NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

Cowboys’ first-round WR CeeDee Lamb called learning Dallas’ offensive system a “huge responsibility” to pick up and quickly create an impact. 

“It’s a huge responsibility and it’s very important to me just to learn and adapt to everything fairly quick because I feel like I can play early and make an impact on this offense,” said Lamb, via Jon Machota.

Cowboys WRs coach Adam Henry called Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Lamb potentially the best receivers group he’s ever coached.

“Potentially yes. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of good receivers. I just think this group is special. I think we have the opportunity to be great,” said Henry, via Michael Gehlken. 

• Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy said the team is “very confident” in its 80-man roster in a response to a question about former S Earl Thomas but acknowledged he’s talked to VP of player personnel Will McClay about Thomas. (Jori Epstein)
• McCarthy added locker room fit would be a “huge determining factor” in any player acquisition. 
• So far, the Cowboys don’t appear to have any interest “right now” in the veteran safety. (Charean Williams)

Eagles

• NBC Sports’ Reuben Frank says Eagles LT Andre Dillard left practice Sunday. Eagles RT Lane Johnson was already out with what the team termed a lower-body injury. 
• Dillard and Johnson also sat out practice Monday. Jordan Mailata and Matt Pryor were their replacements, respectively. (Zach Berman)
• Dillard is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Eagles hosted DT T.Y. McGill and DB Trevor Williams for visits. (Mike Jones)

Giants

For coaches branching out from the Patriots coaching tree, there’s already a little bit of extra scrutiny given New England’s success and the relative lack of success by coaches outside that system. For new Giants HC Joe Judge, that’s compounded by being in one of the biggest media markets in the country. Small details of Judge’s program, like having players and coaches run laps after mistakes in practice, became blown out of proportion in Judge’s opinion. 

“Look, from what I’ve heard, it’s been overblown completely,” Judge said via Sports Illustrated’ Albert Breer. “I’d say the biggest thing, everyone’s making a comment about the coaches — I’ve never told any coach to run. And when I was an assistant, I was never told to run either. But when my guys ran, I just wasn’t gonna let them run and then not run. I always felt like if you did, they’d know you were in it with them. It gave you a better connection with them. It’s simple. There are consequences on the field. Really, for these guys, running a lap, it’s not strenuous at all, it’s a reminder. You have to understand that, ‘Hey, when I screw something up, when I’m not focused or locked in, there’s a consequence.’”

• Giants DL coach Sean Spencer thinks DL Leonard Williams is “starting to put it all together.” A lack of sacks has been a theme for Williams so far but the coaching staff thinks they can teach Williams to convert that disruption to production. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Judge is confident in Giants OT Cameron Fleming who is now projected to be a starter at right tackle after initially signing as a backup. The two were together in New England: “Well, I’ve played in a lot of big games with Cam Fleming starting at right tackle for us and we came out on the right of that.” (Jordan Raanan)
• Giants worked out DB Jeff Hector. (Mike Jones)
• Giants hosted RB Tavien Feaster and DB Trevor Williams for visits. (Mike Jones)

Washington

Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, new Washington team president Jason Wright confirmed the team would play the entire 2020 season as the Washington Football Team. Wright didn’t know the exact timeline for a new name to be revealed.

“You think about how brands launch, somewhere between 12 and 24 months, generally speaking,” Wright said. “… It’s going to involve a collaboration. It’s going to involve a lot of engagement with fans, with sponsors, engagement with the players, the staff, stakeholders in the broader DMV area. Because the leaders of the DMV need to be engaged on it. Because this identity that we’re going to develop, not just the name, is going to inform how we engage with fans.”

• Per NBC Sports’ JP Finlay, Washington OT Geron Christian has caught HC Ron Rivera‘s attention and appears to be the favorite to start at left tackle: “He’s a smart, young man who’s picked things up very nicely. He just hasn’t had a chance to play a lot of football, so we’re really interested in watching him, especially if he’s going to play and participate and do some of the things he’s done. He’s done some really good things. He’s caught our eye. He’s caught our attention.”