IS TAKING DOC TO SEE THE DOC
BETHLEHEM--DeSean Jackson apparently didn't get the memo about how the Eagles' signing of wideout Steve Smith was unrelated to Jeremy Maclin's illness.
"The reason why they picked him up is they're unsure of Maclin's health," Jackson said today following his first practice since ending his 11-day training camp holdout. Jackson had been asked what he made of the signing of Smith, which perhaps implied the possibility that the Eagles are seeking leverage in their contract talks with Jackson. Jackson called Smith a friend and said be was hoping for Maclin's quick return.
Smith, recovering from left knee microfracture surgery, was officially played on the physicially unable to perform list today. The Eagles hold out hope that he will be able to start the season on the active roster; if he starts on PUP, he can't play for a full six weeks. Smith is very unlikely to be ready for the opener, but the team thinks he might not need to miss six weeks.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said he was pleased to see Jackson looking sharp, showing he had worked hard during the lockout. Reid gave no update on Maclin, who has returned home to the St. Louis area for more tests, the team has said.
Jackson talked about his goals for his fourth NFL season. " I just want to be consistent every game, not have those ups and downs. That's something I learned from Jerry Rice, to be as consistent as possible. Go out there every day, working hard, regardless if you're hurting, whatever the case may be, you still gotta push through it," Jackson said.
"He's got fresh legs, compared to the other guys, who are a little bit tired," Reid said of Jackson. "He's always got a little bounce in his step anyway ... The nice part was that you could tell he'd been working, so he was able to go out and function at a hign level out here. That's a plus and it's a compliment to him."
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The morning practice might have been the Eagles' longest of this camp.
Rookie kicker Alex Henery redeemed a miserable morning by hitting his final field goal attempt, a 57-yarder. Reid lauded him for battling through his struggles.
The only real news was the absence of right tackle Ryan Harris from practice with back spasms. Reid said the problem isn't serious, but acknowledged Harris has dealt with back issues before. Harris declined comment. "We're going to make sure we check this thing out, and that it's right," Reid said. "Right now, it looks like it's not too serious."
DT Mike Patterson worked out on his own and might be able to practice in a week or so, Reid said.
C Jamaal Jackson sat out with knee tendinitis, Reid said.
The loss of OT Fenuki Tupou to an MCL sprain, and the hobbling of King Dunlap by a knee problem suffered in Thursday's preseason opener, led to the signing of a pair of offensive tackles, veteran Joe Toledo and rookie free agent Spence Johnson. To made room, DT Brandon Collier was waived/injury settlement, and QB Jerron Johnson and DT Charlie Noonan, from St. Joe's Prep, were released.
Les
Bowen has covered the Eagles for the Daily News
since 2002.
Before that, he spent nearly 13 years covering the Flyers. It took Les
only a few seasons after the switch to figure out that there was no
penalty box at the Linc, and that the time really wasn't his, despite
what Andy Reid kept saying. Les came to Philadelphia and the Daily News
from Charlotte in 1983. In the intervening years, he has pretty much
lost track of NASCAR, and his accent. He, his wife Barbara, and their
two sons live in Haddon Township, New Jersey.
E-mail Les at bowenl@phillynews.com
and follow
him on Twitter.
Paul
Domowitch has been with the Daily News since 1982.
He has spent most of his nearly 3 decades with the paper covering the
Eagles and pro football. For the last 10 years, he’s been a
selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A native of Wilkes-Barre
and a graduate of Wilkes University, Domo started his career in Texas,
working first for the Midland Reporter-Telegram (1976-78), and then for
the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he covered some god-awful Texas
Ranger baseball teams. His first beat at the Daily News actually was
boxing, which he covered just long enough to lose 2 sports coats to
blood spatter before moving on to football. Domo and his wife Shelley,
a University of Oklahoma grad who still hasn’t gotten over
that Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State 5 years ago, have 2 terrific
daughters -- Allison, 28, who is an attorney in South Jersey, and Amy,
25, who works in administration for a professional baseball team.
E-mail Domo at PDomo@aol.com and follow
him on Twitter.
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