Graham, Cole, Peters Back Practicing
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Graham, Cole, Peters Back Practicing
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Brandon Graham felt like a real Eagle again, he said today, after his first practice of 2011.
It was a brief, getting-loose affair designed to reassemble the team after the bye, but for Graham, coming off an ACL repair and microfracture surgery, it was an important milestone. The Birds' 2010 first-round pick injured his knee last Dec. 12, against the Cowboys, the team the Eagles host this week.
Graham almost certainly won't be ready to play this week. He can practice for three weeks under the rules of the physically unable to perform list, before the team has to either make a roster move to bring him aboard or put him on IR, ending his season. Graham is unlikjely to be placed on IR. It will be interesting to see how the roster move shakes out.
"We're just taking it one day at a time," Graham said. "I know they're going to evaluate me during the week. I know that all eyes are on me for right now, so I'm giving them everything I've got."
Defensive end Trent Cole, who had been sidelined with a calf injury, and left tackle Jason Peters (calf) also practiced. The Birds assembled the first-team offensive line as it was before Peters got hurt -- Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Danny Watkins and Todd Herremans, left to right, a player said. Right tackle Winston Justice, who did a solid job against the Redskins in his first action of 2011, was back to being a sub.
Graham probably anticipated the return from the bye more than anyone in the locker room.
"Good morning people!! I'm so happy to be back practicing," Graham tweeted this morning.
“Listen, he’s coming off major surgery, so you want to bring him back in and let him get back into football here, and that normally takes a little bit of time,” coach Andy Reid said before the bye. “You have to be realistic about it and then go from there.”
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Meanwhile, running back Ronnie Brown said he had a Detroit jersey number (36) and was in a meeting learning the Lions' offense when he was pulled out and told the trade from the Eagles at last Tuesday's deadline had been revoked. It turned out Jerome Harrison, the back the Birds were trying to reacquire, had a brain tumor discovered when he took his Eagles physical.
"I'll just keep moving along as I was before," Brown said about being back with a team that tried to trade him. "When I'm asked or given an opportunity to contribute, I'm looking forward to that."
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loser - get on the field & earn your money. another horrible draft pick by andy/joe /howie— main liner- Whoa there buddy, ignorant posts like that are reasons many of the feebleminded mass end up changing monikers...Although the Bird's may have better off to take Earl Thomas out of Texas when they traded up, Graham was a player out of Michigan and may eventually excell mightily out of the wide 9 alignment...But 260 lb guys just don't reach their stride right out of rehab...let alone he has done zero hitting...And he hasn't lost one game to date this season, so point your anger somewhere else. — bearsfriend
- Slow down. Bring him back too fast and a reinjury = Jerome MacDougal.— barneygoogle
- Defensive tackle?? I thought he was a DE....sighhhhh....maybe he could play some LB, too....dude could really help!
- You are an idiot main liner.. If you are going to hate on Draft Picks hate on Jerome McDougle or Freddie Mitchell, not a kid who was playing well in his rookie season and blew out his knee.— FABER
- Andy has already said he's going to be smart about this. Graham is going to be a good one, no doubt in my mind, he proved it last season. The guy has a great motor and just needs time to learn.— Craig321
- Good luck Brandon! I hope it goes well. We could really use you back this year.— bc3030
- Graham is needed now...just hope he comes back healthy and can add to the mix on the D-line.— greenbloodVAEagle
- Graham provided 3 sacks in 6 game starts last year before getting hurt. Graham has as a rookie in a short season provided more production than some of the stiffs from last years team and seasoned vets on the eagles defensive line now.
— Dexter - Turn him into a LB.— NC Eagle Fan
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- still more bandwagon front running haters talking smack on the philly website dont yall have a life— VickaDelphia24
- Hope Graham can make an impact and pressure the QB/stop the run! D needs all the help it can get. I hope the D isn't patting themselves on the back for the win over the lowly Redskins but get the sense they feel they turned to corner. Hope they are right!— connorjr
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