being able to do it? Well, he's been one play away all year. And that's what you do. You adapt. No different. Kyle goes out and you've got to have a backup plan in your game, how you want to finish the game, how you contingency plans, how you alter that. Certainly maybe some schemes, a personnel you may get out of. But then as you have more time to repair, you alter it that way as well. So you're constantly evaluating, like I said, he's been in one play away all year. He's interesting, won't he go play away the one actually going around the job immediately? Sure, I mean, you've got more time right now. I mean, where the circumstances change. Ironic, where the buy came this year late, where we're at. So a lot of that certainly accounted for why we made the decision and where I think now is the best time. So in one play away and then where he's evolved, I think he's taken a step in the last month. He told me, I guess, in October that he was still struggling to maybe getting a little nuances of getting the plays in and play book stuff. Was that part of it too, that you should need to see that with more confidence? Yeah, that's kind of what I'm not to be, sound like I'm being a smart alec here, but that's what I'm saying. Yes, so he's telling you the truth. Certainly that's what you want to see as rookies. Some guys hit walls and a lot of the goes on behind the scenes and what you have to prepare to be a quarterback and to be a backup quarterback. That's a huge job. So there's a lot that factored into it, and we've seen a lot of improvement from them, which gives you a lot more confidence. It doesn't guarantee anything on Sunday. We've got to prepare well all week. We're excited about going down to New Orleans and playing the Saints. And it's a good opportunity for us as a team. Do you have any when you were kind of going into the bi-week in layman's terms, what was Desmond's homework for the week? I imagine you talk about having that extra time. What did that look like for him? There's some things that he and I talked about and that we wanted to work on. And so that's kind of what we did in his private conversations. But he was around a week, as was I. And we're excited to see what it looks like the rest of the week. And on Sunday, it'll be a big challenge for us. Talk about playing in New Orleans. That's a pretty big deal for a lot of guys. Let alone a rookie quarterback is first NFL star. How do you kind of as the play caller, as a coach, make sure the moment doesn't get too big for Desmond? Yeah, I mean, if I thought the moment was too big for him, I wouldn't put him out there. I think that's the one that gives me a lot of confidence. Again, it doesn't guarantee anything. I mean, it's his first start. I don't know. You can make a subjective argument. One of the perfect time is if you make a move. That's kind of life. If you like to debate, those are fun debates to have. But the reality is our circumstance has changed where I feel we need to push this offense. And there's certainly a risk every time you make that. If you take a step back, but we think we've got a lot of confidence in Desmond, we're out. And again, a part of it too is where the offensive line's at. A very different situation where we're early in the year. Consistently, we've got to continue to do that, which also makes the transition easier, too. When your line's playing better, you're able to run the football. So that's also factored into it. What part of the game has taken the most out of the last month? I haven't been only physically felt good or we would have signed another guy to kind of give us a security blanket if we didn't worry about some of the physicals. But mentally, I mean, that's such a long season. I mean, like I said, you get through a season, I feel like it's like four lifetimes. So here we are in like the fourth quarter of the season. But really mentally, Zach, I do. And that's what we expect and we anticipate translating hopefully more success down in New Orleans. You told us that in the Pittsburgh game, that every position, not just the quarterback is going to be the L, we're going to the bike. What else stood out from that evaluation? Yeah, a lot of stuff. You know, we continue to make sure we got the best guys out there in the secondary and same with the inside linebacker. And obviously, we've got a lot of different guys play up front on defense. We continue to try to find the right lineup in terms of this game plan as we go through the week. We finalize that. That's also a huge factor. Who's up? Who's down? Part of the plan. Certainly we've got a lot of different wide outspots who can help the most in part of this plan as well. So those, we've been kind of running by committee anyways. So obviously the quarterbacks, the biggest change there offensively. And I'm sure you took a jumpstart on New Orleans. Did any drastically change from now, from what we saw earlier in the year? They're pretty consistent. The defense has been pretty good for a while. They've got a lot of good veterans there. You know, offensively, as they've gone through, like every team's gone through injuries. They were in a close one Monday night. They had to buy like we did. We know it's a challenge. Anytime you play an individual game, anything, I mean, it's the NFL. You guys saw, that's all watched football yesterday. And we all know that it's not to give a cliche here, but it's the truth. But certainly when you're an individual opponent, you know each other so well. Those are always big games, regardless of circumstances or record. So it's, like I said, we anticipate a great atmosphere down in New Orleans. Haven't been down there a ton, obviously last year, but we know it's lively down there. I'm sure it'll be loud. People will wake up early, I'm sure, and get their day started, like they do down in New Orleans. When you make the switches, is there any concern with the job, even though you're struggling, you're still obviously at the playoff mix, only a game out from Tampa? Is there any long-term thinking beyond this year that given Desmond four games, sort of get you a head start and see if he's the guy a lot of terms? You know, there's a lot of things that factor, your circumstance changed, right? When we wore a month ago as well. And I know the reality you're talking about, but we got to be concerned about what's more important. And I think that's lost. Like you're certainly aware, but nothing matters