Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Here is our look at what is going on across the NFC East these days. What We Learned: Cam Skattebo has ‘got that edge to him’; Evan Neal has ‘really bought in’ – Matt Citak, Giants.com Cam Skattebo is trying to show that New York made the right move drafting him. Anyone that followed college football last year knew how dominant of a player Cam Skattebo was for Arizona State. The young back averaged 5.8 yards per carry while totaling 1,711 yards on the ground along with 21 touchdowns. He also added 45 receptions for another 605 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first running back with 1,500+ rushing yards and 500+ receiving yards in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2015. It wasn’t just his stats, though. Skattebo showcased his physicality throughout this collegiate career, running defenders over on a consistent basis at both at Sacramento State and ASU. This was one of the numerous attributes that led to the Giants selecting him with the No. 104 pick in this year’s draft. “He was a physical player, first and foremost,” Daboll said about the rookie back’s performance in college. “When you watch the tape, a hard guy to bring down when he has the ball in his hands. There’s all different shapes, sizes of running backs, different speed, different quickness, tall, short. Can they make yards when they get the ball in their hand? However that sorts itself out. Handing it to them, tossing it to them, throwing them a screen, and then how are his hands? Can you use him in the passing game? He’s got good hands, he’s got soft hands. “I talked about it with (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) yesterday – this is another guy that you could evaluate on tape and see these instincts show up. He’s not just a line guy. He has good football instincts. I’m looking forward to seeing him in pads today. He’s a low level, gets his pads down, runs hard. Looking forward to watching him run today.” After sitting out for most of spring practices, Skattebo has been a full-go since the start of training camp. He’s made some impressive plays over the first five practices of camp, including both a big run and a big catch during Monday’s session. It hasn’t taken long for the rookie back to catch the attention of some of his teammates. “He showed he got a little dog…” Burns told reporters. “He runs tough, he runs behind his pads. I got to get back and watch the film. I didn’t really get a head-to-head with him yet, but from what I hear, alright, we’ll see (laughs)… “I like that he got that edge to him and I feel like he’s (going to) be about what he says, so I like that about him.” Adam Schefter says what Commanders fans dreaded about Terry McLaurin talks – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com McLaurin may be at the facility, but a deal has yet to be reached. Terry McLaurin is back at the facility after his contract holdout. Everyone associated with the Washington Commanders was thrilled to welcome him, but any hope around a new deal being agreed upon evaporated almost as quickly as it arrived. McLaurin is back for the fans. He’s back for his teammates. He’s back to avoid getting fined $50,000 per day. He’s not back to mend fences or get involved too much in negotiations. That’s for his representatives and general manager Adam Peters to figure out. McLaurin has a price in mind. So does Washington’s front office leader, and Adam Schefter from ESPN claimed that the two sides were nowhere near some middle ground right now. Adam Schefter thinks Terry McLaurin wants more than $33 million per year on Commanders extension Schefter stated during his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show that the floor is probably the $33 million per year D.K. Metcalf received from the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the senior insider also thought McLaurin could be asking for a lot more. “It’s been vast. So it’s up to the two sides to find a way to bridge their differences. But I would say that D.K. Metcalf was in the same draft class as Terry McLaurin. He got about 33 million dollars a year. I wouldn’t think Terry wants to take less than that, and I think he wants considerably more than that. Now, what it comes in at, we’ll wind up seeing. Washington… They’re not there right now. They love and value Terry McLaurin, but they love and value him at a different price. These two sides right now seem apart on a deal. They don’t seem close today, and I don’t know how they’re going to get that resolved and figured out.” Adam Schefter This doesn’t exactly fill Washington’s fan base with much optimism. But, in all honesty, it’s been the brutal truth since talks over a new deal began. Eagles’ rising star Cooper DeJean earns league-wide respect with latest NFL honor – Kelsey Kramer, AtoZSports.com One year in is enough to turn some heads in the NFL. Philadelphia Eagles’ second-year cornerback Cooper DeJean is quickly gaining league-wide respect as a rising star heading into the 2025 season. On Monday, the NFL announced that DeJean landed at No. 60 on its 2025 Top 100 Players list. NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Eagles CB Cooper DeJean makes his debut at No. 60! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/Zywtv0JM7t — NFL (@NFL) July 28, 2025 “I’m in the top 100?” DeJean said when he was told about the honor. “I don’t even know what to say.”This shouldn’t be much of a surprise for anyone considering DeJean sparked conversation during his rookie year while racking up 51 tackles, including three tackles for loss, half a sack, six passes defended, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. Those numbers were good enough to land him as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now heading into year

