NFC East news: Jalen Hurts stepping up to lead, Austin Ekeler wants heavy workload

What they’re saying: Jalen Hurts is trying to be a better leader – Nick Tricome, PhillyVoice.com

Jalen Hurts is trying to make sure that the 2023 collapse doesn’t repeat in 2024.

Lane Johnson knows the Eagles’ offense is stacked on paper and does have a good feeling about the team this season, but he also remembers exactly what happened in the back half of last season.

“On paper, you look at the talent, the ability, the track record, I think we have the potential for a big year,” Johnson told Rich Eisen on his show earlier in the week. “But as you know, as games go on, we have to prove that, and we’re gonna do that. Last year, I felt the last seven games were a total misrepresentation of what we were, and we didn’t do anything to right that wrong. We’re ready to do that – eager to do that.”

But if they’re going to, Jalen Hurts will be one of the biggest factors in that.

As the Eagles fell apart last season, so did he, and that stoic demeanor that painted him as a focused and unshakable force in 2022 while the team was on its way to the Super Bowl came back around in 2023 and made him out to be a recluse while everything around him was imploding.

That’s led to chatter and some doubt within the fan base – it’s just the nature of the Philadelphia market – but also a reported push internally to have Hurts loosen up a bit and be more outgoing.

And according to Johnson, as he continued talking to Eisen, Hurts is working on it:

“I mean, as you know, Philly’s a big media market. You hear lots of stories, but I think just this offseason he’s really done a good job of bonding with his teammates. I feel like the connection has definitely grown, a really big offseason. The work ethic has never been the issue, tremendous worker, but just becoming a more vocal leader. I think whenever he speaks, guys listen up, and him reaching out to guys and creating these bonds in the offseason – he’s having these throwing sessions with receivers now in the offseason, getting work in – but really has gone out of his way to connect with his teammates and we feel that.

Ex-Giants coach on Brian Daboll: ‘We were all trying to get out’ – Dan Benton, USA Today

It seems Brian Daboll’s relationships with members of his staff were rocky at times, to say the least.

The New York Giants have tried to turn the page on last season’s dysfunction that resulted in significant offseason turnover, but the entire story has yet to be told.

The poor optics from the Brian Daboll-Wink Martindale fallout linger, compounded by assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka likely to have his play-calling stripped despite being given a “promotion.”

The entire situation is something the league took note of, especially after reports surfaced that Kafka was willing to move laterally to escape East Rutherford.

“It doesn’t set a great precedent,” an NFL executive told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “It’s almost like a make-up present.”

Raanan also detailed previously unknown incidents where Daboll melted down, screaming at Martindale over random media reports.

Many have assumed that the crux of the coaching conflict was specific to Daboll and Martindale, as well as his trusted assistants, Drew and Kevin Wilkins, but Raanan reports that the rot spread much further than that.

As tensions grew, general manager Joe Schoen eventually hopped on the headset to listen to in-game communications last season. He dismissed it as something he “always wanted to do” and nothing more. However, several assistants noticed a significant change in Daboll when he knew Schoen was listening.

“You could tell when (Schoen was on the headset) because Dabes’ demeanor was totally different,” one non-defensive coach told Raanan.

Another coach said that when Schoen wasn’t on the headset, Daboll was so ravenous it was “hard to think.” Ultimately, many wanted out.

“We were all trying to get out of there,” a non-defensive coach said.

Commanders’ Austin Ekeler aims to reclaim role as top fantasy running back – Michael Baca, NFL.com

Austin Ekeler still intends to be a top back in the NFL, both on the field and in fantasy.

Upon taking his talents to Washington D.C., Austin Ekeler is looking to reclaim his role as one of fantasy football’s top producers in 2024.

During an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of The Insiders, the new Commanders running back wanted to clear up past quotes on his reasoning behind leaving the Chargers and went on to explain why he believes Washington is an ideal place for him to flourish once again.

“You’re going to get the best version of myself always, no matter what,” Ekeler told NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. “There’s been this controversy out there, like, ‘Oh Austin said he doesn’t want 300 carries, ‘cause that’s what the Chargers said.’ I’ve never had that many carries ever. So, I don’t know why everybody’s in an uproar. It’s not that I don’t want to touch the ball. It’s the way that I’ve had the most production is when I’m able to split between catching and running the ball. That is when I’ve been the most productive, down in the red zone, right out in the field, when I can have both those type of environments.

A new team and system isn’t hindering Ekeler’s confidence entering his eighth NFL season, though. And it begs the question: Should fantasy owners be looking to select Ekeler in the first round this year?

“Yes,” he answered when asked by Pelissero. “Let me ask you this: I guess it’s little tough because in the fantasy world you’re judged off your last season, but as far is consistency, when I’ve been healthy — yes, last year I missed like four games (with) high ankle sprain, come back sprain my other ankle — but when Austin Ekeler has been healthy on the field, he has produced. And so that’s the same thing going forward here. If I’m healthy, I’m going to be on the field and I’m going to be producing. You’ve seen what it looks like when I produce, so you’re going to want me on your team.”