Washington Commanders defensive tackle Johnny Newton addressed the media after practice on July 30. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On how it felt to be back on the field:
"It felt really good to be out there. I've been watching since OTAs, mini camp, so it felt good to get back out there with the guys, family. They've been giving me great support. Everybody in the locker room, everybody in the building really. So, just to get out there and compete, it felt really good to get off."
On his thought process after hearing he needed surgery and where he is in terms of recovery:
"My thought process was, just attack it like I attacked the first one. Just get to it, get the recovery in so I could get back to work. Just taking things day by day, honestly, really don't have anything planned. Just taking it day by day, seeing how it feels, getting back into that game speed and like I said, just taking things day by day."
On when he knew something wasn't right with his foot:
"I honestly didn't. I was checking out the right foot to see if it was good and then got an X-ray on the left one, both feet at the same time. And I found out, it was like right before I got up here, but I never really felt anything."
On if he ever had discomfort in that foot:
"No."
On how long it took for things to feel back to normal:
"Immediately, right after. Like I said, I done been through it before with the other foot, so I knew what to expect. I knew how to attack the recovery, I knew what it was gonna take to get back to this state and I did exactly that. Great training staff in there, great coaching staff. Everybody always came to check on me, definitely right after I had surgery. So it was comfortable for me and I knew what my goal was and what I had to do to get back, so I just did exactly that."
On what he's learned about DT Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen:
"They're just great people, great teammates. I've been watching them for years now. Back when they were in college at Alabama I used to watch them, but actually getting to know them, great people outside of the football field. They're honestly like big brothers. Whenever I mess up with something, they'll tell me. Just the smallest things on the field, they always help me out, always encouraging me. So, we know how good they are on the field, but outside of the field they're big bros, honestly, and they have my back and I have theirs."
On how he's getting his quickness back after the injury:
"It's in me, not on me. Like I said, just taking things day-by-day. Rome wasn't built overnight, so I'm not expecting to get back to 100 percent, first day of practice. Just getting my feet. Honestly, this is my first NFL practice, getting up to speed and hopefully, eventually for sure soon I'll be back to 100 percent and back to my old self."
On how it's been playing with DB Quan Martin and CB Mike Sainristil:
"Yeah, playing with Quan again and [G] Allegretti, Nick, two Illinois guys and in the locker room we're close. It was like a family, like they're extended Illinois family, you could say. So, Mike, that's my boy, even though he went to Michigan. I mess with Michigan like that, but that's my boy. We're in the same rookie class, always competing with everything we do. Just two competitive people who always want to win. So, we're connected through that bond and just wanting to be the best at what we do."
On how he stayed sharp after missing rookie minicamp:
"I've always been a guy that's always practiced no matter what. So, missing that practice, it was hard honestly. I knew what I had to do, get the mental reps in. Everybody in the building was always encouraging me. Jon's my locker mate, so always talking to Jon, he's like, 'Bro, you're going to be alright.' He is like, 'I can't wait for you to get on the field.' And just hearing that from Jon was great encouragement to me, because I look up to Jon. He is like a big brother to me, and what he's done on the field, excellent. We all know that, like I said, I grew up watching Jon, so hearing things from him consistently every day it was always encouraging to me. And, DQ [Head Coach Dan Quinn], AP [General Manager Adam Peters] always came to check up on me, and that meant the most to me. So, I knew what I had to do and that always gave me an extra boost."
On how he felt after hearing he needed a second surgery:
"I don't want to say disappointment, I was kind of shocked, honestly. It kind of upset me, but I really didn't let it get to me that much. I was like, 'Man, if we go do it, let's just do it now.' So, we got it out the way immediately, and like I said, I knew what I had to do. I just went through the same thing with the right foot. So, I was kind of happy that we found it now rather than later and it affected me during the season. So, I just feel like everything happens for a reason and that happened. Both of my feet are completely healed now. So, just getting back to it now."
