Dallas City News

Eagles DC Vic Fangio on DE Bryce Huff playing all three downs: ‘Does he look like he can do it today? No.’ – Grant Gordon, NFL.com

It’s going to take some work to make Huff a three-down player.

Bryce Huff was a third-down terror last season for the New York Jets.

However, he struggled to be a three-down option.

Following his 10-sack 2023 campaign, Huff inked a three-year, $51 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. His financial windfall, though, doesn’t guarantee he’ll be able to excel as an every-down defender for his new squad, at least not yet.

“I do think he has the talent to do what we want him to do,” new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Thursday, via team transcript, of Huff moving from a pass rush specialist to playing on base downs. “It’s just he’s got to get familiar with doing it. So, it will be a work in progress. Does he look like he can do it today? No. I do think he eventually will.”

Huff is a pass rusher who will need to become a full-time starter.

Entering his fifth NFL season, Huff’s had just seven starts in 54 career games and is coming off a campaign in which he set a new career high with just 29 total tackles.

Sacking the QB gets you paid, as Huff did, but stopping the run keeps you on the field, which Fangio and Co. are looking for him to do.

“Constantly show improvement,” said Fangio when asked what Huff needs to do be an all-down player. “It’s more of a feel. He has the talent to do it, but he’s never been asked to do it I don’t think in college nor with the Jets.

“So, it’s new and he has to become more proficient at it.”

Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey ‘Blessed’ to be Learning from Terry McLaurin – David Harrison, Sports Illustrated

Terry McLaurin is imparting his wisdom to others in the wide receiver room.

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders spent the entirety of the offseason working to better the organization.

It’s fair to say the Commanders didn’t waste a single day when it came to remodeling the franchise across the board including in areas fans and media hardly ever get a true inside look into.

The coaching staff and roster is where most will notice the big changes happening in Washington. With the new staff, led by head coach Dan Quinn, a new attitude and approach to crafting winning football has been adapted. And from there the players are enjoying adapting to the environment, especially those like rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey who comes from a very well known NFL family.

“I think it’s such a blessing to be in this building,” McCaffrey says. “It’s exceeded expectations. Just the competitive nature, the willingness to love the game, and to compete every day from the guys here is pretty special. Just the culture that we’ve built, the culture the old heads are bringing in…it’s been such a blessing, such a blast.”

To say the Commanders’ rookie McCaffrey knows what good football looks like would be an understatement, especially when it comes to the receiver position. And he feels he’s got a pretty good teammate to look at as a role model as he gets his own NFL career started.

“Terry McLaurin (is) one guy specifically, just his mentality and routine, it is so special and it’s so cool to be able to just watch and observe him on every single rep, every single thing he does to take care of his body, every single thing he does to approach the game the right way,” McCaffrey said of McLaurin.

Notebook: Jermaine Eluemunor’s injury is ‘nothing serious’ – Michael Eisen, Giants.com

New York’s news offensive lineman learned what it’s like to be hit by Dexter Lawrence.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jermaine Eluemunor yesterday received the same painful lesson he now shares with many NFL offensive linemen: it’s a bad idea to collide with Dexter Lawrence.

“Not fun. Not fun at all,” Eluemunor said today. “It’s not the most fun thing I’ve had to deal with.

“I was trying to cut off, and Dex thought he was being trapped so he obviously lowered his shoulder and it just so happened that he lowered his shoulder into my rib cage. So, it wasn’t the most fun pain I’ve had to deal with but I’m out here today, so that’s what really matters.”

Eluemunor, the free agent acquisition who was taking the first-team reps at right tackle, was inadvertently hit by Lawrence, the Giants’ two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle, in the team’s initial training camp practice. Though he remained on the ground for several minutes and left the workout, tests revealed Eluemunor has bruised ribs.

“It’s a big man hit,” Eluemunor said. “It’s like you get hit by a truck.”

Today, Eluemunor did some individual work and was on the field but did not participate in team drills.

“In my, what, eight-year career, I haven’t missed a day of training camp,” Eluemunor said. “So, I was going to come out here either way and try and do as much as I could.

“It’s just really bad bruising, so nothing that should keep me out for too long. Hopefully, I can get back out there real soon.”

In his press conference prior to practice, coach Brian Daboll confirmed that’s a likely timeline.