NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is amped up heading into the 2020 season and is once again ready to prove that he is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

“My fire is burning, and my fire is big,” Prescott said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “You can throw whatever you want in there for it to burn and for it to get bigger. I don’t know if I’m necessarily trying to prove something to the Cowboys or to this team because I feel like everybody in this building, this organization knows the player I am, knows the man that I am, knows where my heart stands. I just want to be great. And that’s what I do each and every day is just try to come in here and do the best that I can to take another step to be that.”

Prescott knows that his offense is loaded with weapons, who all want to have team success.

“I think that’s the best part about it,” Prescott said. “They all want to see the other guy have success, but obviously they want to have success, and it’s just going to create this amazing, fun environment and it already has. It has been that way for a couple of weeks as we’ve been going. It’s just exciting to see that much talent and that those guys care that much about the team and not themselves. We’ll be able to spread it out and make everybody happy.”

Prescott specifically mentioned rookie WR CeeDee Lamb as someone who he is excited to have on his team.

“He’s going to be a great addition to this team and play a huge role in our success immediately and in the future,” Prescott said. “I couldn’t be happier with that pick and couldn’t be happier with the guy that he is, the young man he is.”

• New Cowboys DE Everson Griffen had a message for team fans: “Cowboys Nation, I’m here, baby. It’s time to get back on the grind. I’m excited to be with my teammates. I’m excited about this new journey. I’m excited about working towards going and get this championship.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

Eagles DE Vinny Curry said his return to Philadelphia was delayed by the death of his half-brother in May to COVID-19.

“Absolutely,” Curry said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “That’s why I signed so late.”

“It went from a regular upper-respiratory infection to, the next thing you know — my brother’s a big dude, man, 6-foot-5, 300 — he couldn’t walk to the bathroom. The rest is crazy,” Curry said. “The passing of my brother has been hard on me. I just thought I should take my time with it.

“I didn’t even think about the game, honestly. But I started to get the itch [to play].”

Washington

• ESPN’s John Keim lists quarterback as the biggest position battle on the team, as if Dwayne Haskins can’t seize the starting job, new HC Ron Rivera could go with Kyle Allen or even Alex Smith as the starter. 
• Washington WR Terry McLaurin, who was Haskins’ teammate at Ohio State, says he’s noticed a difference from him this year: “I’ve been around Dwayne for a long time, and not that he wasn’t working hard previously, but it’s just a different type of intensity and focus he’s had.” (Nicki Jhabvala)
• McLaurin mentioned Allen has also gotten some first-team reps during practice so far: “It’s kind of nice to have Kyle as well as Dwayne. … He’s comfortable in this offense, which helps a receiver like me.” (Ben Standig)
• Washington DE Montez Sweat said he’s put on weight to get up from under 250 pounds to 265 pounds as he prepares to play defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. (Jhabvala)