NFC Notes: 49ers, Cowboys, Falcons, Packers

49ers

• Nick Wagoner of ESPN writes that while the 49ers were open about fielding trade offers for TE Vance McDonald, he should still get a fair opportunity to make the team this summer.
• The 49ers signed McDonald to an extension toward the end of last year and releasing him would result in a big cap hit, but Wagoner says that San Francisco can absorb this if they feel they have better options such as rookies George Kittle and Cole Hikutini.
• Wagoner believes first-round pick Reuben Foster has a “good chance” of winning the starting weakside linebacker job, but it will ultimately come down to his health.

Cowboys

• According to Todd Archer, Cowboy LB Mark Nzeocha could open camp on the PUP list as he continues to rehab from knee surgery.

Falcons

• According to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report, Falcons first-round DE Takkarist McKinley is scheduled to sit out the early part of training camp while he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
• During his final year at UCLA, McKinley played through a torn labrum, which led to him undergoing the surgery. The expectation has been that he would miss between 4-6 months and there was even talk that he could fall out of round one because of his shoulder issue.
• In fact, Ian Rapoport reports that while some teams still felt McKinley was a first-round pick, other teams believe his shoulder situation could lead to him opening the year on the non-football injury list and miss the first six games of the season.

Packers

After former Packers WR Greg Jennings recently criticized HC Mike McCarthy for cuffing them once they got a lead in games, as opposed to going for a team’s throat.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers defended McCarthy in a recent interview with Lance Allen of Milwaukee’s TMJ4.

“I don’t know what he said, but again I think it’s important that when you’re thinking about comments coming from outside the facility especially by people who haven’t been around the facility in a number of years you’ve got to take that with a grain of salt,” Rodgers said. “We’re concerned with the opinions of our players and our coaching staff and our organization.”

“I’ve made it pretty well known how I feel about Mike,” Rodgers said. “He’s our leader and . . . we follow his lead, and we love Mike. We believe in him, and he believes in us, and so we’ve got his back.”

• While the Packers reportedly considered trading backup QB Brett Hundley during the draft, Rob Demovsky writes that there’s a good chance they’ll move him before next season.
• Demovsky says that WR Jeff Janis could find himself on the team’s roster bubble this summer after they drafted two more receivers to go along with an already deep unit.