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Stephen Jones singles out Nate Thomas as possible LT1. The Dallas Cowboys suffered what was believed at first to be a devastating blow when left tackle Tyler Guyton went down with a leg injury. Fortunately, it was just a bone fracture that will require a 4-6 week recovery as opposed to the feared torn ACL that would’ve ended his season. Dallas is in a situation where they aren’t looking outside the building for options, especially with the slim pickings on the free agent market. Instead, an in-house player has been named as Guyton’s probable replacement. Cowboys’ executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that 2024 seventh-round pick Nate Thomas will probably be the team’s starter at left tackle going forward. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said Nate Thomas will probably be the starting left tackle until Tyler Guyton (knee) returns. “He’s having a really good camp for us. He has exceeded expectations. He’s serious-minded about what he’s doing out there. We do feel like we… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 29, 2025 He’s having a really good camp for us. He has exceeded expectations. He’s serious-minded about what he’s doing out there. We do feel like we have some good players there that can certainly do the job. With his size at 6’4 and 330 lbs., Thomas was first seen as a guy that could battle for the right guard spot in the future once Zack Martin retired. He was placed on injured reserve due to knee tendonitis for his rookie year. So far in training camp, he’s turned heads as head coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed out last week. Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer gave us a name yesterday that might be off the radar, but he said to keep an eye out for: “A guy to watch out for is Nate Thomas. He’s doing great. He’s a guy we didn’t get to see a lot of football out of last year. He’s been great.” After being… pic.twitter.com/2BmSBJbknl — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 23, 2025 A guy to watch out for is Nate Thomas. He’s doing great. He’s a guy we didn’t get to see a lot of football out of last year. He’s been great. Guyton’s timeline will have him returning either for the Cowboys’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles or Week 2 when the New York Giants, with the latter being the likely route. Until then, Thomas will have a golden opportunity to show his worth on the roster.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 37) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 37. Mark Tuinei Born: March 31, 1960. Oceanside, CaliforniaPosition: Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys: 1983-1997Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXPro Bowl– 1994, 1995 Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images Mark Tuinei played offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1983 to 1997, spending his entire 15-year NFL career with the team. Originally a defensive lineman, Tuinei switched to offense early in his career and became a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ dominant offensive line during their 1990s dynasty. A two-time Pro Bowler, Tuinei helped protect Troy Aikman and clear lanes for Emmitt Smith, contributing to three Super Bowl championships. Respected for his toughness, consistency, and leadership, he was a key figure in one of the greatest eras in franchise history. TUINEI’S LEGACY CARRIED ON BY WIFE, EXTENDED FAMILY#Cowboys great Mark Tuinei played 15 yrs for the team, winning 3 SBs and playing in two Pro Bowls. Despite his passing in ’99, his wife Pono & multiple generations of Tuinei’s perpetuate his legacy. pic.twitter.com/1qLWbjx8nW — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 18, 2019 Sadly, in 1999, Tuinei was found unconscious in his car, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. His death was attributed to an overdose and fellow players and fans were extremely shocked and saddened by the news. He left behind his wife and two children, but his memory lives on thanks to the legacy he created at Dallas. March 31st: Former Cowboys offensive lineman the late #71 Mark Tuinei (1983-97) was born on this day in 1960. He died at the age of 39 in May of ‘99 from an accidental drug overdose. #80sCowboys #90sCowboys pic.twitter.com/nfrZS4oKrH — Dallas Cowboys Old School (@CowboysOld) April 1, 2023 Best known for:Tuinei was best known for being a mainstay on the Cowboys’ legendary offensive line, playing a vital role in the protection and run-blocking that powered the team’s Super Bowl success in the 1990s. First thing I see upon entering Aloha Stadium — a picture honoring Mark Tuinei’s accomplishments with the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/sFMTkKnwth — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 18, 2019 Lesser known fact:Tuinei originally played defensive tackle at UCLA and the University of Hawaii before switching to offensive line with the Cowboys. His time playing on defense helped Tuinei understand defensive technique and alignment which helped him dominate the position for over 140 games at left tackle for Dallas, and become one of the longest-tenured linemen in team history. