NFC East

The Philadelphia Eagles are bolstering their pass rush, acquiring edge rusher Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2023.

According to The MMQB's Albert Breer, the Bears are picking up $7.1 million of Quinn's remaining salary for this season. In turn, the Eagles will pay Quinn a shade over $700,000 for the duration of the campaign.

Quinn, 32, has had a quiet season for the Bears, posting one sack, three quarterback hits and eight tackles in seven games. It's a far cry from his 2021 season when he notched 18.5 sacks.

Dating back to 2018, however, Quinn has rotated mediocre sack totals with big seasons:

• 2018: 6.5 sacks in 16 games
• 2019: 11.5 sacks in 14 games
• 2020: Two sacks in 15 games
• 2021: 18.5 sacks in 16 games

He's also made an impact on his teammates, as shown by Bears linebacker Roquan Smith's reaction to the trade:

Depth on the edge became a major need for the Eagles after Derek Barnett was lost for the season with a torn ACL in September.

The Eagles will have a solid group off the edge in Haason Reddick (4.5 sacks), Brandon Graham (3.0 sacks), Josh Sweat (2.5 sacks) and Quinn. It's a rich-get-richer situation for the 6-0 Eagles, the lone undefeated team in the NFL.

It appears to be another savvy move for general manager Howie Roseman. He crushed the offseason, adding Reddick and cornerback James Bradberry through free agency, wideout A.J. Brown and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson via trades, and Jordan Davis in the draft, among other moves.

He also added the New Orleans Saints' 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-rounder in a draft-day picks swap. The Saints are 2-5, meaning the Eagles could have an inbound top-10 pick.

The New York Giants are a surprise 6-1 this season, but they could still be sellers at the right price.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, the Giants can "expect calls" on receiver Darius Slayton ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline.

The 25-year-old scored his first touchdown of the season in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and has 11 catches for 166 yards this year, all in the last four games.

New York might be unwilling to part with a productive receiver considering the team's injuries at the position this year. Sterling Shepard is out for the year with an Achilles injury, while Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney have missed significant time this season.

There are still a lot of options when healthy, however, with Wan'Dale Robinson emerging as a go-to option and Richie James playing well with his opportunity.

It could make Slayton expendable, with the team already getting calls before the season about a potential deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the Giants were shopping Slayton even before the 2022 NFL draft in April.

The 2019 fifth-round pick could be a valuable addition to another team as a reliable deep threat who has averaged 14.8 yards per catch during his career.

Slayton especially excelled as a rookie with 48 catches for 740 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, although he has struggled to replicate this production over the past three seasons.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's status for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears is in doubt because of a knee injury, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Wednesday.

Elliott told reporters Wednesday he was unsure if he would suit up Sunday, saying his knee feels "stiff." Earlier Wednesday, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Elliott wouldn't practice Wednesday because of a sprained knee.

Elliott was limited to 31 offensive snaps in the Cowboys' 24-6 victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 7. He told reporters after the game he suffered a potential contusion on his knee late in the first half.

This is another setback for the 27-year-old, who played through a partially torn PCL during the 2021 campaign.

While Elliott appeared in all 17 games last year, fighting through the injury seemed to slow him for stretches. He averaged just 4.2 yards per carry on his way to 1,002 rushing yards and didn't have the same burst as when he led the NFL with 1,434 rushing yards in 2018 and 1,631 rushing yards in 2016.

The Ohio State product averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 5.1 yards per carry, respectively, during those two seasons.

Elliott's resume includes three Pro Bowl nods, an All-Pro selection and four seasons with more than 1,000 rushing yards. He has also proved to be durable and played 15 or more games in five of his first six seasons.

He has 475 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns on 115 touches through seven games in 2022.

If Elliott is unable to play or is limited this week, Tony Pollard will see an increased workload. The 25-year-old has been a more efficient runner than Elliott, with 5.6 yards per attempt on 67 carries.

