Eagles Practice Observations: Where’s Wolff?; Thurmond seizing safety; Marcus Smith inching back

Observations and notes off Tuesday's Eagles OTAs:

-- The Earl Wolff watch continues. The third-year safety, despite being cleared by doctors and despite seemingly having the clearest shot to the open safety spot entering the spring, has yet to practice.

"He's been cleared from Dr. Andrews a couple weeks ago," Chip Kelly said, referring to the noted orthopedic surgeon, "but it's what [Wolff] can tolerate."

Asked if the decision on when he would make a full return was up to him, Wolff said that Andrews didn't clear him to be a full participate in practice.

"He didn't clear me to come out here and be 100 percent," Wolff said. "He cleared me to kind of push it. So it's not like, 'OK, Earl, now you're cleared to go out there and run full speed.' Because when he cleared me I was still kind of in the middle of my rehab."

Wolff underwent season-ending knee surgery last November. It was initially described as a cleaning out procedure, but Wolff said at the time that it was also a "mini-microfracture." Microfracture surgery is to repair damaged cartilage and often requires a long recovery period.

But Andrews clearing Wolff two weeks ago would mark just a six-month recovery period. And yet, Wolff has not yet participated in practice, aside from working with the training staff and jumping in a few individual drills as he did Tuesday.

"Earl has done nothing except stretch," Kelly said, "so there is no progress right now."

-- The Eagles did little to directly address the vacancy at the one safety spot opposite Malcolm Jenkins this offseason. Wolff, despite playing sparingly there in his first two seasons, seemed to have the inside track over a cast that included Chris Maragos, Chris Prosinski, Jerome Couplin and several rookies.

But his absence has likely led to the decision to move cornerback Walter Thurmond to safety. Thurmond has worked his way into the first team rotation and has impressed Kelly.

"Walt's done a really nice job," Kelly said. "Probably been our most productive guy in the secondary in terms of pass breakups, strips and things like that. He always seems to be around the ball. So he seems like he's fitting in there right now."

-- Marcus Smith continues to ease his way back to 100 percent after a groin injury. His situation doesn't appear as dire as Wolff's. It would be a surprise if the Eagles parted with their 2014 top draft pick after just one season. But he still has to battle for that third outside linebacker spot after Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham and possibly for playing time.

Kelly and others have noted that Travis Long has picked up where he left off before he tore his ACL last August. Long had the team made before the injury. He could sneak into that No. 3 outside linebacker role if Smith hasn't made progress. Smith was shuffled into 7-on-7 drills and took some snaps with the first team on Tuesday.

-- Sam Bradford did about the same amount of work as he did on Monday, although he took a set of repetitions with the first team during 7 on 7s ahead of Mark Sanchez. Kelly said that Bradford was "right on track" in his recovery from an ACL tear, but couldn't offer much in terms of a timetable for a full return.

-- Sanchez tossed an early interception – a pass to Jordan Matthews was tipped by Mychal Kendricks and Jenkins hauled it in – but he struck back on his next throw with a bomb to Riley Cooper over cornerback Byron Maxwell. Sanchez later connected with Seyi Ajirotutu on a long pass. The former Chargers receiver has had some nice moments during OTAs. During team drills in the red zone, Sanchez went to Brent Celek and the tight end made a one-handed catch in the end zone.

-- With Bradford increasing his practice time, Tim Tebow sat out one 7-on-7 session. Matt Barkley, quarterbacking the second team offense most of the day, threaded a nice pass to rookie tight end Justin Tukes over the middle. Barkley faded a beauty to the corner of the end zone that Ajirotutu pulled in past Nolan Carroll. A late Barkley pass appeared to be batted by rookie defensive end Brian Mihalik.

-- Bradford threw high of Matthews on one short pass, but the receiver got his fingers on the ball and tipped it into the air. Kendricks was bearing down on him, however, and the two had a collision. It looked a little nasty as first and each twisted at contact. But after a brief period on the ground, both got up and walked off under their power.

-- Along with Wolff and Smith, linebacker DeMeco Ryans (Achilles), offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde (injury unknown) and running back Kenjon Barner (injury unknown) opened practice with the training staff. Ryans eventually joined the inside linebacker group and worked in during 7-on-7 and team drills. Fletcher Cox returned to practice after missing yesterday's workout for an unspecified reason. Running back Darren Sproles has been absent this week for a personal reason, Kelly said.

-- A few quick hitters … The carousel at right guard stopped at Andrew Gardner on Tuesday. Dennis Kelly was there with the first team on Monday. Matt Tobin has also had turns at right guard. … Former quarterback G.J. Kinne, who has been given the opportunity to make the team as a wide receiver, took several snaps at third team running back and logged a few carries. … The Eagles worked on squib kicks. A short pooch surprised the Eagles on the opening kickoff of their home game against the Cowboys last December and resulted in a turnover. … Guard Josh Andrews was carted off the field late, but it didn't appear to be serious. The former undrafted rookie spent last season on the practice squad. … Former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell will be a coaching intern through training camp.