NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Eagles, Giants, Rams

Buccaneers

Buccaneers HC Dirk Koetter admitted Tuesday that rumors regarding his job status have “of course” been a distraction to the team.

“Of course,” Koetter said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. “It’s your life, it’s your life. It’s what you do. So just flip it around. Of course it is. But we all as players and coaches, we’re paid to do a job, and you try to do it to the best of our ability. That’s all you can do.”

Koetter confirmed that Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston and LB Kwon Alexander confronted DE Chris Baker about his demeanor following Week 16’s loss to the Panthers.

“I just think that when you lose a hard-fought game like that, that’s why they call it a ‘cooling off period,'” Koetter said. “Emotions [were] running, and that game — we had a lot of nice opportunities to win, [but] we didn’t do it. No one’s happy about that. A shouting match … I don’t think that would be the first or last time that’s ever happened.”

Eagles

Eagles HC Doug Pederson told reporters on Tuesday that it would be great to get backup QB Nate Sudfeld some game reps.

“That’s another one,” Pederson said, via Pro Football Talk. “You’d love to hopefully get him some time in there. We haven’t really seen him in an Eagles uniform take snaps under center outside of practice. Yeah, it would be good to get him some time.”

Although, Pederson also said Nick Foles will “probably have to play some” because they only have two quarterbacks on the active roster.

Giants

Giants S Landon Collins referred to CB Eli Apple as a “cancer” during an interview with Bob Wischusen.

“There’s one corner that needs to grow up, and we all know who it is,” Collins said, per Mike Garafolo. “That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. … That first pick, he’s a cancer.”(Mike Garafolo)

Collins tweeted the following Wednesday regarding his comments: “I met with Coach Spags and Eli this morning and I apologized for the things I said yesterday. I never stop supporting my brother/teammate Eli and the rest of my teammates as we move forward. Just want him to know I’m always here for him.”

• Collins
• Ian Rapoport reports that TE Evan Engram suffered bruised ribs during Sunday’s game, but X-rays came back negative.

Rams

• Rams HC Sean McVay said the team could rest their starters in Week 17’s game against the 49ers. (Myles Simmons)