What did you see in the three players you claimed off waivers yesterday?
“You start with Natrell Jamerson and he is a guy who we’ve liked for a while through the summer. He’s a corner with size and good speed. He’s got a good burst and explosion. Not only can he play corner, but he’s played safety, and he’s got position flexibility back there. He’s played special teams, he can play gunner, he can play the vice. So he brings a real variety and talents to us, and I think he’ll help us.
Then Brandon [Zylstra] is a guy who comes in, and he’s the type of guy we’re talking about as far as when you’re looking at the fourth/fifth/sixth receivers. He’s a four-phase special teams guy, brings you good size. He’s a different body type than what we have. He’s 6-2, 220. Catches the ball extremely well. Is more of a possession-type receiver, but he’s got the quickness to separate and get open. I think he was a guy that I think [Minnesota] wanted to bring him back if some things worked out roster-wise for them, but we just think he brings a different dimension, and the fact that he’s a four-phase special teamer is very important.
And then Ray-Ray [McCloud], I go back to watching him at Clemson. He’s got some pretty explosive return ability. Matter of fact, I was at a game at North Carolina State when he ran one back for a touchdown. I think he’ll just get better and better. He brings us some different skillsets at returner as far as the ability to have some big returns. He went [to Buffalo] last year, and I think he’s grown. He can also play receiver – basically slot – but he can play receiver. Essentially, I think he’s going to get a chance right off the bat to be our returner.”
Any update on Cam Newton?
“As far as I know, he’s recovering, and he’s going to be ready to go.”
Who put Reggie Bonnafon on your radar as a UDFA?
“[Executive Director of Player Personnel] Jeff Morrow. He basically said that his guy’s a jack of all trades. He’s played quarterback, he’s played wide receiver, he’s played running back, he can be a special teamer for you. He was relentless with the guy, and we signed him as a free agent and Reggie has come in and worked hard from Day 1, improved himself and become very valuable.”
Are you OK with keeping three QBs on the roster all season?
“That’s been the plan all along. Listen, we want to develop young quarterbacks. I think we feel good about Kyle, we feel good about Will, and I think that’s not anything we’ve even debated. We’ve had that mindset all along.”
How does McCloud’s return skills fit into the group?
“As far as a punt returner, he’s got some explosive ability. You don’t want too much because I haven’t even seen him at practice yet. We’ve got to see him in games, but he certainly has that ability to change the field. We’ll see, but we were very pleased to get him.”
Taylor Heinicke played really well during the preseason, what led to the decision to let him go?
“The decision really was – who do you keep at two? I think you want to give Will some time. I think Will’s going to be very, very good, but the jump your rookie year takes time. People don’t understand [that] especially coming from college’s offenses to the pros. He’s shown a lot to us that we think he’s going to be a very good quarterback, but I think we made the decision to keep Kyle Allen as our second.”
What did Javien Elliott do to prove he could have a role at small nickel?
“He played that for Tampa last year, and I think when they released him, I assume they were just looking for a bigger nickel. He’s got the quickness, he’s got the instincts. There’s a knack, whether it’s slot receiver, whether it’s nickel corner, there’s a knack to playing inside, and he’s got that. Since he came in here, he’s shown that ability. He’s shown the physical skillset, the quickness, and he’s had that feel inside. There was a competition there, and he won it.”
