Andy: Peters 'Making Progress'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Andy: Peters 'Making Progress'
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Among the subjects Andy Reid updated Wednesday in his first media session since the bye week was the status of All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, who is recovering from two Achilles' tendon surgeries. Peters must be placed on a practice-eligible list by Nov. 6, and join the roster three weeks after that, in order to avoid being placed on IR.
"Jason Peters is making progress, moving around, running, doing some agility things," Reid said, echoing what Peters told the Daily News two weeks ago. "Not ready to go, and he's got time, here."
Asked if he thinks Peters will play this season, Reid said: “There’s a chance. You saw (Baltimore's Terrell) Suggs go through his thing," Suggs returning to the Ravens' lineup last week after suffering an Achilles' tear in May. "The difference is, Jason’s had two of these. We’re not going to put him at risk … we’re going to make sure the doctors are on board, Jason’s on board, then we go from there.
“If he’s physically able to be there, that’s OK. We’re not going to do anything to risk further injury to him.”
Peters later declined comment in the locker room. The Eagles have shuffled back and forth between replacements Demetress Bell and King Dunlap this season. In the wake of the offensive line's late meltdown in the Eagles' Oct. 14 loss to the Lions, Dunlap has regained the starting job he lost after suffering a hamstring injury at Arizona Sept. 23. Reid indicated Wednesday that Dunlap was returning to the lineup because he was fully healthy, but Dunlap actually was functional the last two weeks before the bye, the coaches just decided to play Bell, whom they are paying $3.25 million this season.
Dunlap was not available for comment. Bell said: "I just took (the demotion) as he was back healthy."
"I don't think we protected as well as we should have up front" in the Detroit game, Bell said, a statement that immediately moved him atop the standings in the weekly "no bleep, Sherlock" award competition. "I can't say" exactly what we went wrong. You just have to watch the film."
"I think I got better over time," said Bell, who played pretty well against the Giants, less well on the road against the Steelers, and way less well against the Lions. "I just know King got helathy, so he's back in the starting lineup."
Asked if he felt misled about his role here, after signing as a free agent last spring, Bell said: "I can't say I feel misled, no."
Reid said his offensive linemen "are proud guys" who spent the bye week reflecting on the Detroit debacle, in which the Eagles led by 10 points with 5 minutes remaining in regulation. "They've heard my say, they've heard their coaches' say. These are competitive guys, and the want to do well, their coaches want to do well. It's important that we do it. There's no talking that's going to help you do this; that's not what it is. You're graded on what happens on Sunday. That's the bottom line. One o'clock Sunday, you go out and you do your thing."
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One thing Reid picked up in his bye week review of the offense was that "the first half hasn't been near as productive as the second half," especially the first quarter, in which the Eagles have been outscored 26-7. Overall, the Eagles are being outscored 61-33 in the first half, and are outscoring opponents 72-59 in the second half. Reid noted that quarterback Michael Vick is ''the same guy in there" both halves. "We've got to make sure we're feeding him the right things," Reid said. "I know there are things we can do to help him."
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Andy Reid spoke as if there still might be doubt Wednesday about whether Mike Patterson will play when his three-week practice window ends; the Eagles opened that window Monday. But Patterson said he doesn't doubt he will be ready to roll in three weeks. "The doc gave me the all-clear. I'm going to go and put pads on and hit somebody," Patterson said.
TZizzle is playing, but I can't imagine Peters coming back this year.- This comment has been deleted.— hannibal barca
If Andy had any stones, he would bench Danny Watkins and put Dunlap back to his original right guard position. Start Bell at left tackle until Peters comes back, which will be around week 12.
I would then groom Bell for the right guard position. Watkins was a serious waste of a pick, and he will be 29 soon.— EmanuelP- Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.— Eddieboy
- One of the stupidest statements I have ever heard from Andy Reid, and that's saying something. Consider the following:
-According to a 2010 study, NFL players take an average of 11 months to return to the football field after a torn achilles (Peters is only 5 months from the injury). Statistical performance indicators showed that players performance decreased by an average of 50% in total.
-Suggs tore his achilles once...Peters tore his twice
-Suggs, Takeo Spikes, Julian Peterson, Greg Ellis, Shawn Merriman and other players who returned from similar injuries were all out for the season. Very very very rarely do players injure it in the off-season and return the same season.
-The above mentioned players weigh around 240-260 lbs....Peters weighs close to 350 lbs. Much more weight and stress on the achilles tendon.
-Peters re-ruptured it in mid-May. Suggs injured his in late April.
There is .1% chance of Peters returning and staying healthy enough to play better than his replacements.
The simple fact that Reid has some sort of hope or expectation of Peters returning illustrates the type of super wishful thinking and insanity behind Reid's decisions for the last 10+ years.
Time's yours.— astroqueen0 - Or... he is just using this to motivate the guys who are healthy to play better unless they want to be replaced by a guy with a bad wheel. — mkk9772
- On another note to that BIG STIFF Danny Watkins: You won't make it long in Philly if you don't talk to reporters because they tell the truth on how you're palying! YOU BIG BABY!! WAHHHHHH!!!!!— elfman
- If I am Jason Peters, I am not rushing back and shortening my career for a lame duck coach....this team as it is structured with NO o-line, outdated o-line techniques and failed d-line schemes and an offense that does not protect the QB is going nowhere....Get healthy Jason, the new coach will need you....and he will find some replacements for the drek that AR brought in...— nuggett
- Its obvious Reid is just throwing manure against the wall and hoping something sticks.— mfecani
- Why put the man at risk for a team going nowhere.— Justaschmuck
- Don't risk injuring him for this mediocre team.— Sidewinder7
- being without Peters makes everyone realize how bad this team is without him and just how good he really is.— pr0f3ss0r
- Everyone heels differently. If he's already running around...duh of course he could come back. Will it help this dreadful team with poor offensive play calling...that's another story.— John Dealoni
- Reid is praying for Peters to return to try to save his job. Peters should let it heal and return next year. As others have said why throw your career up in the air for a lame duck coach? ( as it is already in jeopardy with how is was injured and injured again )— DaFatman
