NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys C Travis Frederick is working out with the team as he attempts to be cleared to play after missing 2018 due to Guillain-Barr Syndrome. 

“We eased kind of back into that to make sure that everything’s healthy and stable before we start going heavy, but as far as on-the-field stuff, I’m doing almost everything,” Frederick said via Clarence Hill of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. “We’ll have some stuff modified in OTAs, but most of that is for the shoulder. You don’t want to re-injure something while it’s coming back from the surgery. But as far as on the field, I feel good, and in the weight room in my other auxiliary lifts, I’m doing really well there as well. So for the most part, I feel really good. We won’t know until I get out there and put the pads on and take my first rep whether or not it’s going to go well.”

Frederick said it’s hard to gauge where he is in his recovery from Guillain-Barr Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that causes weakness and tingling in extremities. He still isn’t doing much weight-lifting after also have hernia surgery this offseason. But he hopes to be ready for training camp after thinking at one point his career might be over.

“That thought crosses your mind. That thought crosses your mind certainly at diagnosis and again when it was declining to the point where I was having a hard time walking,” Frederick said. “Those things definitely happened. But once the improvement started and it happened at such an impressive rate it makes you think, ‘OK, maybe there is a chance here, and if it continues at this rate, I don’t see any reason why I can’t be back to 100 percent.’”

Giants

Giants GM Dave Gettleman said a priority this offseason has been acquiring “lead dogs” on defense and he mentioned LB Alec Ogletree, S Antoine Bethea and S Jabrill Peppers as examples. 

“I have always been a big believer that if you look at the great defenses, they have a lead dog in every level,” Gettleman said via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. “A legitimate playmaker at every level of their defense. I said it at the postseason presser and I will say it again, we need some defensive playmakers.” 

Redskins

Redskins QB Colt McCoy is not at OTAs as he continues to recover from a broken leg suffered last December. McCoy suffered a setback trying to push to play again late last season. 

“What happened was when he had the injury we were aggressive trying to get him back on the field so fast we didn’t give it time enough to heal the right way,” Redskins HC Jay Gruden said via NBC Sports’ J.P. Finlay. “So they went back in and did a small procedure to make sure that thing is on track to be full strength by the season.”

McCoy has undergone three procedures on the leg since the injury. The Redskins plan to have him compete with QB Case Keenum and potentially a rookie for the starting job.