Around the NFC East – Thursday

As the most important practice day of the week looms around the NFL, here are some of the headlines around the NFC East.

Kevin Ogletree Follows Dez Bryant Onto Injured Reserve List for Cowboys

• Seems the Cowboys are following the Giants in their list of injured receivers. With Tony Romo likely out for the year and the recent loss of Dez Bryant, another injury is not what this team needs. Expect the running game to be a big factor this Sunday with Marion Barber returning to the lineup. I expect the Redskins to double team Roy Williams, but they should look for alot of short passes to the running backs, who will need to pick up the slack.

• I wouldn’t put it past Shanahan to bench McNabb in favor of Grossman, but it is an interesting strategy to put this possibility out there to try to confuse the Cowboys.

"We’re not committing to tell you who the starters are at any position. (The Cowboys have) got to get ready for a couple of (quarterbacks). That’s good for us."

• Well, can’t say they aren’t creative in their game plan. Many teams try to deceive their opponents and gain an upper hand, but to their credit, the Redskins have found a way to do this within the rules. That’s more than some other teams can say in recent years (nod to the Jets, Broncos and Patriots).

DeSean Jackson Declares It’s Time for New Contract With Eagles

• Jackson, the impressive third year receiver, has had a busy week. Amid reports that he is battling a foot injury, Jackson has also decided it is time for a new contract.

"They’re going to have to do something because the way I’m out there putting it in, something’s got to happen, baby,” said Jackson, who has slipped from 15.2 yards per punt return in 2009 to 8.7 this year."

• An injured receiver who has decided he is too good for his status on the team may be a good enough distraction to help the Giants on Sunday. Time and again we have seen players speak up about their contracts, discuss their potential retirement, or deliver general criticism against their team during the season. It never bodes well for the player or the team, so the Eagles need to hope this is a temporary lapse of judgment and not the beginning of a battle worthy of T.O.

Of course, the big news out of big blue is the loss of Steve Smith for the year. Keeping Manningham and Nicks healthy down the stretch has become imperative. Eli has missed having Nicks, his deep threat, on the field, if nothing else but because this left Manningham open to double coverage. These two guys will draw most of the attention from defenses. Fortunately Kevin Boss and Derek Hagan have played well, and they will need to continue to step up, especially on third down, where Eli would normally throw to his security blanket in Smith.