Curry remains an option at linebacker

The Vinny Curry-at-outside-linebacker experiment officially is more than an experiment.

"Vinny's out there (at linebacker) full time now,'' coach Chip Kelly said Wednesday morning.

Kelly clarified that statement, pointing out that Curry still could – and probably will – be used as an interior rusher in the Eagles' nickel package, which is how he was used last year when he had nine sacks.

But he said Curry is in the mix to be the first outside linebacker off the bench with Brad Jones and Bryan Braman if Marcus Smith isn't able to play.

Smith, the team's 2014 first-round pick, has missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. His status for Monday night's season-opener against Atlanta still is up in the air, though Kelly said he was cleared to practice Wednesday. Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham are the team's starting outside linebackers.

"Vinny has been in (linebacker) meetings and drills,'' Kelly said. "But he can still play defensive line because he has a tad bit of experience at playing the defensive line position.''

Kelly said he counts Curry as one of the team's six outside linebackers. "But that doesn't mean Vinny is not going to line up on the defensive line in the Atlanta game,'' he quickly added. "He'll play defensive line. He'll play nose guard. He'll (probably play linebacker).''

Other highlights from Kelly's morning news conference:

--He said everyone was expected to practice Wednesday, including tight end Zach Ertz and Smith. On Ertz, he said, "We'll monitor him during the week, but he's clear to go today. We'll see how he handles it.'' On Smith: "He's also clear to go, so we'll see how he handles it.''

Because Ertz missed the entire preseason, the Eagles didn't really have an opportunity to gauge his progress as a blocker in live action. But Kelly said he has been able to tell he's improved. "You can tell from a technical standpoint what he's done. And (tight ends coach) Justin (Peelle) can tell that in drill work what he's done to improve from that standpoint." Regardless, Brent Celek remains the team's starting tight end.

--On the decision to claim quarterback Stephen Morris off waivers: "We have everybody rated and he was the highest-rated guy that was available after the waiver wire went through. We like his arm. He's got a really, really strong arm. Quick release. (Offensive line coach) Jeff Stoutland knows him pretty well. He was actually at Miami when he played there. So we kind of know the makeup of the player.''

--On the contract extensions the Eagles gave to offensive linemen Andrew Gardner and Dennis Kelly: "We just didn't want to have a lot of free agents when the season ends next year.'' Gardner and Kelly both would've been free agents after the season. Some of the other notable players who will be free agents after this season: quarterback Sam Bradford, safety Walter Thurmond, cornerback Nolan Carroll, defensive end Cedric Thornton, defensive lineman/linebacker Vinny Curry and wide receiver Miles Austin.

--On his rebuilt secondary's challenge Monday night against Matt Ryan and the Falcons' potent passing game: "It's going to be a good matchup. Generating a pass-rush obviously (is going to be important). Trying to get to Matt so we can get the ball out of his hands a little bit quicker than he hopes to get it out. It depends on how their protection holds up against our rush. And then how does our coverage hold up against some really talented receivers. Especially Julio (Jones) and Roddy (White). They're a really good pair. It's not like you can just single one guy out. We feel they have a couple of guys there that you have to really pay a lot of attention to.''

--On rookie corner Eric Rowe, who struggled in the Eagles' final two preseason games: "We're confident in Eric going into this game.''

--Kelly once again wouldn't reveal whom defensive coordinator Bill Davis plans to use as his nickel corner. "Whatever's best for us to win is what we're going to go with,'' Kelly said. "We've got a gameplan.''