NFC Notes: Eagles, Rams, Saints

Eagles

Eagles WRs coach Mike Groh believes WR Alshon Jeffery is “behind” mentally after missing time early in camp.

“Alshon ran the wrong route,” Groh said, via Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. “It’s probably a route he hadn’t practiced yet. It’s certainly his responsibility to know it, but in a short week and a non-game plan week, ordinarily if you’re spending four days of practicing the game plan as a team you’ll run every play. That’s one (play) that’s been (practiced in camp), but because of the time he missed, we run it two different ways and he got confused.

“I think he’s behind,” Groh added. “Anytime you miss the amount of time that he did, he’s a little bit behind. Fortunately, we have time for him to catch up.”

Rams

New Rams WR Sammy Watkins totaled eight yards on two catches in his debut with Los Angeles. Watkins told reporters after the game that he believes he’s picking up the Rams’ offense “pretty quick.”

“I’m catching onto it pretty quick,” Watkins said, via ESPN.com. “I gotta get into a situation where I am not thinking. I am still thinking about the play and what I need to do. Once I get over that hump, I can go out there and play fast and make plays.”

Saints

Saints HC Sean Payton said he is “certain” that C Max Unger will play in Week 3 or Week 4 of the preseason and is not at risk of missing the regular season opener.

“I’m quite certain that we’ll see him either in Week 3 or Week 4 in the preseason and to start the season,” said Payton, via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune.

Payton added that the team will continue to monitor Unger and that he is more concerned with the veteran’s conditioning.

“For me, it’s more about his cardio, his conditioning level and being physically ready to play,” Payton said. “Mentally he’s extremely smart and I think that being said those would be our goals the next two weeks with him.”