Around The NFC East: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles Storylines

With the NFL preseason underway, 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

Robert Davis or Brian Quick, who stays and who goes? | Hogs Haven

The fourth pre-season game throughout the league typically carves out the bottom of a team’s roster. A few of the players playing are already guaranteed a roster spot, some are in the midst of a critical roster battle, some are competing to be seen by other teams, while others are just living out the final days of a childhood dream. Redskins’ receivers Robert Davis and Brian Quick will be battling for the sixth, and likely last spot at their position.

Fifth year pro Brian Quick, 28, is on a one-year deal following his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams. He came out of college raw, and over the course of his tenure with the Rams, failed to develop into the receiver that the team expected. However, Quick is still a veteran with plenty of experience, at a position that now lacks it following the losses of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. His experience doesn’t necessarily bump him to the top of the totem pole, but the background does give him a leg up over some of the younger guys. Additionally, the coaches can safely believe that they can tap into the potential that wasn’t realized with the Rams.

Robert Davis is the Redskins 2017 sixth round draft pick out of Georgia State. Though late-round draft picks are not guaranteed a spot on the roster, they are nonetheless a quality investment. As a draft pick, you can be seen as immediate plug-and-play, like Jonathan Allen, or you can be seen as a developmental project, and that’s exactly what Robert Davis is. Davis has displayed strong hands and an aggressive mentality at the receiver position. Before continuing, no, he’s not a young Pierre Garcon, or at least not yet. However, the things that he’s done well, along with his size and speed, will create minor contretemps for the Redskins coaching staff on whether to risk trying to sign on their practice squad or keep on the final 53.

Josh Doctson's health remains an issue for Redskins | ESPN.com

The Redskins need for that to be the case. They have other passing-game weapons, starting with receivers Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder and third-down back Chris Thompson. But they drafted Doctson in the first round in 2016 despite stronger needs elsewhere. He was the best player available and he played a position in which Washington had two standouts -- DeSean Jacksonand Pierre Garcon -- entering the final year of their contracts.

But so far, Doctson has been unable to help. He was limited to very few practices and only two games last year because of Achilles issues. After a good offseason, he’s had the hamstring woes.

“Well, it’s been an issue. We’ve only had him a year, a little bit over a year now, and he hasn’t really done a lot with us unfortunately, but I think he’s going to overcome these,” Gruden said. “I think he’s going to be ready to go for Philadelphia and now it’s a matter of keeping him out there, and knock on wood, we hope we can do that.”

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles claim defensive end off waivers from Bills | Bleeding Green Nation

The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed defensive end Jake Metz off of waivers, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Metz was waived by the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Metz is a Philadelphia native. He briefly spent time with the Eagles last year following his championship run with the Philadelphia Soul. Metz played in the fourth and final preseason game last year before getting waived prior to the final cuts. That’ll likely be the case again this year.

The Eagles are likely signing Metz so they can have another body at defensive end for their preseason finale against the New York Jets. Prior to signing Metz, Philadelphia was only carrying five defensive ends on their 53-man roster. This way the Eagles can rest some of their other defensive ends while allowing Metz a chance to earn a job somewhere else in the NFL.

Eagles release cornerback Ron Brooks | ESPN.com

The Philadelphia Eagles released veteran cornerback Ron Brooks on Wednesday.

Brooks was considered the front-runner for the nickel corner job for a good portion of the offseason before a series of events changed the dynamic. Recovering from a ruptured quad tendon, Brooks made it back onto the field but injured his hamstring in the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers. A day later, the Eagles acquired corner Ronald Darby from the Buffalo Bills for receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick.

Dallas Cowboys

Why Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal is going to last for three days | Blogging the Boys

Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal of his six-game suspension will last until Thursday as new witnesses are added to the list of those testifying. The initial impression was that the appeal would take place in a single day, this past Tuesday. But now, after spilling into Wednesday it has been confirmed that it will continue into Thursday. Dan Graziano at ESPN reports:

At Ezekiel Elliott's appeal hearing Tuesday, witnesses testifying included Elliott himself, as well as NFL Director of Investigations Kia Wright Roberts and the NFLPA's own forensics expert. Hearing was originally scheduled for two days but has been extended into Thursday after the NFL agreed to make available by phone a witness they initially denied to make available at the union's request.

Surgery shows Anthony Hitchens' ACL in right knee intact | ESPN.com

Arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday revealed that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens' right ACL is intact.

Hitchens was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee after getting hurt in last week's preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. While an MRI did not show an ACL tear, the Cowboys wanted to make sure it was strong, which is why Hitchens underwent the scope.

He was given an eight-week recovery period, but executive vice president Stephen Jones said "it could be reduced from that, but we'll see."

Hitchens is the Cowboys' starting middle linebacker. In his absence, the Cowboys will rely on Jaylon Smith and Justin Durant to take his place. Smith is coming back from a serious knee injury of his own that cost him his rookie year. Durant was signed before training camp began and has taken team snaps only in the last week.