Eagles Notes: Samuel, Bell may miss Friday's game

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel sat out Wednesday's final practice at Lehigh with a hamstring injury and is questionable for Friday's second preseason game at Cincinnati, coach Andy Reid said.

Michael Bell is questionable as well, but the running back was able to participate in a light morning practice. Bell missed the previous two days with a calf strain and was limited for most of training camp by a hamstring strain.

"We'll see how he and Asante kind of do as we go here," Reid said.

The Eagles will hold a mock game Thursday at the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia and then fly to Cincinnati.

Samuel left Tuesday morning's practice early and was held out of the afternoon session. In between the practices, he was seen walking near the practice complex at Lehigh and appeared to be moving without a limp.

Center Nick Cole, who has hardly practiced over the last two weeks because of swelling in a knee, will not play against the Bengals. Mike McGlynn will get his second start in a row.

Reid said the first team and starting quarterback Kevin Kolb will play the first half Friday, Michael Vick and the second team will play the third quarter, and Mike Kafka and the third team will play the fourth quarter.

Guard Todd Herremans (foot) and center Jamaal Jackson (knee), who recently were taken off the Physically Unable to Perform List, are out for Friday, as are cornerback David Pender (illness) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee).

Reid has ruled Jackson out for the Aug. 27 preseason game at Kansas City.

"We're taking it nice and slow with him," Reid said. Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder has been working with Jackson.

"Rick has the swelling out of there and Jamaal has been very diligent with rehab after practice. His knee feels good right now, so that's the way we want to keep it."

Cornerback Ellis Hobbs returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday with an illness. Tight end Cornelius Ingram (knee), cornerback Macho Harris (hamstring), and safety Quintin Demps (knee) practiced and will be available Friday.

As most of the players jetted out of Lehigh, a few lingered in the parking lot after practice and played basketball.

Running back LeSean McCoy bet Vick that the quarterback could not dunk. The 6-foot-1 Vick then stood under the hoop, elevated several feet, and threw the ball through the hoop with both hands.

"I'm a schooled veteran," Vick said.

Wide receivers Jason Avant, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Norwood, and Kelley Washington watched with amusement.

"Hey, I've got nothing to do with money," Avant said. There didn't appear to be any exchange of currency between Vick and McCoy.

The four receivers then played a game of "H.O.R.S.E." that Avant won.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has gained notoriety for his cursing on the HBO reality show Hard Knocks.

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy criticized Ryan and said that if he were still coaching he would not hire an assistant who used profanity. Reid, also a non-curser to his team, was asked for his opinion on the subject.

"I respect the heck out of Tony Dungy and I respect Rex Ryan, too," he said. "Everybody does it a little different, and that's how it works. That's not necessarily our style. He does it his way. That's how it rolls."

Reid then was asked whether he allows his assistants to curse.

"Only at you [reporters]," he said kiddingly.

Reid said that he text-messaged former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook to wish him luck with the 49ers. Westbrook signed with San Francisco on Monday and will face his old team Oct. 12, when the Eagles visit the Niners.