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Things have been picking up for the Cowboys lately. The first week of training camp is over, which meant that Monday marked the beginning of what some consider to be the first week of “real” training camp. Pads came on for Monday’s practice, allowing for more physicality and a better assessment of players. With that in mind, here are the players who saw their stock move the most on Monday. Stock up Hunter Luepke A fan favorite is making some noise in training camp, as fullback Hunter Luepke earned some praise from Brian Schottenheimer in his press conference before practice. Luepke’s versatility – listed as a fullback but having also taken reps as a ballcarrier and tight end – was singled out, as well as his physicality and intelligence. A lot of praise for FB Hunter Luepke early in camp pic.twitter.com/uPHshzq7Sw — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 28, 2025 Brian Schottenheimer gave a shoutout to Hunter Luepke for how he handled this play. Originally was going for Alijah Clark. Once he went away, pivoted to helping seal off Marist Liufau. https://t.co/Br3chlTx3y — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 28, 2025 Most presumed that Luepke’s roster spot was safe coming to Oxnard, especially with Schottenheimer’s preference for having a power running game, but it’s good to see the fullback continue to earn his keep and, perhaps, even earn a larger role than he’s previously had. Malik Hooker The 29-year old safety has been with the Cowboys for four seasons already, and now he’s reunited with Matt Eberflus, who coached him for three seasons with the Colts. Early on in camp, it seemed as if that familiarity hadn’t helped Malik Hooker, as he hadn’t really stood out that much. That changed on Monday. Malik Hooker has had a really good day pic.twitter.com/MPBDtgweOr — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 28, 2025 Oh yeah. The pads are poppin! Malik Hooker hits Cropper following a slight slip on the boundary. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/QWF0bilO8v — Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) July 28, 2025 Malik Hooker is having a DAY both in coverage and in run support. #Cowboys #trainingcamp — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 28, 2025 Hooker had an up-and-down 2024 campaign in Mike Zimmer’s defense, so he’s hoping for a bounce-back season. If Monday’s practice was anything to go off of, he’s primed for exactly that. Zion Childress Zion Childress hasn’t gotten a ton of love, as the undrafted free agent out of Kentucky simply isn’t a household name right now, but that may be changing. After a couple moments in practices last week, Childress built on it in a big way Monday, drawing plenty of eyeballs. Zion Childress nearly had his second INT of camp. pic.twitter.com/qkcBVPKqUE — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 28, 2025 Feels like anytime Zion Childress (48) is on the field, he’s on the ball pic.twitter.com/X1HwY0fmdB — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 28, 2025 Childress faces long odds to make this roster, given how many big names are ahead of him on the cornerback depth chart, but it’s also no secret that the Cowboys have plenty of injury uncertainty at the position, too. And in that regard, Childress is only helping himself by displaying his ability while others are still working off to the side. Stock down Mazi Smith Mazi Smith has been a subject of much discussion. Once again, he’s been asked to radically change his body, cutting down to right around 300 pounds after bulking back up to his college weight last year. Unsurprisingly, it’s once again seeming to stunt his growth. The third-year defensive tackle hasn’t made much noise in camp thus far, and even with the pads coming on, he was largely unable to overpower others the way he did at Michigan. Tyler Smith pushing Mazi Smith back pic.twitter.com/2G4PSSsSWt — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 28, 2025 It’s hard to fault Smith too much for this, given all the physical changes he’s been asked to undergo, but it’s still tough to watch. Once a dominant force in college, Smith appears to be having the same problems that plagued his rookie year. Player health For as much excitement that comes with training camp, there is also the ever-present worry of injuries. The Cowboys seemed to get bit especially hard on Monday, a day that began with the news that free agent guard Rob Jones – who began to take first team reps just last week – would miss several months with a broken bone in his neck. If that wasn’t enough, left tackle Tyler Guyton went down later in Monday’s practice, and had to be helped off the field by several trainers. That obviously carries massive ramifications for Dallas, as Guyton was showing tangible improvements from his rookie year and also mans the most important position on the Cowboys offensive line. On top of it all, wide receiver Parris Campbell is sidelined with an MCL sprain and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford has an ankle injury, both of which are expected to keep the players out multiple weeks. Spann-Ford, in particular, had been having a great camp, even getting some work with the first team. Injuries this time of year are horrible but inevitable, and it’s an early test for Schottenheimer in how he handles them, especially as he tries to inject added physicality into the culture of this team.

