How would you describe the offseason that you had this year?

I feel like we all did a really good job of being intentional about getting better and then having fun.

I think that was Kellen's whole deal was compete and connect.

We all competed against each other, whether it was our team groups, lifting, running, and then connecting.

We spent a lot of time with each other.

And that was one of my main goals is hang out.

Let's all go to dinner together.

They've given you more toys to play with.

uh

be in oregon and then i'll be in san diego um kind of helping us up our you know our tv rodney she was throwing a treat so we're getting all the guys that um come down there and being able to just work and bond together and then for me it's just kind of continuing to study the playbook and then put my feet and my eyes in the right position that's my whole focus and Right now, you know, this OTA phase, you know, you're not necessarily getting full-speed padded reps, but, you know, you're installing all these new plays, making sure we're getting everything right.

I think we've done a really good job of that as a team, and we've gotten closer.

That's kind of the main thing.

We just highlighted in the team meeting room all the fun things that we've done this whole offseason, and this is probably the tightest bunch that all of us have been around.

When we're talking

In all seriousness, does that kind of make you a bit of a chameleon in the locker room having so many different experiences, being able to manage so many different personalities?

Yeah, I think I've been able to learn over time just to be yourself.

All of this is too much?"

[inhales] No, I mean, I... [exhales] I remember the first time I came in was, was against the Bucs defense, and, and Todd Bowles, and my first start was against the Rams, who were, um, obviously deep in the playoffs.

So it was definitely a...

You know, you're not...

It's not a warm-up game.

You're not playing against a, a FCS team in college, and, uh, that was...

I loved it.

Give us one of your plays.

So how much did you learn in your first season on the job, and then what kind of thoughts do you have about your rookie year?

Yeah, I mean, I, I...

The benefit for me was I had every side of the coin.

You know, I, I had the backup role.

I had, you know, the starting role.

I had, you know, a lot of success.

I had a lot...

I mean, dude, how much did he help you into settling into that starting role? And then I'm curious, what kind of, what kind of conversations have you had with the Hall of Famer?

Thank you.

Um, because it just doesn't happen right away.

Um, when you come in and you're learning their new offense, you're coming in with guys you haven't even thrown the ball to, and I mean, that's kind of the theme, is like you...

There's new faces every single week and you kinda have to hit that point where, you know, you trust your reps, you trust your process, you trust your preparation.

Um, and I think whenever it was, the, the second week of the season, um, I was, I was obviously a backup then.

Um, but on the scout team, I had a s- for two weeks, I had a 70% completion rate.

And scout team, you know, that's obvi- most often worst in the game, you know.

I'm never gonna become the guy that I know I am, like the starter and, and get that shot"?

How do you respond to those who ask you about your age and your injury history when you're being interviewed by these teams, Tyler?

Yeah, I mean, I think it's an advantage.

Um, like I said, I, I've kind of had a crash course of the NFL.

Um, you got guys who are gonna get cut, you know, injured in the NFL.

They're gonna get benched, you know, booed when you come in and, you know, I would have loved to have a three-year illustrious career in college and everything go right.

But then I would have maybe had a different sense of entitlement or things were always gonna go my way.

And, um, I feel much more mentally and physically equipped to go out there and handle the task because I've gone through it.

What's that moment gonna be like for you, do you think?