Eagles Notes: Eagles' Cornelius Ingram still nursing calf injury

When you see Cornelius Ingram practicing, two things are impossible to ignore - he's running nowhere near 100 percent and he has an inflamed left calf.

Despite a calf that has swelled considerably, the Eagles tight end, who is trying to come back from back-to-back left knee surgeries, continues to practice.

"Being off for two years, I don't want to let anything as small as this affect what I'm doing," Ingram said Tuesday after practice at the NovaCare Complex. "I'm just trying to stay positive and stay out here on the field, because it's one of those things where it's going to go away on its own."

Ingram said that he had an ultrasound of his knee and calf last week and that the Eagles' medical staff found only a buildup of fluid. He said the team's trainers said the inflammation will eventually subside and "bust like a balloon on its own."

Until then, the second-year tight end is biding his time. He hardly played in the second preseason game last week and has really only been able to work on his blocking this week.

The coaches are "not trying to put me in all the pass plays because they know I can't really run full speed," Ingram said. "They're definitely helping me out."

Ingram was a bit of a training-camp wonder last year until he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second straight August. He battled back and was able to practice at minicamp in the spring, but rookie Clay Harbor has supplanted him as the backup tight end to Brent Celek.

There's been speculation that Ingram may be placed on injured reserve for the second straight year, or on the practice squad or maybe even released.

"It's kind of frustrating," Ingram said of the calf injury, "because I know I have a lot in me. But until that time comes, I won't be able to show it."

When Marlin Jackson ruptured his Achilles tendon in May, there was the assumption that it might be the last anyone saw of the Eagles safety.

But there was Jackson on Tuesday in the NovaCare Complex locker room talking about being healthy enough to return to practice by next minicamp.

"I've still got a ton of time," Jackson said.

Signed in the off-season as a free agent, despite the fact that he was coming off ACL tears in both knees the previous two years, Jackson lasted fewer than 10 practices. The former Colt was participating in rookie camp when he tore his tendon.

"It felt like I got kicked in the back of the leg," Jackson said. "And I turned around and there was nobody there. I had heard that's what it feels like when you tear your Achilles, so I knew right then and there."

The injury occurred indoors, and when Jackson realized what had happened, he let out screams that echoed inside the bubble.

"I needed to get that out so I could move on past that and get back to work," Jackson said. "When you're at something for so long and hard and you have it taken away like that it's going to be an emotional thing. I don't think it's healthy to hold that in."

Jackson was the starting free safety at the time, and his injury made way for Nate Allen to move up to the first team. The rookie has done nothing to relinquish the spot.

David Akers (heel) didn't practice for the second straight day, but special-teams coordinator Bobby April said the kicker "should be fine for" Friday's preseason game at Kansas City. . . . April said Ellis Hobbs should return some kicks Friday. The cornerback appears to be the lead returner, but he has yet to handle any kicks in the preseason. April said that there's still competition between Hobbs and Quintin Demps but that Hobbs "has the most experience." Hobbs expects to be the guy. "I'll be there," he said. . . . Center/guard Nick Cole (knee) did not practice. . . . The Bengals' Chad Ochocinco was fined $25,000 for his in-game "tweet" about the hit from Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley that nearly decapitated the receiver.