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Eagles Notes: Sean Jones likely at free safety

During training camp, one of the most-watched position battles was at free safety. Quintin Demps and Sean Jones were the main combatants - at least that was the way it looked initially. But Macho Harris came out of nowhere and stole the job.

During training camp, one of the most-watched position battles was at free safety.

Quintin Demps and Sean Jones were the main combatants - at least that was the way it looked initially. But Macho Harris came out of nowhere and stole the job.

The rookie, however, is questionable for tomorrow's game against the Giants, and Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed that it would be Jones in center field if Harris' sprained ankle doesn't recover in time.

"He's been rotating in there, so that's not a big deal," Reid said yesterday.

Jones has seen his playing time increase with each week. He didn't dress for the opener but has been the "dime" in the Eagles' six-defensive-back formation in the last several games. He has 18 tackles overall and recovered a muffed punt last week at the Redskins.

Acquired in the off-season after five seasons in Cleveland, Jones admitted that his slow start had something to do with learning all of the Eagles' defensive playbook.

"The Eagles have a great scheme, and there's a lot of detail in it," he said. "You got to study it, you got to work it."

The 27-year-old Jones mostly played strong safety with the Browns. He had 14 interceptions in his last three seasons there. The Eagles, like Cleveland, consider their safety spots interchangeable.

"There are a couple of small differences in there," Jones said. "The strong safety is down in the box more, the free is obviously back in the middle more. . . . But both blitz and both cover."

If he gets his first start as an Eagle, Jones could be walking into a hornets' nest. The Giants, though, could be without one of their hornets. Wide receiver Mario Manningham injured his shoulder on Thursday and is listed as questionable. New York still has the formidable Steve Smith and rookie Hakeem Nicks.

The three have combined for 89 receptions for 1,348 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Ax Man cometh. When the Eagles brought back Jeremiah Trotter three games ago, the feeling was the team wanted to get the 32-year-old back into football shape by the time the meat of the schedule arrived.

The meat is here, and the Giants bring the beef with 265-pound running back Brandon Jacobs.

Trotter, one of the game's best run stoppers in his prime, has been used sparingly thus far. He hasn't been much of a factor, registering just four tackles, and was burned for two game-deciding pass plays two weeks ago at Oakland. But he said he's finally starting to feel his old self and he's hoping to justify the Eagles' good faith.

Extra points. Chris Clemons was held out of practice with an unspecified illness, Reid said. The defensive end is listed as questionable for tomorrow with an elbow sprain. . . . Defensive end Darren Howard (calf, ankle) and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (foot) practiced for the second straight day and are probable. . . . Defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (quadriceps) are out. . . . Donovan McNabb predicted that the Phillies would claim the World Series in six games. "There will be a parade," the quarterback said. Reid said he's pulling for manager Charlie Manuel and his players. "He has eight linebackers out there, and when he puts those pitchers in, that makes his ninth one," Reid said. "He has some tough guys playing for him. It's awesome to watch."