NFC East Notes: Wentz, Smith, Cowboys

Carson WentzOvernight status fluctuated significantly over the past month and changes, with the veteran quarterback moving from starter to backup and then traded candidate to a player the Eagles want to rebuild. The fifth-year passer’s problems with the layoffs since then Doug Pederson started well before the benching in December, with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer noting that the quarterback would be randomly audible from Pederson’s game this season. This helped to put Pederson Wentz on the bench alone. During the training camp, however, Eagles staffers saw warning signs of a possible decline, said McLane, adding that some within the organization were concerned about the passing of the match coordinator. Press Taylor‘s promotion. The proposal of a Pederson-Wentz-Taylor offensive power structure returning next season did not sit well with Lurie. The Eagles were promoted to Taylor last year, but came in Rich Scangarello and Marty Mornhinweg to help the offense as well; the last two will not return next season.

The Eagles are in the process of hiring Pederson’s replacement. Colts OC Nick Sirianni and Cowboys OC Kellen Moore interviewed on Tuesday. Here’s the latest from Philly and the other NFC East cities:

• Alex Smith said at the end of the season that it would be a few weeks before he would decide if he wanted to play a 17th season. He has a contract until 2022. But the Washington quarterback declared during a 60 minutes interview (via CBSNews.com) describing the 2020 comeback season “just encouraged me to, you know, play at this level. “After cutting Dwayne Haskins, Washington has Smith and Kyle Allen under contract for next season. Although, Taylor Heinicke is a limited free agent. Washington by scrapping Smith – a tough proposal in 2019 and ’20 – would save the franchise $ 14.7 million in cap space, creating a complex situation for the QB-needy team.
• Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper recently underwent ankle surgery, but Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described it as a cleaning procedure (Twitter link). The Cowboys don’t worry that their top is missing out on much of the off-season.
• At that point, Giants left grab Andrew Thomas also recently went under the knife. Last year’s No. 4 overall pick also underwent ankle surgery. Thomas played through ankle pain for much of the season, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, who adds (via Twitter), the Giants expect Thomas to be ready for their off-season schedule.
• The Eagles will have a new linebackers coach next season. Ken Flajole won’t be back, according to Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio (on Twitter). The 66-year-old assistant joined the Eagles in 2016 as part of Pederson’s first staff. After spending most of the 1980s and 1990s as a college coach, Flajole has been an NFL assistant for 22 seasons.