NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

• Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys have not reached out to S Earl Thomas‘ representatives. 
• Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones indicated the team is focused on the players on the roster for the time being: “No, we’re trying to focus on our guys that we have in the building right now…I can assure you that with the injuries that we had, and looking at the game tape, we’re always looking to make our team better.” (Jon Machota) 
• Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch underwent successful surgery on his broken collarbone and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. (Michael Gehlken)
• Cowboys OT Cameron Erving has a sprained MCL and is expected to miss a few weeks. (Todd Archer)

Eagles

Eagles QB Carson Wentz took the blame for Philadelphia’s 27-17 loss to the Washington Football Team. Wentz was sacked eight times and was missing RB Miles Sanders but also threw two costly interceptions. 

“I put our defense in a bad spot on a couple of occasions,” Wentz said via Mike Kaye of NJ.com. “We definitely lost some momentum, we didn’t make the plays we needed to make and I’ve got to be better. It starts with me. I’ve got to protect the ball and lead these guys better, and I’ll own that.”

• According to the Athletic’s Jay Glazer, Eagles RT Lane Johnson had his ankle swell up on him when he tried to work out before the game. He had surgery two weeks ago.
• The Eagles are hopeful Johnson and Sanders are both able to play in Week 2. (John Clark)
• Eagles GM Howie Roseman‘s talk with TE Zach Ertz after Ertz’s comments expressing his frustration with the state of contract negotiations were more of a “spirited” discussion than a confrontation per two sources. (Kaye)
• Kaye adds Eagles HC Doug Pederson and owner Jeffrey Lurie were involved in the talk as well. 
• Eagles C Jason Kelce told reporters that a sinus infection led to him going through the COVID protocols. Kelce explained that he drove down in a separate car and away from the rest of the players on the team buses. (Tim McManus)
• Pederson said WR DeSean Jackson was healthy and the team was just managing his snaps: “We want to make sure he’s healthy and fresh for us down the long haul here. Each week, I would anticipate his rep to increase as we go.” (Zach Berman)
• Pederson noted G Nate Herbig graded out well as the starter at right guard and could continue in that role. (Berman)
• Eagles DE Brandon Graham is in the concussion protocol. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Eagles DE Vinny Curry (hamstring) and CB Craig James both suffered injuries that will keep them out for a while. (Adam Caplan)
• Curry is expected to miss about four weeks. (Tom Pelissero.)
• The Eagles worked out TE Jordan Franks. (Aaron Wilson)

Washington

The Washington Football Team did a lot of impressive things in its comeback, 27-17 win against the Eagles Sunday. But perhaps the most impressive was HC Ron Rivera, a couple of weeks into his treatment for cancer, doing what he need to do, including taking a halftime IV, to finish out the game. 

“I got a little tired at the end, I did,” Rivera said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “It was pretty good though. Getting the IV was a good move on our part. It just helped me sustain and make it through. And then afterwards, I got a chance to relax, and have a little something to eat before I left the stadium.”