NFC Notes: Cowboys, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked if LT Tyler Smith would be the opening day starter during a recent media appearance.

“I think that’s safe to say,” Jones responded, via DallasCowboys.com. “We’ve got to get him out here and get him practiced here over the next couple of weeks relative to any issue he had with a little high-ankle (sprain). But we don’t think that’s serious enough to limit his preparation. Now, what is the case is he hasn’t been there at left tackle. He is a rookie. But he’s a first-round pick and he deserved to be a first-round pick in my mind. And so we knew — we just didn’t want it to come any earlier than it needed — but we knew we had to get ready to replace our left tackle and he was the pick.”

Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman had high praise of WR Jalen Reagor for his work this offseason and thinks he’s earned a role on the team. 

“I think when you look at Jalen, one of the things that one of our scouts said to me today is he was one of the only guys that practiced every day,” Roseman said, via ProFootballTalk. “The guy brought it every day. He worked on his craft. He had a great attitude, great energy. Obviously, he’s a talented guy. He’s 23 years old. We’re going to do whatever we think is in the best interest of the team, and we felt like there was no doubt in our mind that he deserved a role on this team.”

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni added that Reagor has “made plays” this offseason and is proving to be an explosive player. 

“I just felt like he made plays this summer, and it started right from the beginning, from day one of training camp, and it continued on throughout the practices that we had,” Sirianni said. “You could definitely see the explosion that — he’s never lost that, right? He’s had this explosion in his body, and he uses it to separate from the defense. I just thought he had a good camp and he made plays and he was more consistent this year throughout training camp.”

• The Eagles traded Reagor to the Vikings on Wednesday. 
• Sirianni doesn’t feel it’s a benefit to label how they plan on using recently acquired DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• As for Gardner-Johnson’s contract situation, Roseman declined to elaborate but suggested they wouldn’t have acquired him if they thought it would become an issue. (Zach Berman)

Giants

• Giants WR Darius Slayton responded to trade rumors involving him this offseason: “If the Rams call them and they’re like, ‘Hey, we’ll give you Aaron Donald for Darius Slayton,’ I’d make that trade, too.’’ (Mark Cannizzaro)