NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• Per the Athletic’s Jon Machota, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says the team has not yet opened up contract extension talks with CB Byron Jones: “We haven’t started yet and he hasn’t approached us. Obviously Byron is the type of player you want to keep around here.”
• Jones added they’re still working on a deal for QB Dak Prescott but didn’t have much to say in terms of updated progress: “Everybody knows we want to make a deal. I know Dak wants a deal. There are just things that have to get worked out when you have a contract of this magnitude. I just don’t have any feel to say when it’s going to happen.” (Machota)
• Cowboys waived OT Derrick Puni from injured reserve.

Eagles

• Per NJ.com’s Mike Kaye, the Eagles could look to sign either Orlando Scandrick or Craig James to the active roster to replace CB Ronald Darby.
• Eagles HC Doug Pederson is “hoping” WR Alshon Jeffery is healthy enough to play Thursday. (Jeff McLane)

Giants

With the ankle injury to Giants RB Saquon Barkley keeping the superstar running back out for the next several weeks, New York will likely make a move to add to its backfield.

Currently, Wayne Gallman and converted fullback Elijhaa Penny are the only two backs on the roster. The Giants could sign a free agent or promote either undrafted rookies Jon Hilliman or Austin Walter from the practice squad, but it appears Gallman will likely get the first crack at the starting job in Barkley’s stead. 

“We certainly believe in Wayne Gallman and that he’ll be able to step in and do his very best,” Giants HC Pat Shurmur said, via Tom Rock of Newsday.

Redskins

Bears coach Brad Childress has a lot of familiarity with Redskins RB Adrian Peterson, who he’ll see up close again when Chicago and Washington play Monday night. Childress was the head coach of the Vikings when they took Peterson No. 7 overall in 2007 and he says the team was sweating it out to wait that long on draft night even though they had tried to leak information to make sure Peterson made it to their pick. 

“We were so happy Arizona took [OL] Levi Brown,” Childress said via ESPN’s John Keim. “We were like, ‘Yeah!’ We were putting disinformation out on [Peterson] that the collarbone was broken and wasn’t going to heal and was chronic. He only knew one speed, even in walk-through on Saturday morning we had to grab him by the back of his pants to slow down so he wouldn’t run into the offensive linemen. When I watch him with the Redskins, it’s full blast.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says he believes the situation between the Redskins and LT Trent Williams is similar to what happened between the Bengals and QB Carson Palmer, with the team holding onto the player’s rights as a matter of principle after he announced they wouldn’t play for them anymore. 
• Breer writes the Bengals received an offer they couldn’t refuse for Palmer and something similar could happen between Washington and Williams.