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.
Shouldn't we be most concerned that he couldn't get the best possible care in Philadelphia and had to go back to St Louis to get a good doctor?— JeffreyLen- It's kind of troubling that he's gone back to St.Louis for testing. I always thought the Philadelphia area Medical facilities were pretty cutting edge, ...so if it's something that can't be handled here, it doesn't bode well.— andyd
- Going back to St Louis just doesn't make sense. I'm hoping for the best but with that development this doesn't look good. Let's hope Steve Smith's recovery is complete and he's ready to go soon. That said, Avant is having a good camp and he certainly has the skills to be a threat and Riley Cooper isn't exactly a slouch either.
I'm pretty sure they would have eliminated cancer right away because specific tests reveal it quickly. As I said before his return to St Louis doesn't bode well... unless he forgot his iPhone4 and has to go back home to look for it!— LagunaBeach - Laguna, Maclin's father is a doctor in St Louis, so his returning there makes perfect sense - I'm sure he wants his dad to oversee the management of his illness. — CTL
- How many of you losers does it take to report a typo? Jeez... I also work in the journalism field and I'll tell you, mistakes happen. Get over it. It's a blog, not a pulitzer prize seeking work of fiction.— Cr0we
- Until Opening day this won't be a serious issue, just make sure Maclin is healthy enough to be back. If he can't practice, let him sit and watch film, do his health thing etc but it'll be fine; these trainers and Doctors sometimes really amaze us in good ways. GO EAGLES!!! BTW- My wife and I think he shought carry the BATMAN! name, forget TO (washed up) but this guy takes the most insane hits then he lays there for a second, he then gets up like it was nothing!! He flys up grabs the ball, then a corner or linebacker LEVELS him but he reboots and is ready to take/dispense more punishment... my friends that is BATMAN! Maclin.— StJames888
- I don't believe any "illness" to a top flight athlete goes undiagnosed for months, even weeks. I believe both he and the Eagles know and it isn't mono. I hope the young man gets well but don't like the road this is going down. Prayers are with him!— JBinPA
- better get used to the idea of not having Maclin. Desean Jackson, yes all 170 lbs of him will be our number one WR this year until he gets creamed by anoter big 180 lb corner. The Eagles will count on DJax while other teams will have their QB's throwing at bigger receivers (approx 6 ft or taller, approx. 200 lbs) such as Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Anquan Boldin, Roddy White, Miles Austin, Dwayne Bowe, Brandon Lloyd, Vincent Jackson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, Marques Colston, Mike Williams, Santonio Holmes, Santana Moss, Terrell Owens (somewhere possibly), Brandon Marshall, Hakeem Nicks, Sidney Rice, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, etc. You get the idea. The signing of an injured Steve Smith is an ok acquisition but if the Eagles are serious about this being Super Bowl or bust, they need to convince Randy Moss to un-retire and sign with them. Moss and Jackson give the Eagles the best chance to win this year.— sedale
- sign Randy Moss!!— sedale
- My back hurts...
— thingfish - Many people go back to the doctor that gave a diagnosis, or they go to compare the new results to the old results. Hence the reason he is going back to St. Louis. Or there could be a specialist, similar to a Dr. Andrews, for the condition he is dealing with. Either way, its not a knock on philly, but what he feels is best. Hopefully he will be back and on the field soon
— t.o.78 - Maybe Favre-itis?— karlandrew
- @sedale. It sounds like you were saying you would have the recievers you listed instead of Jackson. You listed some good ppl, but come on. 1st, some of the receivers you listed arent big, for example Santana Moss, Jennings, Holmes, Wallace. Others are old as hell, Driver and Ward. Brandon Lloyd has had one good year out of 6 or 7 years. Mike Williams, really. Anquan Boldin is hurt more than Jackson. Jackson is a good receiver, appreciate him. Dont think just because a guy is big he is good, or because you saw a highlight of him he is better. I bet that 80% of the names you listed, the team would trade that person for Jackson in a heart beat.— t.o.78
- Ditto Sedale Sign Randy Moss too much on the line. Randy Desean Avante Cooper I like them— VegasEagleFan
- This whole story is ridiculous. Would it kill the Eagles to actually say something definitive? Obviously, something very concerning is going on if the guy is going back to St. Louis to get more tests because he is still ill and the Eagles signed another receiver who was injured last year. We're not morons. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the Eagles are hiding something.— Hemingway
