NFC Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

• The Athletic’s Zach Berman writes that Eagles G Brandon Brooks had previously torn his right Achilles in January of 2019 and has now torn his left Achilles. Matt Pryor is currently in line to replace Brooks at right guard. 
• It’s the third season-ending injury in the past 17 months for Brooks, who just signed an extension in November that made him the NFL’s highest-paid guard. 
• Berman points out this will be worth monitoring for Brooks in the future, as he will be 32 with two surgically repaired Achilles tendons when he is next able to play. 
• Besides Pryor, Philadelphia’s other option for the starting right guard spot include fourth-round rookie OL Jack Driscoll and developmental OL Nate Herbig and Sua Opeta.
• The Eagles could also look to sign free-agent G Larry Warford as the best interior OL available. 
• 94 WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks writes the Eagles could consider re-signing LT Jason Peters and moving him to guard to replace Brooks. 
• However, per NJ.com’s Mike Kaye, former Eagles LT Tra Thomas says that would be a bad move and an unlikely transition: “It’s extremely difficult. First of all, he hasn’t been in a right-handed stance in years … Being able to get used to being on the opposite side of the field, when you’ve been in a left-handed stance for 15 years now, there’s a lot of muscle memory that goes into that. Two, you’re going to say you’ve got to switch to right and bump down to guard? That’s asking a whole lot from someone with this quick turnaround of time because in a (few) weeks you’re in training camp … That (expletive) ain’t easy.”
• Kaye mentions Warford and veteran G Ronald Leary as some available free-agent options if the Eagles want an alternative to Pryor. 
• Thomas thinks Pryor should be Philadelphia’s first option as a replacement: “My early assessment of him is that he could possibly step in there and fill in the role. I think he plays with long arms, he punches really well and he has good sets. I think if I had to pick someone out of the gate, I’d start with Matt Pryor.”
• Eagles HC Doug Pederson said there’s no timetable for WR Alshon Jeffery‘s return from a Lisfranc injury and acknowledged he could miss a few games. However, Pederson said the plan is for Jeffery to play a major role on offense when he is healthy. (Berman)
• Pederson mentioned Eagles first-round WR Jalen Reagor would focus on learning just one spot first, though he does have the capability to play both slot and “Z” receiver. (Kaye)
• Pederson has been impressed with Eagles second-round QB Jalen Hurts during the abridged offseason program so far: “His growth from a mental standpoint from the beginning of the offseason to now has been very good. His ability to recall play and recite plays… He’s done that at a really good, high level. Now it’s a matter of getting him on the grass and do it for real.” (Berman)

Giants

• The Athletic’s Mike Sando lists the Giants as a team that should pursue free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick. When Sando polled NFL evaluators in 2016 before Kaepernick’s protest, he was generally seen as a high-level backup. 
• The Giants hired Courtney Kennedy as a football data analyst. Kennedy previously worked for the team as an intern. (Seth Walder)

Redskins

Redskins LB Ryan Kerrigan was an easy mark as a potential cap cut this offseason. Kerrigan was coming off a career-low 5.5 sacks in 2019, facing a scheme change under new HC Ron Rivera, turning 32 in August and had competition from Washington’s last two first-round picks — DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Despite all that, Rivera and the Redskins elected to keep Kerrigan and his $11.5 million non-guaranteed base salary on board for the final year of his deal. Beyond that, nothing is guaranteed, though Kerrigan hopes to be able to finish his career with Washington. 

“I obviously hope to be here for the duration of my football career, however long that is,” Kerrigan said via Kyle Stackpole of the team’s website. “I’ve gotten to talk to coach Rivera a couple of times over the phone, haven’t really been able to meet him in person yet because of the whole lockdown and what not. Hopefully, I’m here for the long haul. I want to be here. They know where I stand and I want to be here.”