NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

• Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys second-round CB Trevon Diggs (shoulder) is expected to still be able to start in Week 3 against the Seahawks. 
• Gehlken notes the Cowboys are more concerned with LT Tyron Smith and his neck injury is something they want to carefully manage. 

Eagles

• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye notes it’s now or never for 2019 second-round WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside who has yet to catch a pass this season but will be counted on more with the injury to first-round WR Jalen Reagor. 
• Kaye adds the Eagles could call up WR Deontay Burnett from the practice squad. 
• As for potential trade additions the Eagles could explore, Kaye lists Jaguars WR Dede Westbrook, Bears WR Anthony Miller and Texans WR Keke Coutee.
• In a survey of NFL analytics personnel by ESPN’s Seth Walder, the Eagles were highlighted as one of the most analytically advanced teams and one of the best at incorporating analytics into their decision making. 
• Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery returned to practice and participated in individual drills for the first time this season. (Kaye)

Giants

Giants HC Joe Judge believes newly signed RB Devonta Freeman still has “some juice left in the tank.” 

“I think he’s got some juice left in the tank,” Judge said, via Chris Iseman of NorthJersey.com. “We’ll give him the opportunity to prove that.”

Judge said they will determine Freeman’s fitness and understanding of their system before deciding whether he will play in Week 3. 

“We’ll have to see where he is physically and then we have to see mentally how he is with all the things we’re putting in this week,” Judge said. “We just want to make sure we put him in a position where he can be successful. We don’t want to throw him out there and have him not be prepared because of lack of time. We’re going to do everything we can to help catch him up.”

Regarding Giants WR Sterling Shepard going on injured reserve due to a turf toe, Judge said the receiver played through his injury last week. 

“I would just say Sterling is going to do everything he can to get back,” Judge said. “He’s a tough dude. I have a lot of respect for him, the way he tried to go in the other day early in the second half playing through pain.”

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Freeman’s one-year deal includes a $1.07 million base salary that’s prorated to $944,118 based on the remaining 14 games, up to $280,000 in per-game active roster bonuses, $1.15 million in incentives for rushing yards and touchdowns plus $250,000 incentives each for making the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro.  
• Freeman was patient and turned down multiple opportunities before signing with the Giants and believes he has a lot left to give: “I know that I’m in shape. I just have to continue to get in game shape, practice shape and just keep climbing…Any opportunity I get, I’m gonna contribute.” (Art Stapleton)

Washington

• In a survey of NFL analytics personnel by ESPN’s Seth Walder, the Washington Football Team received the most votes as the NFL’s least analytically advanced team. Washington has just one staffer listed in a hybrid analytics/scouting assistant role. 
• Former agent and CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry says Washington G Brandon Scherff is well-positioned for a massive raise to the guard market. Scherff is playing out this year on the tag at $15.03 million. A second tag in 2021 would be $18 million and the current top of the guard market is just over $14 million. 
• Washington HC Ron Rivera said QB Alex Smith has been getting some work on the scout team: “[We’re] beginning to see the rust coming off. The neat thing to watch is you start to see the arm strength coming back, start to see a fast twitch in decision making. It’s been kind of exciting.” (John Keim)
• Rivera noted fourth-round OT Saahdiq Charles suffered “a little bit of a setback” with his leg injury and was held out of practice. (Nicki Jhabvala)