Maclin: "Crazy reports aren't true"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Maclin: "Crazy reports aren't true"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Jeremy Maclin's unspecified illness still remains the great mystery of Eagles training camp.
While DeSean Jackson's absence is obvious -- news flash: He wants a new contract -- the other starting wide receiver has been in camp for five days now and has yet to practice. Maclin has an illness -- or did have one -- according to the Eagles, but they aren't providing details because all of his medical testing has yet to be evaluated.
The delay in indentifying his illness may have led to Internet rumors that he is battling some form of a career-threatening disease. During a brief chat before he went inside the training facility at Lehigh University Maclin addressed those rumors.
"Those crazy reports aren't true," he said Saturday.
Maclin added that he is getting better and that he intends to be back before the start of the season. It's difficult to imagine the Eagles bringing Maclin to camp if he wasn't on the mend. Maclin does look noticeably thinner. In April, he said that he lost 15 pounds the month before after enduring "mono-like" symptoms. By the next month, he appeared to have gained back all of the lost weight.
When players were to report to camp on July 27, though, Eagles coach Andy Reid said Maclin was on an excused absence. Later he revealed that Maclin wasn't at camp because of an illness. The Eagles' 2009 No. 1 draft pick arrived, however, on Aug. 2.
Thus far, he's only participated in light conditioning drills with the Eagles' other injured players. With Maclin sidelined and Jackson still holding out, the Eagles have relied on Jason Avant, Riley Cooper and Chad Hall as their top three receivers in camp.
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was asked how long Maclin or Jackson could miss of camp and the preseason for them not to be ready by the season opener on Sept. 11.
"In general, for a veteran player there comes a time ... that he needs to work for the good of the team -- the timing part -- and for the good of himself," Mornhinweg said. "So there will come a time where it will become important."
Jackson could be in camp by Tuesday if he doesn't want to lose a vested year toward free agency.
Here's some other Eagles' injury news:
-- Safety Nate Allen sat out Saturday morning's practice with a knee injury. The team would not say which knee he had injured or the severity of the injury. Allen ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee last December and had been practicing full-go for the most part until this setback.
-- Defensive tackle Brandon Collier left Saturday's practice with an ankle injury. Wide receiver Sinorice Moss left with a groin injury.
-- The following injured players missed practice again, but are on the mend, according to the Eagles: Defensive tackle Trevor Laws (hip), defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (knee), safety Marlin Jackson(groin), cornerback Jorrick Calvin (shoulder), defensive tackle Cedric Thornton (knee) and cornerback Brandon Hughes (knee).
-- The Eagles had no update on defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who suffered a seizure during Wednesday's practice. Patterson was released from Lehigh Valley Hospital on Friday and is still undergoing testing.
-- Tackle Winston Justice (knee) and defensive end Brandon Graham (knee) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform List and are still rehabbing their injuries.
On the Nate Allen injury...... could've had Earl Thomas!— Geno D- Who ALSO could have been injured, ya putz. — fizzbin
- We could have had Tom Brady too. About 5 times we passed him up, right? Get over it, he is a good player and will be fine. A ruptured patella tendon is a fluke injury and could have happened to anyone.— andrewc23
- This Maclin thing has me chronically worried.— flyfightinbullies
- Actually, this might be a blessing in disguise. We all know what Jackson & Maclin can do with Vick. Now Cooper & Hall can get more reps w/ the 1st team Offence.— KJ6710
- The Cincinnati Reds could have drafted Mike Schmidt! He is a hometown boy!!! They didn't!— GOLDY2007
Comment removed.- Starting to wonder if maybe Eagles are trying to trade Maclin and holding him out so he won't get injuried. Would not surprise me if they felt they could trade him for high pick and get by with other WR's they have at lower salaries. Remember Maclin signed a first round deal when salaries were thru the roof. Sure he is good and love to have him but as long as Desean is back we're probably ok with Avant, Cooper, Moss and Higgens and maybe try Randy Moss for 1 yr at fraction of Maclin's salary. Speculating here as keeping mum on this "illness" seems a bit odd.— connorjr
- Why do people jump to all these absurd conclusions? I was at camp and saw maclin. I am definitely worried about him, because he does not look good. Looks skinny and washed out in the face a bit. He was walking around and joking with players and fans, so I think he will be ok, but I think that he really is recovering from mono. I am worried about his conditioning, but he will remain on the eagles, and he will play this year at some point. Avant and Cooper can ball but after that there is a big drop off, at least at consistently making plays. We need d jack back ASAP, and maclin to get healthy. We have cap room still, and maclin is too valuable to this team to think about getting rid of him. You are unreal fir even coming up with the ridiculous notion you described above. D looks great though. Hope Nate Allen gets back soon. — Knock0ut12
- this is just an absolutely stupid comment. maclin is quickly becoming a star in this league why would they even begin to think about trading him? honestly if i had to choose i would rather have maclin in the lineup with desean out than the other way around. deasean is the best deep threat in the league but he only catches 50 passes a year. maclin will probably be a consistent 80-90 catch guy in this league and without maclin every team in the league will be double teaming desean. all those other guys you named cant even compare to maclin and i dont know if your heard yet but randy moss is RETIRED and it doesnt look like he will try to pull a brett favre until at least next season. — dwil12
- randy moss better get a phone call.— snakeplissken
- Were is T.O. in the driveway doing situps?????— twleonard62
- Agree with flyfighthinbullies on Maclin (Too many people not saying MEANS something is UP--& noticeable weight loss is NEVER a good thing especially for one who could benefit from weight gain & TheGUYincharge69 is RIGHT on about Nate Allen, rupture patellar tendon injuries NEVER lead to successful comebacks. I KNOW, I had one!— dudega
- Good info but the article needs a good edit guys ...— petergou
