NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

Cowboys QB Andy Dalton said COVID-19 “hit me hard” for the first day of his illness and gradually improved from then on. 

โ€œThe COVID, it hit me hard the first day I had it, then I gradually started feeling better,โ€ said Dalton, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. 

Regarding the Cowboys’ Week 11 game against the Vikings, Dalton pointed out that he is familiar with Minnesota HC Mike Zimmer from their time together with the Bengals from 2011-2013. 

โ€œI have some familiarity with him,โ€ Dalton said. โ€œBut things change and adapt over time. These last seven years, thereโ€™s been some changes in different things. I definitely know him from my early time in Cincinnati.โ€

As for the Cowboys’ defensive struggles against the run, DE Demarcus Lawrence said their defense is playing “totally different” from their Week 4 loss against the Browns where Dallas allowed 307 rushing yards. 

โ€œI feel like weโ€™re a different team,โ€ Lawrence said. โ€œWeโ€™re playing totally different, energy is totally different and this will not be a repeat of the Browns game. I feel like our feet are underneath us, weโ€™re starting to play with more of a football IQ and understand more of what our coaches want from us and weโ€™re going out there and playing hard.โ€

Eagles

Washington

Washington HC Ron Rivera had plenty of praise to offer RB J.D. McKissic, who he says is much more than just a third-down back.

Rivera also notes that the team has seen what a talented football player McKissic is since the evaluation process prior to bringing him in.

โ€œItโ€™s interesting because as we go through the evaluation process of looking at guys, those are the kind of guys that you look for,โ€ Rivera said, via Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic. โ€œNot that are necessarily overlooked, but in J.D.โ€™s situation and circumstances, he was a part of backs. When you took his number of touches, you said: โ€˜Gosh, if he got X amount of touches more, heโ€™d be even more productive.โ€™ Thatโ€™s what excites you about a guy like that. You have a guy like J.D. McKissic back there and you see the same thing as well, is that guys like him who can get out into space and make people miss, they become a problem for defenses. Itโ€™s interesting because, I think sometimes people look at a guyโ€™s build and just say: โ€˜Oh, heโ€™s really a scatback. Heโ€™s a third-down guy.โ€™ And then all of a sudden you find out that heโ€™s got a skill set that not only fits third down but also on second down and you go: โ€˜Wow, this kidโ€™s a legit football player all the way around.’ Remember, a guy that right now is our third-down back, J.D. McKissic, is no slouch at all. Heโ€™s a terrific football player, and weโ€™ve seen that day-in and day-out and game-in and game-out. I think the biggest thing with J.D. is you see his versatility. You see it as a receiver, you see it as a runner. Heโ€™s a quality back. I think the thing that heโ€™s showing is he can be a first-, second-and third-down guy. Do you want him touching the ball 30 times a game? Probably not, if you donโ€™t want him to take that type of pounding. But you want the ball in his hands as much as possible. I do think he is a quality football player.โ€

  • Washington HC Ron Rivera said that the “ship hasn’t sailed” on possible signing free-agent S Eric Reid after he recently declined their practice squad offer in October. 
  • JP Finlay mentions that he understands why Reid declined a practice squad contract, he believes Reid would’ve been called up to the active roster by now if he would’ve agreed to a deal last month. 
  • Washington promoted DB Cole Luke, LB Jordan Kunaszyk and T David Steinmetz to their active roster. 

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