NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

• Cowboys WR Amari Cooper when asked about this potentially being his final game with Dallas and what he wants his future to be: “I want to be here.” (Jon Machota)
• Cooper said he enjoys playing with Dak Prescott he wants to stay in Dallas: “I like it here, plain and simple.” (Jon Machota)
• Albert Breer expects the Cowboys to “kick the tires” on college head coaches including Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley and Baylor’s Matt Rhule.
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday in a radio interview that they’re confident LB Leighton Vander Esch will make a full recovery from his minor neck surgery and don’t believe it will continue to be an issue after he recovers from the procedure. (Jon Machota)
• Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said Friday that CB Byron Jones injured his ankle in practice this week and he’ll be a game-time decision on Sunday. (Jon Machota)
• OUT for Week 17: LB Joe Thomas (knee)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 17: CB Byron Jones (ankle), T Tyron Smith (back), DT Antwaun Woods (hip, ankle)

Eagles

• Eagles HC Doug Pederson told reporters that RB Jordan Howard has been cleared for contact and is ready to go for Sunday’s game. (Jimmy Kempski)
• Pederson did, however, admit that they can’t give Howard a “full complement of plays” and they have been game planning for Miles Sanders and Boston Scott to handle the bulk of the workload in Week 17. (Mike Kaye)
• OUT for Week 17: WR Nelson Agholor (knee), TE Zach Ertz (ribs, back)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 17: T Lane Johnson (ankle), CB Jalen Mills (ankle)

Giants

• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says it’s widely expected that the Giants will move on from HC Pat Shurmur next week.
• According to Florio, some within the organization are treating it as a done deal when speaking to people outside the organization.
• Multiple NFL sources tell Ralph Vacchiano of SNY that they believe Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is “very frustrated” with the current direction of his organization and will push for sweeping changes when he meets with fellow owner John Mara after the season
• However, Vacchiano says that others believe Tisch has just been “venting” privately after another disappointing season from the team and will ultimately defer to Mara in the end.
• Giants S Jabrill Peppers, who is out for the season and on injured reserve, was on the practice field doing some agility work with the team Friday. (Art Stapleton)
• OUT for Week 17: TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), T Mike Remmers (concussion), TE Scott Simonson (concussion)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 17: CB Corey Ballentine (back), CB Sam Beal (shoulder), LB Alec Ogletree (back)