NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer points out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never fired a coach after just one season. The quickest hook was for Chan Gailey after two years, so current HC Mike McCarthy would really have to blow through his margin for error the rest of the season. 
• ESPN’s Todd Archer lists Cowboys DE Everson Griffen as a potential trade candidate, as teams are always looking for pass rushers. 
• The Athletic’s Jon Machota notes Dallas has a history of in-season trades ahead of the deadline, including ahead of each of the past two seasons, and the team has pressing needs at offensive tackle, defensive tackle and safety. 
• However, Machota says the Cowboys don’t have a lot of tradable players and Dallas might be loathe to part with draft picks as they’ll be important to building the team around Dak Prescott in the future. 
• Cowboys LB Sean Lee said he’s nearing a return after a “tough” surgery where his abs had to be reattached to his pelvic bone in September: “I’m feeling great physically. The hope this week is to be able to go out and practice.”(Gehlken)
• Lee is well aware of his reputation as an injury-prone player and called it unacceptable: “I need to stay healthy. I need to help when I get on the field because being on the sideline is doing nothing for the team.” (Gehlken)

Eagles

• ESPN’s Tim McManus lists Eagles TE Zach Ertz as a potential trade candidate, as there’s a sense Ertz isn’t in their long-term plans.  
• NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo says Ertz is looking at a four to six-week absence with his high ankle sprain. Ertz was placed on injured reserve and Garafolo adds it’s reasonable to expect Ertz to want to be at 100 percent before he returns. 
• The Eagles are working out LB Curtis Bolton. (Aaron Wilson)

Giants

• ESPN’s Jordan Raanan lists Giants TE Evan Engram as a potential trade candidate, as he’ll be cheap on the fifth-year option next year and just isn’t fitting in New York. 
• Giants activated WR Sterling Shepard from injured reserve. (NFLTR)
• Giants promoted WR Alex Bachman and LB Trent Harris to their active roster.

Washington

Washington Football Team president Jason Wright said that the organization is unlikely to finalize a name change by next season. 

“I think next year is fast because of how the brand has to come together through uniforms, through approval processes through the league. Next year is fast. There is a pretty good chance we will still be the Washington Football Team next season. We could get there quicker, it’s actually pretty hard to get there that quickly because of all the steps that need to happen,” said Wright, via Scott Abraham of WJLA.

Wright reiterated that they must analyze their Washington DC market and hope to determine a team-name that will represent its fanbase and also attract new followers. 

“Everybody needs to take a deep breath,” Wright says. “It’s not coming tomorrow. It’s a business decision, we need to understand that market. More importantly, it’s important to engage the community and the fans. We’re also in the process of identifying the folks that should weigh in over time. We want this name and brand to represent the entire area, to represent the fan base, but to also attract new folks to this fan base. We want to grow this fan base as part of our new identity.”

• ESPN’s John Keim lists Washington DE Ryan Kerrigan as a potential trade candidate, as teams are always looking for pass rushers and Kerrigan is in the final year of his deal.