NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Cowboys RG Zack Martin said lining up at right tackle last season was under necessary circumstances and is focused on playing right guard. 

“I think that was different circumstances last year,” Martin said, via the team’s official site. “I play right guard and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that Terence Steele will play at right tackle in Week 2 and that moving Martin around is a complicated matter. 

“You talk about position flex in the offensive line, but when you make a move [like moving Martin to tackle], you’re dealing with two people at different positions rather than just one new one in there,” said Jones. 

Regarding Jones’ declaration that Martin will fill in at right tackle, Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy responded that 

“I’ll just say this about the right tackle, we’ll work all the combinations we’ve been working to this point. I mean, the obvious is L.C. [Collins] will not be there. We’ll sort it out at the end of the week,” said McCarthy. 

As for Steele appearing as a rookie last season, McCarthy believes the second-year pro made big improvements and got “a lot stronger” over the offseason. 

“I would say he improved in every area,” McCarthy said. “Coming off his experience last year, he just really needed to and committed to the weight room. So he’s a lot stronger. He does everything the same way every day. I just came from the training room before I came in here, and Zack Martin comes in there and gets taped at the same time every day. Terence Steele comes right after him, same time every day. I was just talking to the trainers about it because they’re always in tune with the veterans helping the rookies. I made the point to them, ‘If I was a young offensive lineman, I’d follow Zack Martin around all day, too.’ So that’s the kind of guy Terence Steele is.”

• Cowboys’ executive Stephen Jones they are “really excited” about the progress of rookie DE Chauncey Golston: “We’re getting really excited about him. He’s certainly come a long way in a short time. He’s making big strides and we think he’s gonna make some huge contributions for us pretty early.” (Jon Machota)
• Cowboys LB Micah Parsons feels he’s taking more reps at edge rusher in practice this week because of his production in Week 1 as opposed to filling in for DE DeMarcus Lawrence: “More reps just in case my number is called, but I think after last week, seeing my pass rushes, Coach Q (Dan Quinn) wanted to increase my reps anyway.” (Michael Gehlken)
• Cowboys downgraded S Donovan Wilson to out for Week 2’s game.