NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys fourth-round RB Tony Pollard turned in a solid performance in the team’s Week 2 preseason game against the Rams. Pollard carried the ball five time for 42 yards and a touchdown, prompting Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to joke, “Zeke who?” Jones later said the team envisions Pollard complementing RB Ezekiel Elliott when he comes back from his holdout, not replacing him. 

“What’s amazing for him is to come in here and he hadn’t done that much,” Jones said via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “He knows exactly what to do and he knows how to do it. If he goes out there and he plays to that level he’s going to be [at] for the next several weeks, he’s going to be right in the middle of it early. That will really complement what we’re doing with Zeke, not replace that, I mean that, not replace it. Nobody is getting cute here, certainly, be a great compliment to have a great running game where I can picture those guys [having] success at the same time out there really giving the defense some fits.”

Eagles

New Eagles QB Josh McCown retired only a few months ago for a job as an analyst for ESPN. Yet the offer from Philadelphia to unretire for another season as the Eagles’ backup quarterback was an “easy sell” per McCown. 

“More than anything, it was the comfort level I had talking with Doug, where they’re trying to take this thing and where they’re trying to get back to and understanding the expectations that they have here,” McCown said via Dave Spadaro of the team’s website. “I’ve been in a lot of situations throughout my career — where I was helping a young guy or serving as a stopgap kind of guy or being part of a rebuilding situation — so to come to a situation where it was more established, where they’ve got the quarterback and a veteran defense and a lot of good players on the offense, that to me was enticing. To see how it’s done at a high level and done right, that was the dialogue with Howie and Doug.”

• According to 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks, the Eagles could try to keep fifth-round QB Clayton Thorson through first roster cuts to try and sneak him to the practice squad after other teams set their roster. 
• Eagles HC Doug Pederson said the team will figure out who the primary backup quarterback will be when QB Nate Sudfeld is healthy again, per Shorr-Parks. 
• Eagles QB Cody Kessler remains in the concussion protocol. (Zack Rosenblatt)
• Asked if the Eagles considered signing QB Colin Kaepernick, Pederson said the team “considers everybody” and feels like they made the best move possible. (Shorr-Parks)
• Eagles G Brandon Brooks will start to do more individual work, though he hasn’t been cleared for team practices from his Achilles injury. (Zach Berman)
• Brooks says he feels good and playing Week 1 is still on the table. (Shorr-Parks)
• Eagles CB Ronald Darby participated in team drills on Sunday, which is a positive indicator for his availability Week 1. (Berman)

Giants

• Giants WR Golden Tate is in the concussion protocol, per Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News.
• Matt Lombardo of NJ.com writes that the Giants could make sense as a potential trade destination for Vikings former first-round WR Laquon Treadwell.
• Treadwell has familiarity with Giants HC Pat Shurmur, who worked as his offensive coordinator in Minnesota. 
• Lombardo says the Giants have also shown a proclivity for taking chances on former high first-round wide receivers, like Corey Coleman.

Redskins

• According to ESPN’s John Keim, Redskins QB Colt McCoy visited a specialist about his right leg injury which continues to linger. McCoy says he didn’t suffer a setback but he still can’t fully push off his leg when throwing. He’s not sure when he’ll be 100 percent. 
• Redskins HC Jay Gruden says until that happens, McCoy will remain sidelined: “Until he feels 100 percent I’m not putting him out there.” (JP Finlay)
• Gruden added he didn’t know how long McCoy could be out: “Oh man, it might not be the end of camp, it might be two or three weeks into the season. We don’t know yet.” (Adam Schefter)
• That makes QB Case Keenum the favorite to start Week 1 for the Redskins. 
• Redskins CB Fabian Moreau has a sprained ankle, with the team still unsure of the severity. (Keim)