**GH: People seem to forget that you didn't get here until just after camp because you've seamlessly stepped into the offense. The coaches are saying you can't judge tight end usage from this game, that it's going to be different each week. Is that going to be different for you?**
**NF:** It's kind of like one of those things that I got here from Seattle quite late, and usually teams have their roster set. It's kind of nice having the rotation between me and Drew (Sample), me and Mike and Drew, and whichever way you want to dice it up. It just keeps us all fresh. Like you said, each game is going to be different, where Mike will have the most plays, Drew will have the most plays, maybe I'll have the most plays. But my biggest focus is trying to do what's asked of me on each possession, each drive and each play, and let everything else take care of itself.
**GH: It had to be a nice feeling to catch that touchdown Sunday.**
**NF:** It was great to get that first touchdown in and help the team in any way I could, and hopefully many more to come. The most important thing was to be able to come out with the win. Being 1-0 is the best part.
**GH: An NFL opener never seems pretty nor easy.**
**NF:** I feel like that's known around the league. You know it's going to be kind of a clunky, gritty game. Obviously, the goal is always to not have that, right? You've got to have an understanding that you're not going to have any film scouted for what the defense is going to do that season. It's just going to be kind of a getting back into a groove thing.
I felt like we came out hot, though, came out with a good start, and now we've just kind of got to get ironed out the coming back out in the second half with the half-time adjustments and all that stuff, and execute from there. I think we'll get it down for sure.
**GH: Denver drafted you in the first round in 2019, then in 2022, you went to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade. I get the sense this is the opening of a second phase of your career.**
**NF:** It feels like that for me, also. I think this is like a good, fresh start. A restart with a coaching staff that I really kind of hit it off with, and felt like I really fit in.
**GH: Only one real game with Joe Burrow, but plenty of camp snaps with him. As advertised?**
**NF:** A hundred percent. I think what's really special about him, something that you don't see if you're not in person with him and really don't get a good feeling for, is how laser-focused and constantly in an attack mode when he's on the field. He's so locked in and detailed. I feel like it's cool, because you can see it among the team, among the offense, it motivates people to do the same.
And that's what you want from your franchise guy who's helping lead your team. He's been all as advertised. And I really enjoy just in the short time I've been here being able to work with him and trying to just be where he needs me to be, and help the offense in any way I can.
**GH: Players and coaches say they are looking for more than last Sunday's 17 points.**
**NF:** You don't want to say it too nonchalantly, but I don't have any doubt the offense will get going. We came out really well, like, a (12)-play drive, and then we scored on the (third) drive. It's halftime, and getting into the second half, where we just have to pick it up a little bit quicker and sustain drives. I think it'll play itself out. I think that the offense is going to be like a great, potent offense. You have that many talented players, it's going to be hard not to be. I'm excited to be a part of it and just be able to contribute in any way I can.