The Washington Commanders could "get a nice return" on running back Antonio Gibson should the team trade the third-year pro, per Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports.

Gibson has fallen on the team's running back depth chart behind rookie Brian Robinson, who had 22 touches for 86 yards in a 23-21 win over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.

The former Memphis star did see playing time thanks to 13 touches for 77 yards and a score, but he had amassed just 14 touches in his previous two games overall compared to Robinson's 26.

The Commanders also utilize J.D. McKissic in their backfield primarily as a pass-catcher.

Gibson is averaging a career-low 3.8 yards, but he's a versatile and tough back capable of being the top player in a team's backfield.

He's also two years removed from amassing 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 206 touches for the NFC East-winning Washington Football Team in 2020. Last year Gibson rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

It appeared that Robinson had the upper hand in training camp, when Gibson was seen working with special teams. He also started over Gibson in the preseason and appeared destined to so in the regular season.

However, the rookie missed the first four regular-season games after being shot twice in the right leg during an attempted robbery.

Thankfully, the third-rounder out of Alabama returned in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans and has since become Washington's RB1 to mark an incredible comeback.

Gibson's time as RB1 in Washington may be over, but there certainly could be a team out there willing to give him a chance if the Commanders are up for a move.

The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly expected to be aggressive in seeking pass-rushing help before the NFL's Nov. 1 trade deadline.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is "on the attack" as the deadline approaches amid the team's struggles to replace injured defensive end Derek Barnett.

The Eagles currently rank in the middle of the pack leaguewide with 17 sacks over their first six games, though they have generated pressure at a solid rate. Only the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars have a better pass-rush win rate than Philadelphia heading into Week 8, per ESPN Analytics.

Starting defensive ends Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat have combined for only 5.5 sacks, so finishing the play has been an issue when the Eagles get into the backfield.

If Roseman wants to cash in his chips on a 2022 Super Bowl run, Philadelphia could make a play for Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns. Fowler noted the Panthers have been asking for two future first-round picks for the Pro Bowl edge-rusher, which is a steep price to pay for a good-but-not-otherworldly talent. But Burns is by far the best player potentially available to the Eagles before next week's deadline, and Roseman has never been afraid of being aggressive.

Chicago Bears defensive end Robert Quinn was also mentioned as a potential trade target, but Fowler reported teams have been informed to this point that the Bears plan on keeping him past the deadline.

The New York Giants are planning to activate offensive lineman Nick Gates ahead of their Week 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

Gates suffered a fractured fibula and tibia in the second week of the 2021 season. There were initial concerns his career could be over as a result of the injuries.

Per Raanan, the 26-year-old underwent seven surgeries to repair the damage.

Gates progressed toward his return when he was cleared to practice on Oct. 5.

"I feel good," he said at the time. "It's nice to be back out there on the field, it's nice to run around with the guys. It was a good time. It was a good feeling to be back out there. I didn't think I was going to be back out there this fast."

Given the severity of his injury and long layoff, the Giants might give him a gradual transition to live action. His activation will come at an opportune time.

New York ranks 18th in adjusted line yards and 30th in adjusted sack rate through seven weeks, per Football Outsiders. A unit that has already struggled a bit will have to forge ahead without two starters, Evan Neal and Ben Bredeson.

Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed Bredeson is "week-to-week" with a knee problem, while Neal will reportedly be on the shelf for three to four weeks because of an MCL injury.

Gates, who has practiced at the center and guard positions ahead of his comeback, can provided some needed depth.

The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly traded defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to the Dallas Cowboys for draft pick compensation.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Cowboys sent a 2023 sixth-round pick to Las Vegas in exchange for Hankins and a 2024 seventh-round selection.

Hankins had been with the Raiders since 2018. He recorded 10 tackles while appearing in five games this season, though he only received one start. Andrew Billings and Bilal Nichols beat out Hankins for the two starting defensive tackle spots after they signed with the new Las Vegas regime this offseason.

