Albert Wilson – June 16, 2021
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Wednesday, June 16, 2021
WR Albert Wilson
(I want to ask you what I asked WR Allen Hurns, which is what was the game-day experience like for you watching the Dolphins last year? Would you be rooting for them? Would you get nervous when the game was tight? Was there ever a time where you wish you had played last season?) – “Every game. It wasn’t too different from when I went out (with an injury) in 2018, when I had to sit home and kind of watch the games from there. I can say I kind of became more of a student of the game, and was able to kind of watch the overall game instead of just being the receiver, and just knowing what I have to do kind of set back in, overall watching football – offense and defense. So it was a good experience.”
(Was there ever a time you wish you had played at all?) – “Aw, man. Every single game.”
(I’ll ask the same thing I asked WR Allen Hurns as well. Knowing the NFL can be a business, when you made your decision to opt out, how much of that was in the back of your mind? Sort of, ‘Are they going to hold this against me down the road?’) – “None. I just feel like if I get the opportunity to go out on the field, I’m going to be ok. And that’s what I went with. I wasn’t too worried about anything else – just the safety of my family and myself.”
(Knowing that the league was able to get through the entire season – we all had concerns when the pandemic broke out, but we now know how it turned out. If you knew then what you know now about the level of how contagious it was and so forth, would you make the same decision over again, do you think?) – “I don’t think I ever thought I made a bad decision, even with what was going on and how successful the NFL was going last year. I stand by my decision.”
(I wanted to ask you what went into your thought process when you did make that decision? I know it’s all a personal individual decision that everybody had to make, but what were some of the factors that went into your mind?) – “Just mostly the uncertainty of what was going on and not having facts on what was going on in the world. It was kind of scary with what we had (going) on in my household. I totally based the decision off that.”
(Earlier in the offseason, there was some social media floating around that you were getting some reps in with QB Tua Tagovailoa? What did it mean to get off to a head start with him and what has it been like working out with him on the side and now in practice?) – “It was good. It’s all about having that chemistry and being on the same page, so the more time we have to do that, the better we’ll become. He did a great job of proposing and holding practices during the offseason and when guys were in town, and getting together to show up and get some stuff going early.”
(You opted out for health reasons like WR Allen Hurns did. Now that there’s a vaccine, do you feel that things are safer? Where do you feel as you come back to the locker room and the workplace right now?) – “Yeah, for sure. I think things are a lot safer with the vaccine and how things are playing out.”
(Did you get vaccinated?) – “Yes.”
(I can’t believe it was 2018 when you got hurt. That seems like so long ago – three years. Then of course, you did play in 2019. My question is how does your whole body feel now in comparison to how it felt at this point in 2019?) – “For sure, night and day. I feel great right now, just my whole body including the hip. I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do out there so it’s exciting just going into the season truly healthy and just knowing you can do anything you want.”
(One of the things you always did, whether it was with the Chiefs or the Dolphins, was gain a lot of yards after catch. And I think especially in 2018, you had high yards per reception and high yards after catch; but then in 2019 when you came back, it decreased a little bit. Why do you think it decreased a little bit and do you expect that it will increase, assuming you’re on the team this year?) – “Yeah, it was just some things. I just wasn’t pretty much comfortable with doing things that year, and then just getting myself back to where I was. The coaches do a great job. They were aware of what I was able to do and now that we’re fully healthy, going into camp and to see what we can make shape.”
(This morning, Head Coach Brian Flores talked about adding competition to the receivers room; and obviously plenty of guys in that room now have accomplished NFL resumes. I’m wondering what the mood in that room is like in terms of the competition and how that positively impacts your game?) – “I think just overall, the more people you get in to compete, the better your overall team is. I’m just speaking for myself but when you bring a ton of guys into the room that are veterans and know what they’re doing, you’re just going to get the best out of everybody. It isn’t going to do anything but help the team.”
(Obviously you weren’t here last year with Wide Receivers Coach Josh Grizzard in the receivers room. How has your relationship been with him and getting to know him and feeling him out so far?) – “He’s been around so he’s my guy. Everything has been going great. It doesn’t feel like I’ve missed a beat since I’ve been back.”
(WR Jaylen Waddle is kind of a similar style player to you. I wanted to get your early impressions of him and if you’ve thought of the idea of how much fun it might be for you and him to be on the field at the same time, and the possibilities that could bring to the offense?) – “Man, I’m excited to see the kid go to work. Like you said, I see myself in him; so anything I can do to help him get going right now, I’m here for him. And then to see somebody that can work the slot just as well as me on the other side of the ball, and we’re all just going at it; it will be a lot of fun.”
(What was your anticipation level to get things started for you in 2021 after sitting out last year?) – “I’m just trying to get in and be able to compete and go to work. I’m not too caught onto how things are going to play out. I’m just looking for that opportunity.”
