Erik Ezukanma – August 13, 2023
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Sunday, August 13, 2023
WR Erik Ezukanma
(We saw you got two handoffs in the preseason opener. How did that feel? It looked like you almost had the edge on the second one, what happened there?) – “Man, it was a great feeling just to get the ball in my hands. The played was called for me to get the ball, so knowing I was getting it, I was imagining myself with it and did everything I could to try to make some plays for the team.”
(Obviously there’s a lot of competition for the No. 3 spot behind WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Tyreek Hill. I know you may not have caught a bunch of passes, but do you still get some satisfaction of making plays with the ball in your hand and showing the coaches that you can make plays?) – “Definitely. However the offense needs me to make plays for the team, whether they need me to block, run, catch, I’m able to do it all.”
(You got off to a hot start the first week of training camp and then you got injured. How much do you feel like that set you back in terms of progress that you’ll make?) – “I’m making a lot of progress. I felt like I was catching a rhythm making plays in practice. The injury set me back a little bit, but with the rehab and working with training staff, I was able to get back out there and show what I could do.”
(It looked like you had a lot of work in the running game in the game Friday night. How’d you feel you did in that? Also does it feel good to actually get a chance to execute and finish blocks in a live setting like that?) – “It was awesome. Just like I was saying, getting the ball in my hands, always love just toting the pill and following my blocks, helping my guys out and in the run game, blocking for the guys, the running backs, the quarterback, no matter what.”
(Did you play running back in high school?) – “I did a little bit, maybe my sophomore year. But I played running back all the way up until high school. Little league, I playing running back. Then I overgrew it and had to switch to receiver.”
(How do you feel about running back, per se? I know you’re a receiver, but how do you feel about maybe getting a little bit more of that kind of role?) – “Wherever Mike (McDaniel) or Wes (Welker) wants me to be in the offense, I’ll do whatever.”
(Do you have a specific goal for the season? Are you shooting to be the No. 3 receiver or just get playing time? How do you view that?) – “Wherever my coaches need me to be, my teammates, I’m just trying to show them every day that I’m improving, I’m being consistent and just mastering the playbook in my role.”
(You guys are heading to Texas in the next joint practice session. What are you looking forward to heading back to the state of Texas?) – “I’m from Texas. We’ve got a lot of Texas boys on the team, so it’ll feel good to be back. And just the weather, being able to be – well, Houston is a little humid compared to Fort Worth-Dallas, but just being in the area, it’s going to feel good.”
(How’s the weather there compared to here in South Florida?) – “I’m sure South Florida is way hotter, but I’m sure Houston is going to be a little humid. It’s going to be a little climate change, but we’ll handle it.”
(Some of us have been doing some investigative work. We’re aware that these teams between WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle with the wide receivers. I know WR River Cracraft is on Tyreek’s team. Are you on Jaylen’s team? He wouldn’t say who is on his team. Who’s team are you on?) – “I’m on Tyreek’s team. They drafted me.”
(So now we know you were at least the second pick, or were you the third pick?) – “I’m not going to say all that. (laughter)”
(Is it how it goes is you guys go to wide receiver meetings and Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker is breaking it down? Who awards the points?) – “So we got Max (McCaffrey) awarding points with catches, impact blocks, explosive plays, and we tally it up and whoever wins pays for dinner when we go to dinner.”
(What are the places that the wide receivers have been treated to during this competition?) – “Last year, we went to a nice place in Tampa. I forgot what it was called. But we’ll probably do something in Houston.”
(So the competition closes in Houston?) – “It’s going to go through all of training camp. I think we restarted already, so it’s getting competitive.”
(Who won the last round?) – “I really don’t know. We’ll figure it out. (laughter)”
(How often do you guys tally it up? Is it daily?) – “Every day. Every day we tally it up, and then by the end of a week or three-week span, someone wins.”
(How would you describe the ups and downs that you’ve experienced as a pro? Last summer, for example, we saw you making a lot of plays in training camp. And then the season began and we know how that played out. Then the other night, we saw you making a lot of plays. How does that affect your confidence and how do you try to stay on an even keel?) – “Just being where my feet are, honestly. You go through adversity, and it’s all about how you come back from it. I feel like last year was last year, and we’re in a new year now. I’m able to just showcase what I do, every opportunity that I get. I learned from last season and it’s behind me now. I’m ready to just move forward and do what’s best for the team.”
(The biggest way you’ve improved from last year is what?) – “I feel like my mobility. Being able to move. I feel like I’ve gotten faster. I bought into the weight room. Also with supplements and taking my vitamins and stuff like that, I definitely feel has helped me improve on the field.”
(Do you have a choice to take your vitamins and supplements?) – “Well, everybody has their own routines and things they do. I really believe in supplements and vitamins and stuff like that and yoga, and I’ve done it throughout the offseason. I felt way better coming into OTAs. I got hurt a little bit, but I was able to bounce back within a couple of days and play in the game like I did. So I feel like just with routine and staying to what you do every day will help you improve definitely.”
(Which of those elements have you added since last year? What’s new? Or have you been doing all of those for a while?) – “After workouts, I added supplements. Taking vitamins every day. Yoga on my off days. Rehab. Just stretching a lot more. I’m a bigger guy with muscles, so it’s hard to move sometimes. I just do a lot of stretching.”
(When you guys watch tape and see how much space WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle create in the receivers room, do you guys kind of look at that and say there’s an opportunity here for the rest of us with all of the attention those guys command?) – “Definitely. I’m really excited to get on the field with Tyreek and Jaylen. Knowing that most defenses are going to try to stop them and probably not worry about me too much, and being under the radar and being the underdog kind of gives me a little boost of confidence knowing that when my number is called, I’ll be able to showcase my ability one-on-one, knowing that I have to beat one person with them trying to double-team Tyreek or Jaylen.”
