NFC Notes: Shane Bowen, Austin Ekeler, Commanders, Cowboys, Giants

Commanders

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler spoke about misconceptions of him not wanting to be heavily used in the run game while on the Chargers, saying heโ€™s been his most productive when splitting between being a receiver and running back. 

โ€œYouโ€™re going to get the best version of myself always, no matter what,โ€ Ekeler said, via NFL.com. โ€œThereโ€™s been this controversy out there, like, โ€˜Oh Austin said he doesnโ€™t want 300 carries, โ€™cause thatโ€™s what the Chargers said.โ€™ Iโ€™ve never had that many carries ever. So, I donโ€™t know why everybodyโ€™s in an uproar. Itโ€™s not that I donโ€™t want to touch the ball. Itโ€™s the way that Iโ€™ve had the most production is when Iโ€™m able to split between catching and running the ball. That is when Iโ€™ve been the most productive, down in the red zone, right out in the field, when I can have both those type of environments.

โ€œAnd now, with Brian Robinson being in the backfield also, my old head coach, Anthony Lynn, where I first got my start and first started finding success, is also my running backs coach and is going to utilize us probably in that same type of way, is what itโ€™s looking like. So, Iโ€™m going to go right back to my roots of when I continue to have success and continue to build on that in the way that fits Austin Ekeler the most.โ€

Ekeler thinks heโ€™d be a smart investment in fantasy leagues as a first-round pick. 

โ€œYes,โ€ Ekeler said. โ€œLet me ask you this: I guess itโ€™s little tough because in the fantasy world youโ€™re judged off your last season, but as far as consistency, when Iโ€™ve been healthy โ€” yes, last year I missed like four games (with) high ankle sprain, come back sprain my other ankle โ€” but when Austin Ekeler has been healthy on the field, he has produced. And so thatโ€™s the same thing going forward here. If Iโ€™m healthy, Iโ€™m going to be on the field and Iโ€™m going to be producing. Youโ€™ve seen what it looks like when I produce, so youโ€™re going to want me on your team.โ€

Cowboys

Jon Machota of The Athletic makes his projection of the Dallas Cowboysโ€™ 53-man roster for the regular season. 

Giants

Giants new DC Shane Bowen emphasized collectiveness in the staff when discussing how they will prepare for games this year. 

โ€œItโ€™s not the Shane Bowen way,โ€ Bowen said, via Dan Duggan of The Athletic. โ€œThere (are) no egos involved here. We are going to be a very collaborative group as a coaching staff.โ€

  • Bowen described how they would use LB Isaiah Simmons this year: โ€œIn our minds, (he will) be a first- and second-down nickel and then playing โ€˜moneyโ€™ on third-down.โ€ (Dan Benton)

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