unless we can go down and get a win down in New Orleans. And then the rest will take care of itself. So our focus got to be in the present or present situation about going down on a road divisional game down in New Orleans, because all of this other stuff doesn't matter. We can't go down there and get a win this weekend. So in terms of long-term, you're certainly hoping that it pays off, but short-term, we'll make this move, wouldn't be fair to those guys that are in that situation and fighting all year. So a lot of things factored into it, but got confidence in Desmond. And then again, there's risk anytime you make a move, but you got to be willing to take that if you want to break through and get out of this up and down inconsistency. And like I said, we've been a lot of close games, we've made a lot of progress, but our objective is to get over at home. And if it benefits us a long-term, that's a really good thing for us. Forgive me if I missed this. Do you know when Marcus will return? I don't know, Josh. I'm just giving the information that I've got. And I was putting context of why we made the move with Logan. And then also putting context that making a move with Des had nothing to do with that. Right. But is there some value in having Marcus or the guy who's been in this system back in the building to help Des? And would you encourage him from that aspect? You know, Josh, getting out of the vehicles, of course you want all your guys to be here. But again, guys got to make decisions based on what's the best interest from, you know, that's happening. Part of the professional sports, you see it happen all over the place. And you got to have plans and contingency plans. So the contingency plan was to get Logan in here, somebody I'm very familiar with. It's been, you know, obviously in Tennessee. And if Logan's job on Sunday is to be the backup, that's what happens. I'll have a clearer picture when we talk again on Wednesday to be able to give you the, hey, this is definitely what's happened, what's not, but at least having Logan in here gives you another option. You obviously got Felipe as well, but feel more comfortable. You got to have contingency plans. But you expect Mark's back this season? I can't answer that right now. Once I, obviously if somebody goes on IR, I wouldn't anticipate them back, but until that decision has been made and finalized, now we're just talking to hypotheticals. I'm not trying to be evasive. I'm just telling the information as I have it. In terms of other guys, like Zach mentioned, that you're gonna be, are you replacing any other starters anywhere across? So the rest of the week goes. So again, a lot of it will be, how we think the game plan is, some things that we need wanna see better from certain players, and we'll give them an opportunity to show us, and as we finalize the plan, and we'll let New Orleans figure that out on Sunday. That's the one, that's the biggest one, because we're not gonna sit here and play these silly games. Hide a quarterback when you guys are out there not, and we got to prepare to get Desmond ready to start. In terms of corner, did you mention cornering inside linebackers specifically? Are those the... I listened to you line, I missed an outside linebacker, pretty much the entire defense. I believe I did. I don't know if I got that specific, but I set up front. They've rotated a lot of guys. I'll check the transcripts, but... Hey, you mentioned Elijah at left guard. I mean, if and when Elijah is good to go, does he move back there? I'd anticipate that if we feel he's healthy enough, yes. Understanding that your days are pretty full. Every week, is there anything extra you can or will do with Des for prep this week? You know, it's based, every quarterback, Joshua worked with different other process. Obviously he's young, and that's been a big part of his development behind the scenes, is finding that routine, and that's real, as long as this season is, the balance, the way he prepares. So a lot of it will be, yeah, Josh will be some more things we do, but I gotta also make sure, with Des too, that he's got his week in order, and I will be new to him, right? You guys are gonna have to talk to him this week, and all that stuff factors in. Those are different time commitments, and that's a responsibility of being a starter in the National Football League. So he's gotta figure that out, and we'll certainly do everything we can to help him. Where are some of the areas where the passing game could improve under? Well, you know, obviously earlier here at D-Led, there were certain games, we didn't pick the ball up that much, but we certainly have, and recently, as you continue to evolve, because you gotta improve, like I said, I've been pleased with the progress we've had in the run game, it's been pretty consistent. It doesn't mean anything. For Sunday, we gotta go down and play well, prepare against a good front, but again, some of those are private conversations, but we need more production, things that we've tried to do, and it's not putting all the blame on him, but there's certain things we wanna see, and we feel Desmond's got a chance to provide that at Spark D-Led. After the Steelers game, everybody seemed to still have Marcus's back in the locker room, guys that we heard from. What does Desmond have to do to kind of win those guys over to you? What characteristics does he have that you believe he can do that? Sure, I mean, look, I've got a thankful for everything Marcus has done for us, right, this year, other than really the Cincinnati game, and we've just been a grind, and again, we are, and the fact that we are five and eight, right, regardless of what's around us, doesn't matter, and we need to get over that hump, and that's what I said before, you know, we gotta find ways to get back on the winning track. You know, really the challenge for Desmond is you gotta go earn the respect, you know, just because the name of Starter doesn't also mean he can come in here like he's the new sheriff in town, and he's a rookie, and he's gotta, you know, prove that he can be successful and believe he will. So, but he's gotta do it his own way, and it's gonna organically happen. I think to go in there and just be himself, and everybody's got their own way, doesn't need to be anybody but himself, but I think once he finds success, he can lean into it a little bit more. That's all we're gonna ask him. Good, thank you.