NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rarely lacks for confidence or words to say. But in the aftermath of Dallas’ 17-9 loss to the Eagles on Sunday that in all probability cost them the NFC East and a playoff berth, Jones was mostly stunned. Even as the Cowboys have underachieved this season, Jones has never publicly wavered in his confidence with the team and the loss likely means changes are coming this offseason. 

“I’m a little numb that we didn’t come up here and beat them,” Jones said via the Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Our team played very hard. I’m just surprised we didn’t get the deal done.”

Jones claimed that he hasn’t given much thought to potential coaching candidates, but said that’s an area he could quickly shift gears into. 

“It’s not hard for me to go in two areas, regarding coaching,” Jones said via Jarrett Bell of USA Today, “whether it be coordinators, position coaches, or for that matter, head coaches. Generally, my radar is turned on. It’s not hard for me to get into thinking about coaching.”

• According to NFL Media’s Jane Slater, Cowboys WR Amari Cooper was on the sideline for Dallas’ final play on Sunday because of the rotation and hurry-up offense, not because he was benched. 
• Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said QB Dak Prescott‘s performance in the season finale or the team’s struggles as a whole hasn’t affected the organization’s view of Prescott: “We have all the confidence in the world in Dak. We’ve never blinked on that. I think Dak has given us every opportunity to have success this year. I’m as bullish on Dak as I’ve ever been.” (105.3 The Fan)

Eagles

• Per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Eagles HC Doug Pederson said TE Zach Ertz is undergoing further evaluation for a rib injury he suffered Sunday. 
• Ian Rapoport says Ertz’s injury is a fractured rib. 
• Pederson added CB Ronald Darby will miss some time with a hip flexor injury and will be replaced in the starting lineup by CB Rasul Douglas. (Tim McManus)
• Darby is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. (Rapoport)
• The Eagles tried out Mike Moore, Winston Rose and Casey Tucker. (Aaron Wilson)

Giants

• The New York Giants worked out Nick Arbuckle, Reggie Begelton, Randall Eans, Shaquelle Evans, Patrick Levels, Geno Lewis and Dylan Wynn on Monday. (Aaron Wilson)