Throw the team records out the window. In Week 8, the Dallas Cowboys are coming to Philadelphia to play the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday Night Football.
It’s officially Cowboys Week.
The Eagles have, of course, underperformed through the first seven weeks of the season, while the Cowboys appear to be on the brink of being an absolute dumpster fire. Both teams are dealing with injuries, but both teams also have problems that go beyond their current injury situations. But the NFC East is still very winnable for both teams.
The four NFC East teams have a combined seven wins. Five of those wins are against each other, one is the Cowboys’ miracle comeback against the Falcons that included a truly baffling onside kick recovery, and the other is the Eagles’ win over a depleted 49ers team playing without their starting quarterback.
Whoever wins this game will be in the driver’s seat for the division, at least for the next few weeks. With both teams dealing with new injuries while potentially getting other players back, there will be no shortage of storylines. The Cowboys may or may not have Andy Dalton as he attempts to recover from a concussion suffered on this cheap shot from James Bostic:
And on top of that, the new drama for the Cowboys this week is that none of their players even really reacted after Dalton was knocked unconscious by a dirty hit. Many reporters and former players criticized Dallas players for their apparent indifference on Sunday, with former NFL player Bucky Brooks perhaps going after them the hardest:
For this big week, The Birds Blitz is going to kick off a new series that we have been brainstorming for a while now. We’re going to use this page as an Eagles Week 8 News Tracker and update it throughout the week with Eagles and Cowboys news below.
Bookmark this page and check back for updates throughout the week, but we’ll also be tweeting out a link via The Birds Blitz Twitter account every time there is a new addition.
Let’s get to the news.
Eagles Week 8 News Tracker
Eagles activate practice windows for four players (Bleeding Green Nation)
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday that they had activated the 21-day practice windows for WR Jalen Reagor, T/G Jason Peters, LB T.J. Edwards, and S Rudy Ford. This news does NOT mean that they have been fully activated to the 53-man roster just yet. Opening this window merely allows the team to see how the players handle practice before officially using roster spots on them.
Of those four players, Edwards is apparently going to play, while the others are considered very questionable. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who has been active for the entire season, is also likely to be listed as questionable and may very well miss his eighth straight game.
Eagles put DeSean Jackson, Hassan Ridgeway on injured reserve (PFT)
In addition to activating the practice windows for the above four players, the Eagles also announced on Monday that they placed wide receiver DeSean Jackson and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway on injured reserve. Both players were injured in last Thursday’s win over the Giants.
Jackson hurt his ankle while taking an illegal hit during a punt return in the second half of the game. He is expected to be out for around six-to-eight weeks. Ridgeway injured his biceps and is done for the season.
Cowboys making DE Everson Griffen available via trade (NFL/Rapoport)
Everson Griffen’s first season with the Cowboys isn’t going according to how anyone had likely planned.
With Dallas sitting at 2-5 and no clear signs of improvement ahead, the Cowboys have made it known Griffen is available via trade, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday, per a source informed of the situation. Any interested team would only have to pick up roughly half of Griffen’s $6 million salary, Rapoport added.
An added wrinkle here is that there are multiple reports that deals could get done this week ahead of the Nov. 3 trade deadline because COVID-19 protocols mean that there will be a delay in bringing players in. So, if teams want to acquire players who can play for them in Week 9, they have to acquire them this week because a player brought in next week won’t pass through the protocol quickly enough to play.
UPDATE: Griffen has been traded to the Detroit Lions for a conditional sixth-round draft pick.
UPDATE: The Cowboys have informed defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley that they will be released if the team is unable to trade them on Wednesday, according to a report from NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
As Bucky Brooks mentions in his reply, this is as much about sending a message to that Dallas locker room as it is selling short-term veterans for long-term assets and getting younger players onto the field more. It’s unlikely that the Cowboys will be able to fetch much in return for either Poe or Worley, especially now that this report is out there.
Dallas received a conditional sixth-round pick for Everson Griffen, who is definitely a more attractive addition to other teams than either Poe or Worley. The best they will get for either of these players is a swap of another disappointing player or a conditional seventh-round pick in either 2021 or 2022, but both will probably be released.
