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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) gestures while standing next to Commanders quarterback Jacoby Brissett (12). Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NFC East training-camp watch: Biggest surprise, hottest seat, more

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 7/20/23

With training camps underway, it's time to preview the biggest storylines throughout the NFL. Here's what to watch for in the NFC East:

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WILL BE ... | Eric Gray, RB Giants: With no chance for a long-term deal and an unsigned franchise tender, there’s a good chance Saquon Barkley misses training camp altogether. If so, New York’s fifth-round draft pick could make some noise.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls Gray a “decisive, creative runner with the size and skill set for three-down consideration on the pro level.” Not only did Gray run for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns for Oklahoma last year, his 44 carries of 10 or more yards led all Big 12 running backs according to Pro Football Focus.

As long as Barkley is out, Gray should have no problem competing with veteran running backs Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell.

HOTTEST SEAT | Offensive and defensive coordinators, Eagles: Thanks to OC Shane Steichen, Philadelphia had the NFL’s third-ranked offense last year. Jonathan Gannon’s defense ranked second. Both are now head coaches for other teams and will be a tough act to follow for new coordinators Brian Johnson and Sean Desai.

Johnson spent the last two seasons as the Eagles quarterback coach. He has three year’s experience as an offensive coordinator at the college level but none in the NFL. Desai was associate head coach-defense for the Seahawks last season after spending one season as the Bears defensive coordinator.

It will be interesting to see how both manage expectations given their limited experience as coordinators.

MOST SURPRISING CUT | Ronald Jones, RB, Cowboys: Statistically speaking, releasing Jones wouldn’t be that surprising. The 25-year-old-running back had only 17 carries for 70 yards with the Chiefs last year, but he’s played 61 games in a five-year career.

Six days after releasing Ezekiel Elliott, the team signed Jones as much-needed insurance for incumbent starter Tony Pollard. People tend to forget Pollard is still recovering from a broken leg and high ankle sprain suffered late last year.

But if sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn has a good camp, he may be all the insurance Dallas needs. He led the FBS with 1,936 all-purpose yards last year and could be this year’s Isiah Pacheco. If Vaughn has a good camp, Jones’ Cowboys career could be over before it starts.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION | Who is Jalen Carter? What did the Eagles get when they took their first of three Georgia Bulldogs from the 2022 NFL draft? Did they get the best overall prospect as ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes, or did they get a player with questionable character and work ethic as former ESPN analyst Todd McShay believes?

Off the field, Carter is still dealing with legal issues from his involvement in a fatal road racing incident. On the field, he’ll get plenty of snaps with former DT Javon Hargrave now in San Francisco. What he does with those snaps remains to be seen.

BIGGEST HEADLINE COMING OUT OF CAMP | Commanders Jacoby Brissett named starting QB: Sam Howell, Washington’s fifth-round pick in 2022, threw for 169 yards and a touchdown in his only NFL start last year. He got the win, but Brissett had better numbers in all but one of his 11 starts for Cleveland last year.

Brissett gives the Commanders their best chance to win this year. In 76 games over seven seasons, he's thrown for more than 10,000 yards with 63 total touchdowns.

The Commanders finished last in their division last year but still managed to win eight games. With the NFL’s third-ranked defense, a playoff run in 2023 is entirely possible. If Brissett has a strong camp, Howell might need to wait his turn.

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