Eagles' key pieces mostly set to go

The Eagles' main components are getting healthy just in time for the regular season.

Guard Todd Herremans (ankle), linebacker Ernie Sims (forearm), and defensive end Trent Cole (ankle) were all back on the practice field Tuesday, along with center Jamaal Jackson, who delivered snaps for the first-team offense and showed no ill effects from battling defensive linemen in one-on-one drills Monday.

All four are projected starters, when fit.

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson was the only big piece of the picture missing, although head coach Andy Reid said that was because he had his wisdom teeth removed Monday. Jackson's back, injured in Friday's preseason game, "is feeling better," Reid said.

The team's top players will remain out of harm's way this week, with the starters slated to sit out Thursday's preseason finale at home against the New York Jets.

Michael Vick will quarterback the first half, and rookie Mike Kafka will play the second.

Nearly every starting job, except for center due to questions about Jamaal Jackson's health, has been settled, but for those on the margins of the roster, the game is a final chance to make an impression on Reid and other coaches before cut-down day.

Reid said there are still some jobs open.

"It's important that all the guys that have an opportunity to play, play like they have an opportunity to make this football team," Reid said. "In essence, they do."

For Kafka, the game will likely provide his last extended action for some time, since he will enter the year as the Eagles' third quarterback.

"I just want to prepare myself as best I can, move the ball, complete passes, operate the offense, show them that I can manage the game and execute," said the rookie out of Northwestern.

Others have work to do to assure themselves of a job.

Macho Harris, who started at safety as a rookie, has been pushed to the edge of the roster after missing much of training camp with a hamstring injury. This week, the team moved him back to safety. He had been at cornerback since the spring.

"All you can do is what the coaches ask you to do, so that's what I do," Harris said. "It's not pressure at all. All I have to do is be disciplined, show what I'm coached to do and have fun."

Running back Martell Mallett, a roster long shot, said he is not going to try anything special, other than playing hard.

"Coach has got a great game plan for us, and I'm just going to try to go out and execute it," Mallett said. "That's it. That's all I can do."

Cornerback Jorrick Calvin, acquired Monday in a trade with the Cardinals, said he hopes to return kicks Thursday. Reid said he may get the chance.

"That's one of my main things. I love to return," Calvin said. "You play defense, you can't touch the ball too much."

Calvin dressed for practice but spent much of the afternoon standing beside secondary coach Dick Jauron, going over the Eagles' scheme.

The Eagles placed rookie defensive end Ricky Sapp on injured reserve. Sapp, a fifth-round draft pick from Clemson, had injured his knee and needs surgery. Sapp partially tore his right anterior cruciate ligament as a junior in 2008 and slid to the fifth round of April's draft.

The Eagles picked up defensive end Pannel Egboh off waivers. He had been cut by the Texans on Sunday.

Cornerback Dimitri Patterson sat out practice again. He has a groin injury.