NFC Notes: Reed, Graham, Seahawks, Eagles

Jordan Reed has missed the past two Redskins games, continuing the top-tier tight end’s career-long battle with injuries. But the fourth-year pass-catcher is packing for London and expects to be cleared by an independent neurologist, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

Reed’s sustained six documented concussions in his NFL career but is signed through 2021 on a five-year, $46.5MM extension. Washington has gone 1-1 without him this season. If Reed is unable to suit up, Vernon Davis would again be the team’s primary receiving tight end.

The 26-year-old target will visit with the independent neurologist on Thursday in advance of Washington’s game against Cincinnati in London.

Here’s more from the NFC.

  • Doug Pederson attempted to cool off trade buzz surrounding the Eagles and wide receivers, but the team has been linked to Torrey Smith. Among NJ.com’s list of targets for the Eagles are Michael Floyd, Alshon Jeffery, Smith and, perhaps most interestingly, Terrelle Pryor. Categorizing the Browns’ top 2016 playmaker as unlikely to re-sign with Cleveland, the sides’ extension talks and Pryor’s history in Ohio notwithstanding, NJ.com lists the converted quarterback as a trade candidate for Philly.
  • The Seahawks have been linked to left tackles Joe Staley and Joe Thomas as potential trade targets, but coach Pete Carroll says that he doesn’t anticipate any deals between now and the deadline. “I don’t think that there is a guy out there who is gonna come flying in here. Now, if there is, [Seahawks general manager] John [Schneider] will figure it out. He’s already all over it,” Carroll said on ESPN 710 [via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times]. “He will figure it out if there is something that we can do. But we have never not been looking for another player at every position. So we’re always looking, that’s the way we do it. When something happens, we have [a] backlog of guys that we’ve worked out and things that we’ve looked at and the options that are there. But right now this is like the most difficult time to find a player that’s just sitting there, and so it’s not likely.”
  • As the Saints get set to face Seattle, Nick Underhill of The Advocate revisits the Jimmy Graham trade. Graham, of course, was Drew Brees’ favorite aerial weapon and an integral part of the offense. However, since the deal, the Saints have managed to score on a league-best 79.17% of their trips to the red zone. At the same time, this offseason’s Coby Fleener signing appears to be a bust so far. After being given a five-year, $36MM contract, Fleener has caught just 21 passes for 281 yards. It’s also worth noting that linebacker Stephone Anthony, taken with the first-round pick received in the deal, hasn’t quite panned out as the team hoped he would.
  • Anthony’s struggles and Graham becoming a focal point in the Seahawks’ offense puts the March 2015 exchange without a clear winner at this point after it appeared the Saints came out ahead here, Larry Holder of NOLA.com writes. Anthony’s been demoted to the Saints’ second string behind the newly acquired James Laurinaitis. Graham hasn’t rediscovered his New Orleans form but is ahead of his 2015 pace despite returning from a torn patella tendon. The seventh-year tight end has 27 receptions for 408 yards after making 48 catches for 605 yards in 11 games last season.

Zach Links contributed to this report

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