What should the Eagles do with Jason Peters when he is ready to return? (NJ.com)
Injuries have ravaged the offensive line. Three of the linemen who started the season in Washington, including Peters, have missed at least one game due to an injury. On Friday, head coach Doug Pederson said Peters’ return would give the team some options when it came to protecting quarterback Carson Wentz.
“I think that’s a conversation we’ll have internally to see what’s best for the football team, whether it’s he and (Nate) Herbig and Sua Opeta in a guard rotation, or if it’s J.P. back at left tackle. Those are the options we have, which we haven’t had many options lately. It gives us the best availability for these players for our offensive line moving forward.”
Cowboys expect Zack Martin, Chidobe Awuzie back this week (PFT)
It remains to be seen if quarterback Andy Dalton can clear the concussion protocol in time for the Cowboys to face the Eagles in Week 8, but the team does expect to have a couple of other players back in action.
“We get Zack Martin back this week,” Jones said, via the team’s website. “We get Chidobe Awuzie back this week. Looks like [center] Joe Looney may have a chance to come back, and then we’ve got the guys who are going to work every day. That’s what we have to do as a team.”
Eagles vs. Cowboys: Five matchups to watch (PhillyVoice)
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles entered the season in something of a two-horse race for the NFC East, with Super Bowl aspirations. Seven weeks in, the Eagles are atop the division (lol) at 2-4-1, while the Cowboys are a half game behind at 2-5.
The Eagles have been bad, but the Cowboys have been even worse, as they are currently dead last in the NFC with a point differential of -67. Here are our five matchups to watch for Sunday’s game, one in which the Eagles enter as a 7.5-point favorite according to TheLines.com’s consensus odds.
Eagles activate 21-day practice window for TE Dallas Goedert (EaglesWire)
With star tight end Zach Ertz out for upwards of a month if not more, reinforcements are on the way for the Eagles who just activated the 21-day practice window for star tight end Dallas Goedert.
Andy Dalton doesn’t practice; Cowboys signing Cooper Rush to practice squad (PFT)
After the illegal hit to the head that Andy Dalton took Sunday, it seems unlikely the Cowboys quarterback will clear concussion protocol in time to play against the Eagles.
Dalton did not practice Wednesday, with third-stringer Ben DiNucci taking all the first-team reps. The rookie got his feet wet against Washington, taking 12 snaps and going 2-for-3 for 39 yards with one rush for no yards and two fumbles, both of which the Cowboys recovered.
UPDATE: Andy Dalton is also not practicing on Thursday, but he did participate in quarterback meetings in the morning.
UPDATE Andy Dalton was officially downgraded to out on Saturday.
Doug Pederson talks injuries, options with Jason Peters (TBB)
Doug Pederson spoke to the media on Wednesday and offered a few injury updates before practice. He also mentioned that Jason Peters, if he is ready to return, could play left tackle or right guard. When practice began later in the afternoon, Peters was indeed in the starting lineup at left tackle, with Jordan Mailata sliding over to right tackle.
With Lane Johnson not practicing on Wednesday due to a knee injury, this is what the Eagles’ starting offensive line looked like on Wednesday:
Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jalen Reagor expected to face Dallas Cowboys (ESPN)
Eagles rookie wide receiver and first-round pick Jalen Reagor is playing on Sunday against the Cowboys. Reagor has been medically cleared to return from a UCL tear in his thumb and is expected to play Sunday night barring a setback, according to multiple reports.
The first report about Reagor playing came from Geoff Mosher of Inside the Birds on Thursday afternoon. Mosher later added on the Inside the Birds podcast that Reagor is not expected to be on a play count on Sunday.
Dallas Goedert is optimistic he’ll be healthy enough to play against the Cowboys (EaglesWire)
The Philadelphia Eagles are patiently waiting to get one of the most dynamic pass catchers in the game back and Dallas Goedert is hopeful that his return will happen on Sunday night.
Goedert said that, in order for him to play, his ankle has to be strong enough to hold up while blocking in the run game or running a route.
