Ron Rivera knows he has a good problem on his hands.
He was asked Monday about Montez Sweat and Chase Young both being in a contract year.
“Well, I will tell you, they’ve done a great job, both of them. I think when you look at both guys coming back and their situational circumstances, so far it’s what we’ve been hoping for…Both guys are in a really good place for us.”
With training camp having begun and the season opener only 41 days away, Rivera was asked if he has conversations with the two defensive ends about being in their contract year.
“Well, I mean, we will get to a certain point obviously when those conversations could occur. But right now, as we’re still kind of feeling our way through, especially with new ownership, those are all conversations that are still a work in progress in terms of bringing them up to speed where we are, bringing them up to speed as to what our desires are going forward.”
When Young went down in November 2021 with a torn ACL, Rivera said it was difficult last season because they wanted Young to be able to play, but they also understood Young had to be ready.
“(It was) very, very, very tough…I mean, the truth of the matter is when the guy goes through an ACL, very few guys can do what Adrian Peterson did. So it’s just going to be a matter of time.”
Rivera is feeling good about his defense as the new training camp season began last week. He commented he thinks he sees more confidence in understanding the scheme and that some guys have matured as well.
When asked where he saw maturity in the defense, Rivera responded,
“The little things are important. It’s when they’re in meetings, when they’re in the walkthrough, and when they’re in practice. It’s like watching some of the guys right now…As I walk through and I see seven, eight, nine, 10 guys still out there working together, on their own, without coaches around them; that’s impressive. That’s what you want from your guys, and they’re doing it on a voluntary basis because they think they need to work together and continue to do that. That, to me, is just showing maturity.”
Speaking of maturing and players being in their contract year, how about safety Kam Curl? It has not gone unnoticed to Rivera that Curl is displaying leadership as he matures as well.
“They’re maturing the way you need them to. And watching the way Kam Curl’s doing things, that’s what you need from a young man that’s potentially one of your true leaders back there.”