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Cowboys are still adding players to the roster After working out several free agent defensive backs on Monday, the Cowboys have added 28-year-old Christian Matthew to their roster. What is Dallas getting in their latest acquisition, and does it tell us anything about their concerns for the cornerback position? Matthew was a seventh-round pick in 2022 by Arizona, already 25 when he was drafted. But at 6’2” and with a reported 41.5” vertical and 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, his size and athletic potential are hard to dismiss. Matthew made the Cardinals roster as a rookie, appearing in 14 games and with three starts. He did it again in 2023 but was released in early October. The next day, the Bears added Matthews to their practice squad. Interestingly, and perhaps not coincidentally, Dallas’ new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was Chicago’s head coach at the time. Matthew only appeared in two games for the Bears, only on special teams, and was not re-signed after the regular season. Baltimore scooped up Matthew for the final weeks of their 2023 playoff run. He was re-signed and competed in their 2024 camp, but was eventually placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed medical issue. The Ravens did not bring him back this year, and he remained available until now. The Cowboys worked out four defensive backs Monday: Thomas Graham, Harris Hand Christian Holmes and Christian Matthew. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 28, 2025 Cowboys are signing former Ravens cornerback Christian Matthew, per Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2025 So why are the Cowboys making this move? While there’s never a bad time to churn the bottom of the roster, it’s a little surprising given all we’ve been hearing out of the position. Kaiir Elam has been one of the stars of camp so far, Andrew Booth is starting to figure some things out, and we’ve had recent positive injury news on Trevon Diggs, Josh Butler, and Shavon Revel. But even with those developments, there are still preseason games to get through. If guys like Elam and Booth may be needed come September, Dallas doesn’t want them getting hurt now. Having plenty of CB options to get through the upcoming August schedule makes sense. After a week of camp practices, opinions are starting to form on the guys we already have. This is probably as simple as the team thinking Matthew could be an upgrade over one of their undrafted rookies, or maybe another older CB like Robert Rochell. We’ll see what the corresponding move is to make room for Matthew, if needed. Christian Matthew presents the Cowboys with the same points of intrigue he has presented to three other teams since 2022, rare size and speed as a cornerback. He must have made enough of a positive impression on Matt Eberflus to get this opportunity. It probably doesn’t mean much in terms of the eventual 53-man roster, but you never know.

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game! Hey Cowboys fans! We’re back for another day of the Blogging The Boys in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Monday, July 28, 2025Sunday, July 27, 2025Saturday, July 26, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5MMA in-5 Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form. Enjoy!

