NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins

Cowboys

• According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys S Darian Thompson will start in place of Jeff Heath this week. 

Eagles

According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Eagles G Brandon Brooks‘ four-year extension includes: 

• 2019: A $4.9 million signing bonus, $3.9 million of which is his remaining salary, $930,000 base salary. 
• 2020: $9.4 million base salary, $8.4 million of which converts to an option bonus exercised within five days of the start of the league year. Brooks also has a $250,000 base salary escalator for making the Pro Bowl in 2019, a $7 million escalator for hitting a playing time benchmark this year and a $100,000 workout bonus.  
• 2021: $10.4 million base salary guaranteed against injury, $100,000 workout bonus. 
• 2022: $13 million base salary, $9 million of which is guaranteed for injury, $100,000 workout bonus. 
• 2023: $11.6 million base salary, $2 million roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus.
• 2024: $13.4 million base salary, $2 million roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus.
• The Athletic’s Zach Berman writes the Eagles will go with Nelson Agholor, recently-signed Jordan Matthews, second-round rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside and special teamer Mack Hollins at wide receiver if Alshon Jeffery ends up missing Sunday’s game against the Patriots. 

Redskins

The last time Redskins RB Derrius Guice was healthy, then-HC Jay Gruden made the decision to make RB Adrian Peterson a healthy scratch. When Guice returns to action this week, Peterson doesn’t expect that to be the case under interim HC Bill Callahan. 

“Coach Gruden was here. He’s no longer here, so different scenario,” Peterson said via Les Carpenter of the Washington Post.

Gruden’s rationale for deactivating the future Hall of Famer was that Peterson didn’t offer anything Guice didn’t, given he’s not a passing down back at this stage in his career and doesn’t play special teams. However, Callahan’s scheme is run-focused enough that there should be enough work for both runners. 

“We’ve got a pretty good rotational system for that,” Callahan said. “We feel pretty confident [Guice will] see quite a bit of action this weekend.”