Injured Eagles backfield, Cowboys add help on D – NFC East roundup

It was a quiet schedule day in the NFC East, but fallout from Week 5 kept the division in the spotlight. CBS Sports notes that all four teams failed to win last weekend, a rarity since the 2002 realignment, and yet the New York Giants (3-1) sit atop the standings thanks in part to their tie with Washington.

Eagles: battered backfield, Lane Johnson decision

According to Pro Football Rumors, the Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) will keep right tackle Lane Johnson on their 53-man roster this season while handling the cap effects of his retirement. In the backfield, things are far more precarious. Pro Football Rumors points out that with Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby injured, unproven back Will Shipley was forced into a starting role in the 19-17 loss to the Jaguars in London, where the ground game sputtered against the league’s top run defense.

Now, the situation has worsened. CBS Sports reports that Shipley could miss weeks, leaving the Eagles with just two healthy running backs on the active roster. Looking ahead to Week 6, CBS Sports’ early picks project another Eagles loss, even as the team opens as a favorite despite what the outlet describes as a major disadvantage in the matchup.

Cowboys: experienced help for a shaky defense

In Dallas, the Cowboys (2-3) are turning to a familiar veteran name to help repair a struggling defense. Pro Football Rumors reports that Mike Pettine is coming out of retirement to join the staff as a senior defensive assistant. CBS Sports emphasizes that Pettine is a former NFL head coach and ex–Packers defensive coordinator, brought in as extra support by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer after last Thursday’s loss to the Buccaneers.

CBS Sports also notes that early Week 6 betting lines have already shifted, with the spread for the Cowboys–Packers game flipping as oddsmakers react to recent results.

Giants on top, Commanders under scrutiny

The Giants are trying to fine-tune their pass rush. Per Pro Football Rumors, they worked out edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue but opted instead to sign his former Jaguars teammate Dawuane Smoot after a workout which also included Julian Okwara. In a separate Giants-related note, Pro Football Rumors relays that the Vikings recently brought in wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster for a workout after having already signed Odell Beckham Jr., with both receivers having spent time with New York this year. CBS Sports also mentions Bill Belichick’s appearance at a Giants Super Bowl reunion.

In Washington (1-3), head coach Dan Quinn’s job security is being debated after the Commanders blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and settled for that tie against the Giants. Still, Pro Football Rumors reports that the team is not expected to fire Quinn at this time. CBS Sports has also been critical of late-game decisions by Quinn and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni in what it framed as a dismal weekend for the entire NFC East.