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Cowboys could be looking to lock up another player The Dallas Cowboys front office is in the mood for making deals—just not with Micah Parsons as of yet. On Sunday, Dallas agreed to a four-year extension with tight end Jake Ferguson and the talks don’t seem to be stopping there. After practice on Monday, starting cornerback DaRon Bland spoke to the media and said that there have been talks between his agent and the front office. Cowboys CB DaRon Bland said there have been talks between his agent and the Cowboys about a contract extension. “Dallas is always where I want to be. Hopefully can get it done.” pic.twitter.com/1tbw3OqU5a — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 28, 2025 As mentioned in the tweet above, Bland mentions that Dallas is where he wants to be. He also said that he’d “definitely” like to get an extension done during training camp. Cowboys CB DaRon Bland said he’d “definitely” like to get a contract extension done with the team while he’s in Oxnard. “Dallas is always where I’ve wanted to be, so hopefully we get it done.” He said talks are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/XuOG8yuNfe — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 28, 2025 The Cowboys find themselves in need of securing another cornerback for their future. There is uncertainty surrounding Trevon Diggs as he works his way back to the field. Additionally, Kaiir Elam and Israel Mukuamu are both on one-year deals, while Caelen Carson is still in the development phase as a young player. Bland showed he has the skills to be an All-Pro corner like we saw in 2023 when he led the NFL in interceptions, set the NFL record for pick-sixes in a season, and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. Like Ferguson, Bland is coming off a disappointing season during which he missed time due to a foot injury and did not perform as well as he had the previous year. If the front office can reach an agreement with Bland before the season starts, they may be able to secure a better deal now, rather than risk his price increasing if he has another Pro Bowl-worthy season.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Tyler Guyton is reportedly feared to have suffered a torn ACL. Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton is feared to have torn his ACL, according to NFL Network. The news was reported a few hours after Guyton left Monday’s practice after needing attention. Sources: #Cowboys starting OT Tyler Guyton, who went down in practice today, is feared to have torn his ACL heading into the MRI. A significant blow to Dallas’ offensive line if tests confirms, as big things were expected of the former first-rounder. pic.twitter.com/fQHSioe8tM — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2025 Simply put, this is a devastating bit of news to the Cowboys overall roster. While the news is technically not official as Ian Rapoport notes an MRI is still to come… clearly all parties involved fear the worst possible outcome. Tyler Guyton was entering his second season with the Cowboys, one where a lot was riding on him as the team’s left tackle. The Cowboys took Guyton in the first round last year and he took a bit of time to find his footing as a rookie and many were hopeful that his sophomore season would be when he finally found his proper form. As things relate to Guyton he will obviously have a long road to recovery, presuming this is indeed the case with him. From a rest-of-the-roster perspective the Cowboys now have to figure out a plan at left tackle and have to do so on the fly. All the best to Tyler Guyton.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Tyler Guyton went down with an injury during Monday’s Dallas Cowboys practice. The Dallas Cowboys held their second padded practice of training camp on Monday and suffered a bit of a scare, the severity of which is unclear at the time of this writing. Starting left tackle Tyler Guyton went down with an apparent injury and was tended to before being immediately taken to the locker room. Tyler Guyton is down. pic.twitter.com/1CD8hP94Nf — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) July 28, 2025 Micah Parsons helping Tyler Guyton to the locker room pic.twitter.com/KBv98l3bvZ — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 28, 2025 Once again, the exact situation surrounding Guyton is unclear at this particular moment in time and we will obviously provide updates as soon as they are available. It stands to reason that the Cowboys wanted to get working on him as soon as possible. Guyton is one of the more critical members of the Cowboys roster as he is the team’s starting left tackle. On an offensive line with so much youth, having it all come together is going to be critical. Guyton is an essential part of that entering his second season protecting Dak Prescott’s blind side. As noted we will provide updates on Guyton as soon as they are available.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images John Stephens Jr. remains a name to watch. On the day of the first padded practice of training camp, the Cowboys made some contract news. No, not Micah Parsons, but they did sign Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52M contract to keep him with the club for the foreseeable future. As for on the field, coinciding with the padded practice was an uptick in intensity and trash talk. Dak Prescott and the offense gave a few verbal jabs to cornerback Troy Pride after CeeDee Lamb got the best of him on a nice play. As the team prepares for their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on August 9th, expect the energy to increase even more. As for today’s undrafted free agent of the day, he’s somebody who we’ve waited to see emerge over the last few seasons. In the absence of another undrafted free agent tight end, Brevyn Spann-Ford, John Stephens saw more opportunities at Sunday’s practice. Stephens, a converted college receiver, is a unique prospect because of his ability to be a mismatch in coverage. He’s too fast for linebackers and can outjump smaller defensive backs for jump balls. Since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Stephens has had very strong training camps. Unfortunately, both of his professional seasons have been derailed by season-ending knee injuries in each of his first two years. Now healthy again, Stephens looks to push for a spot on the roster. John Stephens Jr. need only stay healthy. great catch here with the defender draped all over him. #Cowboys #trainingcamp pic.twitter.com/LDFeqnL7wv — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 27, 2025 To have a chance, he’ll have to amaze the coaches at practice and in the preseason games, as he has Ferguson, Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker all ahead of him on the depth chart.