NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins

Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott said in an interview with Keith Gordon of Maxim.com in July that he wants to be “a Cowboy for the rest of my life.”

“I love playing for the Dallas Cowboys. I love the organization, my teammates,” Elliott said. “I do want to be a Cowboy for the rest of my life, and hopefully that’s a possibility. But even Emmitt Smith, the greatest running back ever, ended up going to play a couple of years for another organization. So it’s just the nature of the game, but I want to be a Dallas Cowboy for as long as I can.”

Elliott explained that he believes some of the top running backs have done a good job of re-establishing the value of the position. 

“Until the very recent deal with Todd Gurley, I think there was an undervalue of the running back,” Elliott said. “But with guys like Gurley getting drafted so high, then me, and now guys like Saquon [Barkley] getting drafted in the first round. I think we’ve done a great job of bringing back the value of the position, showing the importance of the running back.”

• Free-agent TE Tyrone Swoopes was not signed immediately by the Cowboys because he’s a candidate for their practice squad. (Jane Slater)

Eagles

If the price is reasonable, Michael Lombardi believes the Eagles should consider pursuing a trade for Texans EDGE Jadeveon Clowney. 

“The Eagles defense is not about the secondary, it’s all about the front,” Lombardi said during an appearance on 94WIP. “And if you can add another great player to your front, I think you should do it if the cost is economically sound.”

Lombardi doesn’t think the cap is that big of an issue for the Eagles, and notes that they are one of the few teams that could offer some offensive line help at this point in the year. 

“It comes down to teams with cap room,” Lombardi said. “I mean the Eagles certainly could fit him under their cap, you’ve got to carry the 16 million dollar threshold. You can’t renegotiate the contract until next year, so it really comes down to flexibility of the cap. I don’t think it’s gonna cost a lot to get him. I know they want an offensive lineman, I know they want a wide receiver. The Eagles are one of the few teams that do have extra offensive lineman.

“He’s gonna be a free-agent at the end of the year. He’s had a history of durability issues.”

• In addition to draft picks, NJ.com’s Zack Rosenblatt lists OT Jordan Mailata, OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai, WR Nelson Agholor, CB Rasul Douglas, CB Sidney Jones RB Corey Clement, DE Josh Sweat and CB Jalen Mills as potential trade chips in a deal for Clowney
• Houston’s need for offensive linemen has been well-documented, while the Texans could also use more players in the secondary where the Eagles have an abundance of talent. 
• The Texans also need a running back following the season-ending injury to Lamar Miller.
• Sweat, fourth-round rookie Shareef Miller and Daeshon Hall are battling for the final defensive end spot per Eagles HC Doug Pederson. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Mailata has missed two straight practices with a lower-back injury. (Mike Kaye)

Redskins

• Per ESPN’s John Keim, Redskins HC Jay Gruden says the team is “quite confident” TE Jordan Reed will exit the concussion protocol in time to play Week 1. 
• Redskins G Ereck Flowers will start at left guard, per Gruden. (JP Finlay)
• Gruden told reporters WR Josh Doctson won’t play in the preseason finale, though that won’t impact whether or not he’ll make the final roster. (Finlay)
• Redskins CB Fabian Moreau will not need surgery and there’s a chance he could play in Week 1. (Finlay)