NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said he is still working on endurance as he recovers from an ankle injury. (Gehlken)
• Prescott also will take more time to warm up before practice going forward: “I wouldn’t be surprised if you guys continue to see me do that long after this injury.” (Gehlken)
• Cowboys TE Blake Jarwin attended but did not participate in OTAs as he recovers from a torn ACL. (Michael Gehlken)
• Cowboys DE Demarcus Lawrence and DT Trysten Hill worked with the athletic trainer during OTAs. Hill is coming off a torn ACL but Lawrence’s issue is not reportedly serious. (Gehlken) 
• Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith is recovering nicely from his wrist injury: “Rehab is going well. It’s just taking everything day by day.” (Gehlken)
• Cowboys LB Keanu Neal said is comfortable converting from safety to linebacker: “I feel like I’ve played forms of it throughout my career.” (Gehlken)

Eagles

Eagles’ DE Ryan Kerrigan has had nothing but good things to say since arriving in Philadelphia. Snaps were an issue for him last year in Washington but he said it’s not something he’s concerned about coming in to Philadelphia. 

“I feel like, with this defense and the way we’re gonna do some things, I think it’s going to allow us to be pretty multiple up front. It’ll allow us to not do the same thing over and over again. I think that’s going to allow us to gain an edge mentally, pre-snap,” Kerrigan said, via Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I just want to be someone to come on the field and make plays, whether that’s in run game, pass game, whether it’s dropping out [in coverage], whatever it is, I just want to be able to make plays for the defense.”

Kerrigan seems to enjoy the energy that his new coaching staff brings to the building.

“The energy in the building was just so positive, so good,” Kerrigan said. “From Coach Sirianni to Coach Gannon to [defensive line coach Tracy] Rocker, you just felt a good, positive sense of energy here. That was really intriguing. Then, also just talking through some film and talking some ball with the coaching staff, I feel like they’re going to put us in positions to succeed defensively, and that was something I was excited about.”

Kerrigan has no regrets about leaving Washington in his rearview and joining a new franchise with a rabid fan base that was previously not fond of him.

“I’m glad that it’s worked out this way,” Kerrigan said. “I’ve been coming to Philly for 10 years. I know what it’s like to play here. Coming in on the bus, we were often met with some not-very-kind words and gestures. But I always appreciated that because that means the fans care. They care about their team. They care about the product that the team has put on the field. So I’m excited to be on the good end of that now.”

Washington

Washington HC Ron Rivera said he is not concerned about DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat not attending OTAs.

“I know they’ve talked to their position coaches,” Rivera said, via NBC Sports’ Ethan Cadeaux. “The thing that we stress is that it is voluntary. You’d love to have everybody here, especially because we’ve got 86 guys [here]. It’d be nice to have everybody. But I get it. Guys are entitled to do the things they feel they need to do right now. They’re both good, young, solid football players and the thing is, they’ll be here when they’re here.”

• Rivera highlighted WR Curtis Samuel‘s speed: “He’s fast … one thing very noticeable about that wide receiver group is those guys can run.” (John Keim)
• Rivera added the team doesn’t have to put too much pressure on its quarterback to win games: “We don’t have to rely on quarterback because of the weapons around the quarterback position.” (Keim)
• Washington is giving QB Ryan Fitzpatrick first-team reps and QB Taylor Heinicke second-team reps during OTAs, while QB Kyle Allen recovers from and ankle injury. (JP Finlay)
• Rivera said he was encouraged by how the quarterbacks practiced today: “I like what we saw from all our quarterbacks today. I thought those guys worked hard. Their retention from last year was very good, their retention from installations this year has been really good. So I think we’re in a good position at quarterback right now.” (Nicki Jhabvala)
• 2020 fourth-round OT Saahdiq Charles took first-team reps at left tackle while OT Charles Leno isn’t yet with the team. (Ben Standig) 
• Rivera said they are open to Charles playing either tackle or guard. (Standig)
• Washington S Landon Collins said that he will be ready for Week 1. (Keim)
• Collins has been doing blood-flow restriction training to help his recovery from a leg injury. (Jhabvala)
• CB William Jackson III thinks he has a lot to prove and Washington is the place to do it: “Sometimes you need a change of scenery to reach your full potential.” (Keim)