Nate Allen: Knee is 90-95 percent

POSTED: Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 4:20 PM

Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

Nate Allen reported to training camp at Lehigh Wednesday, after spending almost all of the off-season rehabbing in Florida, and reported that his right knee is 90-95 recovered.

The Eagles free safety said that he expected his coaches to hold him out for the early part of camp, but that he anticipates being ready for the start of the season.

Allen tore his patellar tendon in a season-ending injury last December against the New York Giants. He started every game up until that point as a rookie. The Eagles are expecting a lot out of Allen in his second season. With Quintin Mikell off to the Rams, Allen will be the senior starting safety.

Allen said that he welcomes taking more of a leadership role in the Eagles' defensive secondary.

The Eagles expended a second round draft pick on another safety when they drafted Jaiquawn Jarrett in April's draft. Jarrett's a long shot to be able to start by the opener. Kurt Coleman and Marlin Jackson will likely also compete for the strong safety spot.

Comments (10)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:26 PM, 07/27/2011

Marlin Jackson? Are you kidding the Tonner? Excuse the Tonner if he's not buoyed by the prospect of the safeties be comprised of two gimps, a second year guy and a rookie. And don't even get the Tonner started on our linebackers. The Tonner has a message for the accounting firm of Banner, Roseman and Reid: It's getting late early this year. You see, this is what happens when you put CPAs in charge of your personnel decisions. Give the Tonner a break.

— hunglikeaton

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:27 PM, 07/27/2011

Coleman, Marlin (no knees),Jarrett (RK), & Allen(gimpy)wow....pretty sad.

— repski

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:34 PM, 07/27/2011

Give it time guys. I really like the Allen kid and his chances of a strong comeback. Marlin Jackson was doing his thing last year before he tore his achel last year.If he worked out at all and got his self into shape, he will be our starting SS. He'll push Jarrett to become better and eventually push our secondary over the top. This team has something in the works. It frustrates the hell out of me and has me looking at my dang phone and this website like it's crack and I need my fix so bad. I'm so mad I'm happy and know that at the end of the day, AR and co will manage to win to NFC East and make it to the NFC Conf game. What happens at that point is left for the game to decide.

— papabear702

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:50 PM, 07/27/2011

That would help robynk, for sure. You have the Tonner's respect and admiration.

— hunglikeaton

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:20 PM, 07/27/2011

Marlin Jackson needs to be Cut/ Released ASAP. The Eagles safties should be Nate Allen, Jarrett, Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson.

— briandawkins20

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:29 PM, 07/27/2011

Its sad that there is no one to tell these guys to just hang it up. Of course the doctors arent gonna tell them beause they are making huge money fixing thier ruined joints for the 5th time. Marlin Jackson will survive a few weeks this year with all the new "padless" camps going on with no contact...which will allow him to make it to the first game of the year when he will then blow out his knee on the second play. It will be a near miracle if he makes it to week 2.

— CharlieGarner25

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:01 PM, 07/27/2011

Agreed Charlie, Modern medicine has made advances but as soon as someone has re-occurring knee injuries the track record is not good. Which makes it even more infuriating that A.R.'s "fastball" he moved up multiple spots to pick last year had micro fracture surgery. His inept ability to evaluate defensive talent is rivaled only by his stubborness to insist his method is right!

— yourdaddy!