Hankins remained part of the defensive line rotation but saw his snap count dwindle to just 12 plays in Week 6's win over the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys' defensive scheme should be a little better fit for Hankins, who can fill gaps in the middle and help improve a shaky run defense. Dallas is allowing 120.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the NFL.

Compare that to a stellar pass defense that ranks fourth in yards per game (185.1) and seventh in opposing passer rating (77.7), and it was clear why a player like Hankins became a priority.

A 2013 second-round pick out of Ohio State, Hankins previously played for the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts in addition to Las Vegas.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said quarterback Dak Prescott dealt with "no adverse aspects" in his return from thumb surgery for Sunday's Week 7 win over the Detroit Lions.

Prescott posted modest numbers—207 passing yards and one touchdown—in the 24-6 victory, but Jones expects the franchise QB, who'd been sidelined since suffering the injury in the season opener, will steadily improve in the weeks ahead.

"I think you're going to see that more and more not be a factor [as long as] there's not a re-injury some place," Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan.

The idea that Dallas was heading toward a quarterback controversy after backup Cooper Rush led the team to four straight wins was always weak on substance. Rush is a solid No. 2 signal-caller, but Prescott is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks when healthy.

He's coming off a 2021 campaign in which he completed 68.8 percent of his throws for 4,449 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Players with that type of upside don't get benched for someone with eight touchdowns in 16 career games (six starts).

Prescott wasn't leaned on heavily in his return, as the Cowboys racked up more rushing attempts (32) than passes (25). That pendulum should swing back toward the aerial attack once the 29-year-old Mississippi State product is back in the flow.

"It was important for me to see that and to recognize that and know coming back, don't try to do too much," Prescott told reporters Sunday. "I'm just trying to play my role and make sure that I put this team in the best chance to win."

While Dallas is off to a strong start at 5-2, that's only good for third in the NFC East, as the division has exceeded preseason expectations. The Philadelphia Eagles (6-0) are the league's last undefeated team, and the New York Giants (6-1) are in second place. The Washington Commanders (3-4) also remain in the playoff mix as midseason approaches.

The Cowboys host the Chicago Bears on Sunday before heading into their bye week. That game appears a little tougher following the Bears' strong showing against the New England Patriots on Monday night, but it's still one Dallas should win.

As a whole, the team's remaining schedule ranks 28th in the NFL, per ESPN's Football Power Index. It should put Dallas on the path toward 11 or 12 wins and a playoff berth.

The Cowboys' true upside is heavily linked to whether Prescott can rediscover top form over the next couple months. The team currently ranks 27th in passing yards per game (183.3), which wouldn't be enough to keep pace with the league's top offenses.

If Prescott does eventually return to his usual level of play, Dallas should have all the components to make some noise in the postseason.

The New York Giants had feared that rookie offensive tackle Evan Neal suffered a devastating knee injury, but they reportedly avoided a worst-case scenario.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Neal will be sidelined for just three-to-four weeks while he recovers from his MCL injury.

Neal suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday's 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had been blocking on a run play when Jaguars defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris landed on the back of his left leg. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game after being evaluated in the medical tent and carted back to the locker room.

The No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft out of Alabama, Neal has made an immediate impact with the Giants. He anchors an offensive line that paves the way for the top rushing attack in the league, with the team averaging 173.4 yards per game.

Neal wasn't the only Giants player to go down with an injury on Sunday. Guard Ben Bredeson also exited the game in the first half with a knee injury, and tight end Daniel Bellinger was ruled out after being inadvertently poked in the eye in the second quarter. His eye was swollen and bleeding when he left the game.

When Neal left the contest against Jacksonville, Tyre Phillips replaced him at right tackle. Bredeson was replaced by rookie Josh Ezeudu at left guard. There could be some shuffling on the Giants offensive line as the team goes through a week of practice.

New York will be going for its fifth straight win when it travels to face the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.