“I’m feeling good. It’s been a blast being able to get out there with the team again, just see their faces a little bit more,” Goedert said after Thursday’s practice via The Inquirer. “When you’re on IR, you’re out of the building for a while. So it’s been good to see those guys. It’s just been a blast to be back. For Sunday, we’re still just day by day. I got to go out there, ran some routes with Carson today. But we’re still taking it slow, making sure everything’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Doug Pederson compares Jordan Mailata to Nelson Agholor, talks Jason Peters starting (TBB)
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson spoke to the media on Friday for the last time ahead of Sunday night’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. He was asked about Jason Peters, Alshon Jeffery, Jordan Mailata, Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci, and Lane Johnson, among a few other topics.
Some of his answers were…interesting.
For starters, it sounds like Jason Peters could be the starting left tackle on Sunday, even with Lane Johnson set to return at right tackle. If this is indeed the case, Jordan Mailata would return to the bench, despite playing reasonably while filling in for the injured Peters. This would, of course, be a somewhat strange decision considering Peters is 38 years old and struggled at left tackle earlier in the season, while Mailata is only 23 and could very well be the team’s left tackle of the future.
Eagles-Cowboys final injury report, with analysis (Kempski/PhillyVoice)
The Philadelphia Eagles, for the first time in a long time, are facing a team that has arguably worse cumulative injuries than themselves in the Dallas Cowboys, who have not handled their injury adversity well, to say the least.
Eagles vs. Cowboys Final Injury Report: Lane Johnson will start, 5 players ruled out (BGN)
The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report on Friday in advance of their Week 8 Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles ruled four players OUT: Miles Sanders, Alshon Jeffery, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Jack Driscoll, and Craig James.
Sanders is missing his second straight game. The Eagles will hope he can return in Week 10 after their bye. With Sanders out, Boston Scott will be Philly’s top running back. Scott could be primed for a good game on the ground with the Cowboys’ defense allowing a league-high 5.2 yards per rush attempt. Corey Clement and Jason Huntley will also see some touches.
Jeffery is missing his eighth straight game. The Eagles could’ve just put him on the PUP list before Week 1 but they’ve instead wasted a roster spot for half the season. Smart.
Eagles place LB Nathan Gerry, DE Genard Avery on injured reserve | What roster moves mean for depth chart (NJ.com)
The Eagles placed linebacker Nathan Gerry (ankle) and defensive end Genard Avery (elbow) on injured reserve on Friday.
With Gerry and Avery now on the reserve list, the Eagles have four open roster spots heading into Week 8′s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Avery and Gerry will both miss at least the next three games on the injured reserve list.
Dallas Goedert, Jalen Reagor, Jason Peters activated for Week 8 vs. Cowboys (TBB)
The Philadelphia Eagles are getting some reinforcements for Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Geoff Mosher reported earlier in the week that rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor was going to be activated and play in Week 8 against the Cowboys. On Saturday, we learned that Reagor, Dallas Goedert, Jason Peters, T.J. Edwards, and Rudy Ford were all being activated from injured reserve to the active roster and will play on Sunday.
Eagles elevate CB Michael Jacquet and DT Raequan Williams from the practice squad (EaglesWire)
The Philadelphia Eagles have promoted Michael Jacquet and Raequan Williams from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Tight end Hakeem Butler was also waived in order to clear a spot on the roster for the aforementioned activations.
Dallas Cowboys QB Andy Dalton ruled out vs. Philadelphia Eagles, rookie Ben DiNucci to start (ESPN)
The Dallas Cowboys on Saturday ruled out quarterback Andy Dalton for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles because of a concussion, which means rookie Ben DiNucci will start in the key NFC East meeting.
Dalton suffered the concussion in the third quarter of last week’s loss to the Washington Football Team on a hit by linebacker Jon Bostic. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Friday that Dalton “should be ready to go next week.”
Lane Johnson downgraded to OUT vs. Cowboys (TBB)
Entering last week, Lane Johnson was considered questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys due to his recovery from offseason ankle surgery and a knee injury that caused him to leave Thursday’s game against the New York Giants. He didn’t practice early in the week but, by the end of the week, was able to practice and did not even receive an injury designation on the team’s final official injury report on Friday.
Then, on Sunday morning, Johnson was downgraded to questionable. A few hours later, Jay Glazer reported that Johnson’s knee swelled up and he is now OUT for Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys.
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