Maclin returns home for testing
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Maclin returns home for testing
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has returned to his hometown of St. Louis to receive further testing as the Eagles attempt to identify an illness that has sidelined the 23-year-old, the team said.
Maclin has been at training camp for more than week but he has yet to practice. The most he has done on the practice fields is partake in light conditioning drills. Maclin recently said that he was getting better. Eagles coach Andy Reid said last week that he expected his starting wideout to be back by the start of the season.
But Maclin's leaving Philadelphia is cause for concern, especially after the Eagles went out and signed free agent receiver Steve Smith on Wednesday. Eagles sources said the Smith acquisition had nothing to do with Maclin's condition, but it is fair to surmise that the addition was at least for insurance purposes.
Smith is coming off microfracture knee surgery and isn't expected by the start of the season, although he and Eagles sources said the 26-year-old could be back earlier that initially thought.
Maclin, meanwhile, has exactly a month before the start of the regular season. In April, he said he had lost 15 pounds after having "mono-like" symptoms in March. By May, he said he had gained all the weight back and looked to be completely healthy as he participated in informal team workouts.
However, when Eagles players were to report to camp on July 28 Maclin was missing. Reid said his absence was excused. Five days later Maclin showed up at Lehigh University. Reid later revealed that the receiver had been -- or was still -- ill.
Maclin looked noticeably thinner, although a team official said earlier this week that the Eagles' 2009 top pick was only two pounds below his normal playing weight. Still, the lack of information has led to Internet rumors that Maclin is suffering from a career-threatening disease. Last week, Maclin said "those crazy reports aren't true."
Last season, Maclin caught 70 passes for 964 yards and ten touchdowns.
Comment removed.
Best wishes go out to Maclin. I hope he is ok and healthy by the start of the regular season.— briandawkins20- Comment removed.
- It's either Lyme's disease or Groat's syndrome— tgray83
This is clearly Joe Banner's fault.— soybot- Doesn't look good when experts are trying to figure out what's wrong.— farley
- Nothing new but obviously cause for concern. Hopefully he is or will be fine, not just for the Eagles.— PhillySubsMac
"In April, he said he had lost 15 months a month earlier after having "mono-like" symptoms."
Please proof-read your articles before posting them. In April, he said he lost 15 pounds a month earlier... not 15 months a month earlier.
- 15 months a month???? What school of journalism did we graduate from?? Read your stuff before sending it out for distribution, please. My 8 year old daughter led me by the hand to the computer. I was "busy" at the time.
Have a nice day :)
— Hatfield_ham - Comment removed.
- This could be the final test before he's cleared to practice again. It could be some kind of infection and Maclin is on an antibiotic regimen. They may not want to put his body through the stress of athletics until the infection is completely gone.— soulman386
- This is like an episode of House M.D.— RockStar
- Get well soon.— P Even
- uh oh— sore richard
- Please someone report something that identifies the cause of Maclin's illness...the suspense of what this is; mono, HIV, dare I say some form of cancer is killing me!— johnnyb85
