Nick Piccone
Yesterday, Howard Eskin reported that Jason Peters took himself out of Saturday night’s game, saying he “wasn’t gonna get hurt for this.” Chip Kelly was asked about that report, which Les Bowen also confirmed, this morning on WIP and also at his afternoon press conference.
For what it’s worth, I don’t care if this is true or not. Peters hasn’t had a great year and anyone who wants to tell you otherwise is lying between their teeth. Have injuries played a role in his down season? Probably. But, this is also the guy who didn’t want to dress as a backup earlier this season, and was called out by Mike Quick on Thanksgiving for walking around the sidelines despite not being able to go into the game.
Here’s what Chip had to say on Peters this afternoon:
Chip: We were just told he couldn’t go any longer. You know, I know he got banged up early in the game, I think it was an elbow. Um, Jason has been playing hurt all season long. I don’t think people realize what he’s gone through to get out on the field. Um, but, again, what I’m told on the sideline, I never say ‘Hey, explain to me what went on.’ I know he went out and he missed a couple of plays early in the first quarter. I was just told he was done and that’s why Dennis [Kelly] was there.”
Was it a player’s decision or a trainer’s decision?
Chip: Again, it just wasn’t relayed to me that way. It’s just relayed as Jason’s out. So I didn’t get into that.
Other guys are playing hurt obviously at this time of year. Why is it okay for him to-
Chip: Again, I don’t have that answer for you. What I know is I was told he was out. But I know a lot of guys – and to look at one guys’ injuries compared to another guys’ injuries isn’t really fair to anybody, because I think for one guy to say, ‘Hey, my ankle hurts compared to what he has’ – I think everybody at this point in time is banged up and everybody understands themselves, but we’re certainly not gonna tell a player that, ‘No, you’re not hurt and you have to go back in the game.’ I’ve never done that, and I never will do that. That’s not how we operate.
In terms of Jason as a person, he’s played through a lot since I’ve been here in the three years I’ve been year, and I will never question his toughness.”
Audio below.