NFC Notes: Eagles, Giants, Washington

Eagles

Eagles QB Carson Wentz spoke about the changes his body has undergone since he injured his ACL in 2018 and has been spending time working out at home.

“The last couple of offseasons, I was dealing with injuries and trying to bounce back from injuries,” Wentz said, via Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “This offseason, I was really able to get after it and work out a little harder in my gym and all those things. I haven’t gained anything insane weight-wise. But I have definitely gained some weight. I feel really good with where I’m at.”

• Eagles RB coach Duce Staley said he’s excited about RB Miles Sanders handling a full load and that the team does not need to limit his touches. (Martin Frank)

Giants

Giants HC Joe Judge said on Friday that he had no issues with using first-round T Andrew Thomas at left tackle to replace LT Nate Solder, rather than playing him on the right side as they had planned.

“The age of a player is something that’s never really bothered me,” Judge said, via Tom Rock of Newsday. “We bring guys in to play. This isn’t like college where you bring guys in and they give you a redshirt year.”

Judge didn’t lock Thomas into the left tackle spot but notes that they drafted Thomas when they did for a reason.

“We still have to get on the field and practice and evaluate, and that’s at all of the positions,” Judge said. “We’ve got to see how these guys can perform under pressure and can handle the install and see how they perform when they are tired and indirect competition.”

• Judge said of Solder opting out of the 2020 season: “We wanted Nate Solder to play this year, but we absolutely support his decision and what his family is going through. I will not be talking any player into doing anything based on what we are going through right now.” (Matt Lombardo)

Washington 

Washington QB coach Ken Zampese discussed QB Alex Smith’s potential return from the serious leg injury he suffered a few years ago. 

“Well, physically the first thing we have to find out is if he can protect himself and we’ll figure that out as we go and as he passes the certain criteria to get to the next level of getting himself back to the field,” Zampese said, via Pro Football Talk. “We will figure those things out as we go and when it gets to the point where he gets to practice, we will find out. The drill work will be very important, how quick is he when he pushes off and those kinds of things and change of direction. But I think the other things will come back very smoothly. You don’t lose the experience that you have playing the position. Some of those things will be like riding a bike and others won’t be. We will jump through all those hoops when the time comes. I am really excited about that.”

• One NFL executive told Ben Standig of The Athletic that Alex Smith should consider opting out of the 2020 season, noting there is no guarantee that Smith will play in 2020 and that this could be his last year on an NFL roster.
• According to Standig, even if he doesn’t opt out Smith is likely to be released after this season regardless of how quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins or Kyle Allen perform.
• Standig is unsure how many teams would be willing to take on the risk of an aging quarterback coming off a significant injury that hasn’t played in nearly three years.
• Washington RB coach Randy Jordan said that rookie Antonio Gibson has been sitting in on the running back meetings but they also make sure he gets enough work at wide receiver as well. (Rhiannon Walker)