It’s officially game week on The Plains as Auburn is currently in game mode for the Sept. 1 season opener against Washington in Atlanta. The nationally televised game is only top 10 matchup of opening weekend and stands to have College Football Playoff implications for both teams competing in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.

Gus Malzahn met with the media on Thursday for the final time during Auburn’s training camp and touched on several topics with the local media. Of note, Malzahn revealed that offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey would once again be calling the offense from the press box. He started the 2017 season on the field but moved up to the press box during the season.

According to Malzahn, Lindsey does his best work from upstairs.

“That’s his comfort zone anyway,” Malzahn said on Thursday. “You saw when he got into a rhythm, probably Week 4 on he got into a rhythm, that’s his comfort zone and that’s where he will be.”

As the team enters into game week, both sides of the ball are gaining a reinforcement on the line of scrimmage as Malzahn announced center Nick Brahms and defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk have both been cleared to participate in contact practices.

“(Nick) Brahms and (Daquan) Newkirk have actually been through the regular practice,” Malzahn said. “They weren’t limited in any capacity. I think they’re coming along. We’ll see as far as playing first game and all that, but the fact that they took their orange jerseys off and practiced, I think that’s a positive thing moving forward.”

When it comes to the task at hand, Malzahn noted he’s very impressed with what he’s seen from the Huskie defense.

“They are talented, they are experienced and they know their defense,” he noted. “They know their answers and what’s impressed me about them if they ever give up anything, they make an adjustment in a hurry. But up front they are very good, too.

“I know they lost No. 50, which was an impact player but they have some other guys. Most of those guys are back. They were a top 10 defense last year and you can tell they play with confidence, they fly to the football and they are very physical. They are fun to watch on film.”