NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys signing of QB Andy Dalton has no bearing on the status of QB Dak Prescott and that Dalton was brought in only to be a backup or take reps in the case that Prescott doesn’t report to training camp.
• Dalton spoke on Adam Schefter’s podcast about joining the Cowboys: “This team is ready to win. I felt like it was the best opportunity for this year and hopefully, it will set me up for my future. … I feel like there is a lot of good football left for me.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

Eagles QB Carson Wentz spoke about the team drafting WR Jalen Reagor and trading for WR Marquise Goodwin and what he could bring to the team next season.

“‘I’m extremely excited, not just with adding Jalen (Reagor) in the first round and adding his speed, but also going out and getting Marquise,” Wentz said, via Zach Berman of The Athletic. “I’ve been watching him on tape for years through crossover tape through the league. Extremely impressive who he is as a player, and then the speed and the dynamic that he brings as well. Those two obviously jump off the page. … Going down the list of the other rookies that we drafted, we’ve added some speed and some explosiveness. I’m excited to be creative and find ways to get those guys involved.”

• Wentz on the team drafting Jalen Hurts: “Excited to add him to the team. … Heard nothing but great things about Jalen, the kid he is and the player he is. I got a chance to talk to him just briefly. Create a really good, healthy, competitive challenging environment.” (Mike Garafolo)
• Wentz also spoke for the first time since the playoff loss to the Seahawks: “I can confirm I had a concussion and I was dealing with symptoms. It was scary stuff. You only get one of these brains and you have to protect it.” (Garafolo)
• Eagles 2019 second-round WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside had a tough time producing on the field as a rookie. But he revealed in an interview with the Spanish football podcast 100 Yardas that he was dealing with injuries late in the year that were so bad he needed help going to the bathroom. 
• He added because of the injuries it was tough to get on the same page as Wentz, which contributed to his final stat line of 10 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown. 

Giants

After he was drafted by the Giants with the No. 6 overall pick, it was clear Daniel Jones was the quarterback of the future in New York. But with QB Eli Manning still on the team, it wasn’t clear when exactly Jones’ reign as the starter would begin. It turns out it was just two weeks for Manning, who was benched and never got the job back. Now that his contract is expired and he’s off to retirement, Manning says Jones will be able to more firmly take hold of the role of franchise quarterback without him still hanging around. 

“I think it will be easier this year for him to kinda step up as that leader,” Manning said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio via Pro Football Talk. “Last year was probably awkward for him, me being there, me being in meeting rooms and just kinda the whole dynamic. Me being gone and hey, he is the quarterback, he is the guy, for him to have that control and the authority over receivers and offensive line. I think he’s proven to be tough and works hard, he’s done all the right things, he has gone in with that approach of keeping his head down and not saying more than he has to, working hard and earning the respect from the teammates. Now he can elevate that where now he’s in charge. The questions are coming to him from the coordinator, he’s gonna have to give his voice and his opinion on things.”

Redskins

• The Athletic’s Joe Person writes that while landing with the Redskins would be the easiest transition for former Panthers QB Cam Newton since that’s where most of his former coaching staff is, Washington is not ready to give up on QB Dwayne Haskins yet.