NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Since Cowboys HC Jason Garrett‘s job first came under fire last season, several reports have mentioned Saints HC Sean Payton as Dallas owner Jerry Jones‘ dream candidate. However, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones denied a report that the Cowboys went so far as to covertly let Payton know last offseason that they would be interested if he wanted to leave New Orleans. 

“That’s just untrue,” Jones said via the Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Obviously we don’t comment on rumors like that. Obviously our focus right now is beating the Eagles. Certainly everyone knows what we think of Jason. I do think we’ve been criticized to a fault for what we do think of him. He just did a great job getting this team back on track yesterday and we’re focused on beating the Eagles.”

• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott appears to be dealing with a fractured finger, but HC Jason Garrett said it didn’t affect him on Sunday. (Calvin Watkins)
• Cowboys undrafted rookie LB Luke Gifford is out for the rest of the season with a broken forearm. (Michael Gehlken)
• Cowboys CB C.J. Goodwin had thumb surgery Monday but is hoping to still be able to play this week against the Eagles. (Todd Archer)

Eagles

• According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery underwent surgery to repair his Lisfranc injury on Saturday. The hope is Jeffery can recover in time for the start of the 2020 season. 
• Eagles HC Doug Pederson listed WR Nelson Agholor, RB Jordan Howard and OT Lane Johnson as still day-to-day. (Zack Rosenblatt)
• Eagles LB Kamu Grugier-Hill saw a sharp decline in playing time, potentially due to team discipline for not reporting a concussion until two weeks later. (Zach Berman)

Giants

• Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, Giants HC Pat Shurmur was noncommittal when asked if first-round rookie QB Daniel Jones would return to the starting lineup this week after missing the past two games with an ankle sprain: “We’ll just have to see. We’ll just push him along like we did last week. We started [last] week with the idea he might be ready to play. We’ll do the same this week.”
• Shurmur said he hasn’t had any talks with ownership about if he has to do anything to secure his job over the final two games: “No. None of those conversations.” (Vacchiano)

Redskins

Redskins CB Josh Norman‘s future in Washington seems almost 100 percent assured to end in the next few weeks after the 2019 season. Norman still has another year on his deal, but the veteran corner has played minimal defensive snaps recently and Washington can save $12.5 million by releasing him. Norman, however, says he’s still a productive player in the NFL. 

“I don’t believe anything,” Norman said via ESPN’s John Keim. “I am. When you are something you don’t believe it, you go out and do it. Sucks that I can’t prove it right now, but formalities and situations, you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt. That’s what it is. I was dealt a hand right now, and I’ve got to play it.”

• Per the Athletic’s Rhiannon Walker, Redskins third-round rookie WR Terry McLaurin said his former head coach at Ohio State Urban Meyer was at the game Sunday to support him and fellow Ohio State rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, not to show interest in Washington’s open head coaching position: “He’s not a candidate for Washington’s job. He just came here to support me and Dwayne.”
• Meyer has been rumored as an option for the Cowboys potential coaching vacancy, so his presence in Washington Sunday fueled speculation that Washington was also interested or Meyer was using the Redskins as leverage. 
• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport adds that he’s heard Meyer is “extremely happy” doing TV instead of coaching right now, echoing a report from Fox News’ Brit Hume that Meyer told him, “I think I’m done coaching.”
• Redskins GM Bruce Allen was a part of Washington’s first draft meetings in preparation for 2020 despite speculation about his role being up for evaluation. (JP Finlay)
• Redskins G Brandon Scherff saw a specialist Monday in New York City for elbow and shoulder injuries that kept him out of Sunday’s game. (Finlay)