NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said LB Leighton Vander Esch‘s neck surgery went well: “I feel really good about it. I feel really good about him making a full recovery and being ready to participate in everything.”
• Jones didn’t have much to say about TE Jason Witten‘s future with Dallas: “Really nothing there to comment on.” (Jon Machota)

Giants

• According to NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo, once the Giants hired Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator, that likely ruled out being able to hire Bill Callahan at OL coach. 
• Callahan was Garrett’s offensive coordinator in Dallas in 2013 before being stripped of play-calling duties for Scott Linehan. When other teams expressed interest in Callahan, the Cowboys blocked him from interviewing. 
• Callahan finally left to join the Redskins in 2015 as an OL coach, where he remained until taking over as interim HC in 2019. 
• The Giants are expected to retain assistant ST coach Anthony Blevins in some capacity. Blevins has also worked with the secondary and has ties to new HC Joe Judge. (Jordan Raanan)

Redskins

Redskins QB Case Keenum began 2019 as Washington’s starting quarterback after coming over via trade from the Broncos. But without a contract after being supplanted as the starter, Keenum wouldn’t bet on returning to the Redskins in 2020. 

“I have no idea. I would say probably not,” Keenum said via NBC Sports’ JP Finlay. “I can’t tell the future though.”

While Keenum was replaced by first-round rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, new Redskins HC Ron Rivera has notably refrained from guaranteeing Haskins the starting job next season. Rivera has mentioned the possibility of a veteran starting if Haskins doesn’t take control of the job. 

“If that’s a possibility, and that’s how it’s going to be, I’m all for competition. I love it,” Keenum said. “But I understand. I’m also a realist. I know what’s going on. It’s a tough situation, but I’m excited wherever I get an opportunity to compete.”

Keenum added that he’s bullish on Haskins’ long-term prospects in the NFL. 

“I think Dwayne did an incredible job towards the end of the season, adapting and getting a lot better,” Keenum said. “I think it’s his team moving forward.”