NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones mentioned that LB Leighton Vander Esch is expected to participate in spring workouts after missing seven games with a neck injury that required surgery in January.

“Once we see him, we’ll have a better feel for it. But he’ll have some limitations up until training camp before we really turn him loose,” said Jones via Michael Gehlken of Dallas Morning News.

As for CB Byron Jones, he could be the odd man out if the Cowboys decide to prioritize signing Prescott and Cooper. The Cowboys still plan on meeting with his representatives at the combine, according to Jones.

“Byron is a guy we think a lot of,” Jones said. “He’s had a great run at corner. He’s played really well, played at a high level. That’s the hard thing when you have quite a few good players on your football team is you get challenges. Byron understands that. But at the same time, he’s worried about Byron, as he should be. Certainly, we’ll visit with his guys while we’re here. Kinda see their direction, what they’re thinking. And we’ll have to keep moving.”

• Former Cowboys DT David Irving said he is in the midst of the reinstatement process after being suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s marijuana policy. Despite saying he was done with the NFL, the changed marijuana policies in the new, proposed CBA seem to have prompted a change of heart. (Instagram)
• Ohio State WR K.J. Hill met with the Cowboys: “We mainly talked about football … They were like, ‘Arkansas kid, I know you liked the Cowboys.’ I’m like, ‘Definitely did like the Cowboys growing up.’ That’s all we knew. Jerry Jones is an Arkansas guy. It went well.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

The Eagles will roll into 2020 without anyone with the official title of offensive coordinator on staff. While HC Doug Pederson calls the plays and has a significant fingerprint on what happens on that side of the football, he also highlighted passing game coordinator/QB coach Press Taylor, OL coach/run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland, RB coach/assistant HC Duce Staley and senior offensive assistant Rich Scangarello as other coaches who would be part of a collaborative effort on that side of the ball. 

“When we win, we win as a team. Again, it’s not about one guy getting the credit,” Pederson said via NBC Sports’ Dave Zangaro. “I feel like this is the best structure for us, for me as the play-caller. Because there’s times when I get pulled in a lot of different directions and I gotta lean on Press. And I’m going to have to lean on Rich and Jeff Stoutland and the guys to really pull the game plans together and really give me the information that I need as we prepare for games.”

• Per Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice, the Eagles have not yet made a decision on OT Jason Peters‘ status for 2020. 
• Eagles GM Howie Roseman said the most important thing with WR Alshon Jeffery right now is getting him healthy. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Pederson said there are no issues between Jeffery and QB Carson Wentz. (Shorr-Parks)
• Pederson claimed team owner Jeffrey Lurie had no input in his decision to fire former OC Mike Groh. (Kempski)
• Ohio State WR K.J. Hill met formally with the Eagles at the Combine. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• LSU WR Justin Jefferson met with the Eagles at the Combine. (Shorr-Parks)
• Tennessee WR Jauan Jennings met with the Eagles at the Senior Bowl. (Shorr-Parks)
• Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III said he met with the Eagles at the Combine. (Shorr-Parks)

Giants

• Per NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo, new Giants HC Joe Judge didn’t commit to Daniel Jones as the team’s franchise quarterback, but said that was because he wanted to give everyone on the roster a clean slate to compete: “It’s not going to be fair for me to establish expectations for anyone on our football team.”
• Judge pushed back on the notion that he would seek to stock the Giants’ roster with players he’s worked with in New England: “The only priority is to bring in good football players.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• He believes changing the culture of an organization is on the coaches, not players: “You don’t sign older players to coach the younger players. You don’t sign older players to change the culture. That’s our job.” (Vacchiano)
• Judge confirmed the Giants would consider trading back: “We don’t have to do anything, but we’ll listen to anything.” (Pat Leonard)
• Giants GM Dave Gettleman said the Giants were discussing using either the franchise tag or transition tag on DL Leonard Williams. (Vacchiano)
• He acknowledged it won’t look good if Williams leaves after he traded two picks for him in the middle of last season: “Oh, I’ll get killed. But I’ve got thick, rhino hide.” (Vacchiano)
• Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool met informally with the Giants at the Combine. (Ryan Dunleavy)
• The Giants have scheduled a formal interview with San Diego State center Keith Ismael. (Pat Leonard)

Redskins 

• Tony Pauline notes that Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa has an official meeting with Washington at the combine.
• Pauline says that while there are some in the organization who aren’t sold on 2019 first-round QB Dwayne Haskins, the Redskins are simply doing their due diligence.
• According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, Redskins HC Ron Rivera and LT Trent Williams have sat down for a face-to-face meeting. 
• Ohio State WR K.J. Hill met with the Redskins at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. (Ben Standig)