Herremans likely to play when Eagles face Redskins

The exasperating puzzle that has become the Eagles' offensive line appeared to become even more confounding in that still-indigestible loss at Oakland last Sunday. On a day when the Birds scored just nine points, the line allowed six sacks and suffered a blow when left tackle Jason Peters was injured early in the game.

But the encouraging news is that help is on the way. As the Eagles continued preparations yesterday for their Monday game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field, coach Andy Reid said he expected left guard Todd Herremans to be available to play. While Reid said yesterday that Herremans would be working this week at guard and a little bit at tackle, Herremans said, "More than anything, [Reid] wants me to get comfortable at guard again."

Out since August with what was diagnosed as a stress fracture, the veteran Herremans will bring a degree of stability to the inexperienced offensive line. Initially, the injury he suffered in training camp at Lehigh was announced as "not a stress fracture, but a stress reaction in the bone just above the arch." While he began practicing with the team again last week, he was examined again Tuesday and pronounced healthy enough to play.

Herremans said he is "feeling better."

"I am expecting good things," he said. "I am excited to get out there and do what I can to help us win games."

While Herremans attended team meetings and "was around 7 days a week" during his convalescence, he conceded that it was "tough not being able to play." He also said watching the Oakland game was "just as tough for me as it was for any of you guys." He said his linemates just did not play as a group, that "no individual can be blamed for it."

"This is going to be a process," he said. "Me being out of the picture for the first few weeks has not affected [that process] at all. [The line] has been growing as a group. I just hope to add to it."

Asked what factors weigh into helping the line to play as group, Herremans said: "Time spent together. Trust. All of that."

Physically, Herremans said he is not sure where his stamina level would be. "Tough to say right now," said Herremans, who added that he did not plan to take a break during practice but "to push though" any fatigue he experiences. "I am probably going to get tired. Everybody gets tired."

Herremans said he looked forward to facing the Redskins star defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. "I will see him twice this year, so I am excited," he said. "They say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best."

Eagles tackle Winston Justice said he is eager to line up again with Herremans. "Todd is a great player and he is also a friend," Justice said. "So, I am kind of happy to see him out there again. I know hard it is to be injured and not being able to compete."

Herremans said he expected to get back in the flow of the action quickly.

"The NFL is a fast game," he said. "But I am sure that after a few plays I will settle back in there fine . . . I am ready to roll."