NFC Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

Eagles G Brandon Brooks explained that he was doing 60-year shuttles when he tore his Achilles. 

“I’ve noticed a lot of ppl wondering how it happened so let me be clear. I was doing 60-yard shuttles and on 7/8 I went to touch the line push off and POP. That being said the work doesn’t stop because of an injury the direction I’ll continue to move is forward. All love,” wrote Brooks on Twitter. 

• Mike Kaye of NJ.com lists six potential breakout players for the Eagles this season, including CB Avonte Maddox, DE Josh Sweat, LG Isaac Seumalo, LT Andre Dillard, LB Nathan Gerry, and LB T.J. Edwards. 
• According to Kaye, Maddox is the favorite to start across from CB Darius Slay, while Sweat will likely be the first pass-rusher off the bench behind Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham.
• As for Seumalo, he will be thrust into an even larger role and is now the team’s most prominent guard following the injury to Brooks.
• Dillard was already in question at left tackle and there are still rumors that the team will reunite with LT Jason Peters prior to the start of the season, according to Kaye.
• Kaye notes that while Gerry is the only solid starter amongst the Eagles linebackers, Edwards will be expected to take over the role of starting middle linebacker for the 2020 season.
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wouldn’t rule out the Eagles exploring a trade for Patriots G Joe Thuney at some point in camp if Brooks’ replacements struggle. 
• Eagles HC Doug Pederson seemed to acknowledge the team had interest in RB Carlos Hyde before he signed with the Seahawks. He didn’t mention Hyde by name, but the veteran is the only back linked to Philadelphia to have signed with a team: “We had the opportunity to possibly grab a player and he slipped through our fingers.” (Kaye)

Giants

Giants 2019 fifth-round WR Darius Slayton hit the ground running at the same time as fellow rookie QB Daniel Jones last year. Slayton had three catches for 82 yards in both his and Jones’ first start, and he finished the year with 48 grabs for 740 yards and eight touchdowns. The duo are looking to try and build on that rapport in their second season together. 

“My confidence is something that built as the year went on last year,” Slayton said via the team’s website. “Hopefully this year, I’ll be able to hit it Week 1 running. It’s mostly internal. It’s just all in your head to me. Especially for receivers, to get the ball you’ve got to catch it, catch it low, high, behind you. I think it just starts from having unwavering faith in your hands basically.”

• Giants K Aldrick Rosas was previously arrested in his hometown of Orland, California, in 2016 for a DUI. The charges were dismissed and he was sentenced to 30 months probation. (Matt Lombardo)
• The Giants were aware of Rosas’ previous arrest when they brought him on. Rosas was arrested again this week for an alleged hit-and-run. 

Redskins

• NBC Sports’ JP Finlay thinks Redskins WR Kelvin Harmon is the clear favorite to win the other outside starting receiver job ahead of fourth-round WR Antonio Gandy-Golden.
• Finlay points out the jump from Liberty to the NFL will be massive for Gandy-Golden especially in this particular offseason. Harmon also has known Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins for more than a decade and the two established a rapport last year, with 20 of Harmon’s 30 catches coming after Haskins entered the lineup.