NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys C Travis Frederick told reporters on Thursday that he’s still not sure when he’ll be able to return from dealing with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

“It’s difficult for me personally. For a lot of guys in this locker room, you try to push through things,” Frederick said, via ESPN.com. “When you’re injured, you try and get past it. This is something I can’t just will my way through. It’s a matter of the nerves not conducting properly and not working correctly. It’s going to require some patience and some great work from our rehab staff and our strength staff to be able to just continue push forward and take what my body gives me so I can continue to improve as those things come back and then I hopefully I can take that bigger jump.”

“Right now my focus is getting back to being here and being able to play again,” Frederick added. “It’s a matter of time for that to happen, and unfortunately, I don’t know what that time is. I think as long as I continue to keep my eyes forward and continue to work toward that, we’re going to be in good shape.”

• Cowboys CB Chidobe Awuzie was limited in Wednesday’s practice due to lower back spasms but is expected to recover quickly. (Todd Archer)
• Cowboys OL Parker Ehinger was limited in practice after experiencing swelling in his knee.

Giants

Giants special teams coach Thomas McGaughey announced Thursday that he has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments the past two months.

“This past offseason, they found a growth in my bowel duct. In that growth was cancer,” McGaughey said. “They removed it. I had a very extensive procedure, called a Whipple procedure. During the Whipple, they found a cancer in one of my lymph nodes. I’ve been doing chemotherapy for about the last two months. I’m going on my fifth treatment, and it’s going good.”

“It’s tough. As a football coach, you don’t think about this stuff,” McGaughey said. “You get up, you do what you do, and live life. I’m not going to let any chemotherapy or cancer or anything else get in the way of what I do. I’m a football coach. I’m a father and a football coach, and that’s what I do. I got to get up every day. Nobody cares. They’re not going to feel sorry for you. It’s get up, go to work, and you got to earn your paycheck.”

Redskins

According to John Keim of ESPN, the Redskins plan to start RB Adrian Peterson for Week 1 against the Cardinals.

Peterson mentioned in an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio that he’s still shooting to pass Emmitt Smith as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

“Who knows? I’ve seen crazier things happen,” Peterson said. “In my mind, that’s a goal I’d still like to reach. I know it would take a heckuva feat to do that especially how the NFL treats older backs. God willing, I’m able to continue to change that view and have opportunities to come out and play.”