Around The NFC East: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles Storylines

With Week 7 of the NFL season this weekend, there are headlines across the NFC East. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with all of the New York Giants division rivals in this week’s Around the NFC East.

Washington Redskins

Report: Jonathan Allen Out for the Season With Lisfranc Injury | Hogs Haven

Initial reports had Redskins DE Jonathan Allen missing 3-4 weeks with a Lisfranc injury suffered against the 49ers on Sunday. ESPN's John Keim now reports that the rookie pass-rusher will miss the rest of the season.

An MRI was done after a consultation with Dr. Robert Anderson to determine the severity of the injury on Monday. Redskins’ Head Coach Jay Gruden said he could miss 3-4 weeks, which seemed optimistic. Though now it is clear that Allen will miss the remainder of his rookie season.

This is a big blow to a Redskins defense that had seen improvement from last year. After the Virginia native unexpectedly fell to the Redskins at #17 in the 2017 Draft, and earned a spot in the starting lineup, Allen started all five games. He finishes the year with ten tackles, one sack, and 29 QB hits/pressures.

From Pro Football Focus:

Allen leads the NFL’s DTs with at least 30 pass-rush snaps with a 13.1 pass-rush productivity mark.

Charging up the rookie rankings is Allen, after a third strong performance in as many games, against San Francisco in Week 6. Against the 49ers, Allen registered another four QB pressures giving him 13 total for the season, most among rookie interior defenders. Most impressively, he’s reached 13 pressures on just 80 snaps, less than No. 2 and No. 3 on the list of most pressures out of a rookie DT (Adam Butler, 9 pressures, 93 pass-rush snaps; Jeremiah Ledbetter, 6 pressures, 89 pass-rush snaps). In all, his pass-rush productivity mark of 13.1 is first among all the league’s DTs with at least 30 pass-rush snaps.

Nick Rose will be the Redskins’ 22nd kicker in 24 seasons | Washington Post

There are a lot of amazing numbers in D.C. sports, but the most amazing might be this: New Washington field goal kicker Nick Rose will become the 22nd person to hold that job in 24 years.

That isn’t just the most in the NFL; it’s by far the most in the NFL. San Francisco and the Giants, the next most prolific teams, each have had 16 kickers attempt at least one field goal in that span. More than half of the league’s teams have used fewer than half the number of kickers that Washington has. The Patriots have used five kickers in those 24 years. So have the Packers.

And the Redskins are closing in on 22 — one fewer than New England, Green Bay, Detroit and Tennessee, combined.

In order of games played, they are: Scott Bentley, David Akers, Jeff Chandler, Kris Heppner, Jose Cortez, Michael Husted, John Potter, Ola Kimrin, Billy Cundiff, Nick Novak, James Tutill, Cary Blanchard, Chip Lohmiller, Eddie Murray, Scott Blanton, Graham Gano, Brett Conway, John Hall, Dustin Hopkins, Kai Forbath and Shauan Suisham.

Philadelphia Eagles

Joe Walker receives Eagles Ed Block Courage Award | Bleeding Green Nation

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Joe Walker has been named the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for the 2017 NFL season.

The award “honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage” and is determined by a vote from the players.

Walker earned the recognition this year after bouncing back from a season-ending ACL injury he suffered in August 2016. Walker worked his way back to earn a spot on the roster as a backup linebacker and special teams contributor.

The Eagles selected Walker with the No. 251 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was the third-to-last player drafted that year.

Philadelphia Eagles Ed Block Courage Award Recipients

2017 Joe Walker

2016 Nolan Carroll

2015 Fletcher Cox

2014 Jeremy Maclin

2013 Jason Kelce

2012 Colt Anderson

2011 Mike Patterson

2010 Jason Avant

2009 Michael Vick

Eagles' unexpected problem: Managing Super Bowl expectations | NJ.com

The season isn't even half over, but the expectations for the Eagles have changed dramatically in recent weeks.

Gone are the dog days of August when 2017 would be measured not necessarily by wins and losses, rather the incremental growth and development of second-year quarterback Carson Wentz.

After outlasting the Carolina Panthers 28-23 last Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium by mastering the art of complementary football, that is turning three turnovers into 17 points, many across the Delaware Valley, the national talk radio landscape, even Las Vegas are viewing the Eagles as legitimate favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII.

How the Eagles handle and manage those heightened expectations will play a critical role in whether or not this group that has not even won a division championship since 2013 will reach those lofty heights.

Will this team rise to the occasion, or crumble under the weight of a revised role as conference favorites?

"A big part of it is ignoring the outside noise," Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount said Tuesday. "Everything that is in house, stays in house. You have to make sure that you lock in and know that everybody that you see on TV isn't in your corner. Sometimes that can discourage the younger guys. Every now and then you'll hear them say 'did you hear them say this? did you hear them say that?' The big part is just making sure that everybody ignores that stuff."

Dallas Cowboys

The 2018 NFL Draft will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington | Blogging the Boys

The days of the annual NFL Draft being held at Radio City Music Hall in New York seem to be behind us. Chicago and Philadelphia have hosted the last two, and in the most predictable move ever, the next one will reportedly be at the house of the NFL’s most powerful owner.

The 2018 NFL Draft will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX according to NFL insider sources.

Cowboys' focus has to get back to game after tumultuous week off | ESPN

Even by Dallas Cowboys standards, last week was a doozy.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones brought attention into the locker room by saying a player would be benched if he did not stand for the national anthem. President Donald Trump appreciated Jones’ comments, but some players were confused. Jones later met with the team to discuss his stance, which came after a local labor union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

On the field, the Cowboys cut one of their opening day cornerbacks, Nolan Carroll. In March, the Cowboys gave him a $3 million signing bonus as their biggest free-agent signing. For less than six quarters of action, he will earn $4 million from the Cowboys ostensibly because rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewisis ready to play more.