Commanders turn back to Jayden Daniels as Vikings add Beckham — NFC East and North roundup

There were no games on the slate yesterday in the NFC East and North, but Week 5 storylines picked up across Washington, Minnesota, New York and Philadelphia.

Commanders: Daniels back as starter, reinforcements practicing

The Washington Commanders are set to hand the offense back to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Daniels is expected to reclaim the starting job while Marcus Mariota deals with an MCL sprain and is set to miss time. Washington also got a lift on defense and special teams by returning Trey Amos, Jeremy McNichols and Deatrich Wise to practice, opening 21-day windows to activate each player.

Giants: Beckham gone, Berrios lost for the year

The New York Giants’ receiver depth took another hit. Braxton Berrios, who also handles return duties, will undergo surgery on a foot/ankle injury suffered in Week 4 and has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Earlier, the team had released Odell Beckham Jr., who has now resurfaced in the NFC North.

Vikings: Odell Beckham Jr. joins a 4-0 contender

Odell Beckham Jr. has signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, less than two weeks after his Sept. 29 release by the Giants. Beckham now lands with a Minnesota team sitting at 4-0 atop the NFC North in the latest standings, giving the Vikings a high-profile option on the practice squad if they choose to elevate him later on.

Eagles: offensive-line rebuild and Jurgens trade

In Philadelphia, the overhaul along the offensive line continues. Lane Johnson’s retirement and the trade of centre Cam Jurgens have already reshaped the Eagles’ front. Philadelphia sent Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens for two draft picks, further signalling a pivot toward a long-term rebuild built around 2028 draft capital. At 2-2 and sitting in the NFC’s middle tier, the Eagles appear committed to a bigger-picture reset.

Cowboys: field-goal protection under scrutiny

The Dallas Cowboys’ kicking units are squarely under the microscope after two Brandon Aubrey field goals were blocked in back-to-back games in Weeks 3 and 4. The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans both exploited the same protection weakness, an issue the 2-2 Cowboys will need to clean up quickly.

Lions: Branch and Mays return to practice

The Detroit Lions opened 21-day practice windows for safety Brian Branch and centre Cade Mays, clearing both to return to practice after long injury absences. Any eventual activation would bolster a Lions team currently at 2-2 in the NFC North.

Celebration rules clarified, standings tighten

League-wide, the NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement clarifying the limits of on-field celebrations after controversial fines to Kyle Juszczyk and Jake Ferguson. Fake drinking gestures will no longer be penalized, a tweak that affects everyone, including the Cowboys and Commanders in this sector.

There were no notable developments reported yesterday for the Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers. The Vikings lead the NFC North at 4-0, followed by the Bears at 3-1 and the Lions and Packers at 2-2, while in the East the Giants sit at 3-1 ahead of the 2-2 Eagles and Cowboys and the 1-3 Commanders in the latest standings snapshot.