The Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys today at 8:20 p.m. on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. There’s really not too much to update from Friday’s practice, but here is what we got for you …
GRAHAM INACTIVE. As expected, Brandon Graham will not play against Dallas. The Eagles had until 4 p.m. Saturday to place the second-year pro on the 53-man roster, but chose not to. Despite practicing all week, Graham is still trying to get his football legs back.
“Taking it one day at a time,” Graham said earlier this week.
For now, Graham remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list. The Eagles have two weeks to evaluate and then decide whether to put him on the roster or send him to injured reserve.
CHOICE OUT. The Cowboys cut reserve running back Tashard Choice, who suffered a shoulder injury last week vs. St. Louis. With Choice gone, Dallas is down to just two healthy tailbacks for tonight’s matchup: rookie DeMarco Murray, who gets the start, and fellow rookie Phillip Tanner.
The Cowboys also added rookie linebacker Bruce Carter, a second-round selection out of North Carolina, to their roster. He’ll fill the spot vacated by Choice.
COLE HATES THE COWBOYS. Defensive end Trent Cole will make his first start since injuring his calf on Oct. 2 against San Francisco — and he wanted to make one thing clear earlier this week.
“I don’t like the Cowboys,” Cole said. “We circle these games on our schedule every year. It’s huge for the fans and for the players. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to get back.”
Cole practiced all week and while hinting that he might not be 100 percent, no one in the locker room expects the stud end to be limited. Coach Andy Reid said the way the Eagles rotate their ends and tackles, it really doesn’t matter.
“I think he’s good,” Reid said. “We rotate those guys in, and we won’t change that. He’s ready to go.”
WHAT ABOUT DONOVAN?
“Right now, I’m just seeing myself here being the backup for the Minnesota Vikings, helping Christian Ponder. After this year, we’ll see,” McNabb said.
McNabb also called reports of a poor worth ethic, “total B.S.”
“I’m upstairs after watching film and going to meetings and I’m eating dinner with coaches and then going back and watching more film in the film room. For something like that to come out is ridiculous,” he said.
- THE MATCHUP: Eagles (2-4) at Cowboys (3-3), Sunday, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
- THE LINE: Eagles -3 (total: 50.5)
- THE BETTING SKINNY: The underdog has covered the spread in 10 of the last 14 meetings in this series. The Cowboys are also 7-0 in their seven as underdogs.
- QUICK SLANTS: Andy Reid is 12-0 following a bye week … Dallas QB Tony Romo has thrown 10 interceptions, 10 touchdowns in seven regular-season starts vs. Eagles … Cowboys have won four of last five games in this series … Dallas leads NFL in rushing defense allowing just 69.7 yards per game.
