Peters: Running Again, Hope to Play
On the day Marty Mornhinweg confirmed that he expects Demetress Bell will start at left tackle again this week, and King Dunlap said he was still in the process of getting back in shape from a hamstring injury, the REAL Eagles left tackle was walking the corridors of NovaCare without a limp.
Peters: Running Again, Hope to Play
Les Bowen
On the day Marty Mornhinweg confirmed that he expects Demetress Bell will start at left tackle again this week, and King Dunlap said he was still in the process of getting back in shape from a hamstring injury, the REAL Eagles left tackle was walking the corridors of NovaCare without a limp.
All-Pro Jason Peters tore an Achilles' tendon in March, got it repaired, then tore it againin May when the scooter-cart he was using fell apart. After the second repair, it seemed impossible that Peters would play this season. But because the injury happened in the offseason, the Eagles have not had to place Peters on IR. He is on the nonfootball injury list.
"I'm running, doing everything," Peters said, pausing briefly as he walked from the locker room to a training room. Asked if he has realistic hopes of playing this season, Peters said "yeah."
Asked about a timetable for his return, Peters said there isn't one. "I'm taking it day by day," he said.
The Eagles have never ruled out Peters playing this season, but previously they have indicated that while they want to keep the chance alive, it is a longshot. Thursday, however, a source close to the situation said the team sees a realistic chance, though the source emphasized Peters still had a lot of recovering to do, and won't be playing in a game anytime soon.
Peters can be activated anytime between Week 6 and Week 9, and then would have three weeks of practice before the Eagles would either have to put him on the 53-man roster or IR him. We are in Week 5. From what the source said, it would seem the Birds are looking at the very outer edge of that timeline, and maybe even at carrying Peters on the 53 for a few weeks before he's really ready to contribute.
There is a new rule that allows a team to recall one player from IR, but players who came into training camp injured, as Bell did, are not eligible.
Dunlap, meanwhile, said he was not surprised to hear the offensive coordinator had said he expects Bell will start. "I've got to get healthy, get back in shape," Dunlap said when asked if he expects to start again.
The Eagles signed Bell as Peters' replacement, but he lost his job to Dunlap in the preseason. Bell struggled with offensive line coach Howard Mudd's unusual, aggressive blocking technique. Bell's first outing for Dunlap, at Arizona, didn't go well, but he was much better last week against the Giants, particularly in second-half run blocking.
Dunlap took some snaps at right guard Wednesday, with starter Danny Watkins sitting out because of a chest bruise. Mornhinweg and Watkins said Watkins is fine and will practice today.
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Special teams coordinator Bobby April said the kickoff coverage that yielded an average of 36.2 yards on six kickoffs against the Giants was "very poor. It looked poorly conceived, poorly coached and poorly executed. I'm responsible for all of those. I have to draw on all the resources that I have as a coach and put them into play, and then resurrect us from these ashes ... I misjudged some things, and need to do a better job of preparing the guys to whup a guy when the bell rings."
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Might as well change the name from Eagles to Philadelphia "Better Jobs" with all the coaches saying it day after day.— Realistic One- The Phillies just fired 3 coaches....its time that the Eagles fire one...Bobby April.— SteveS11
Bobby April is a bafoon. We could do better. Would help if our kicker had a stronger leg.— attila- Wow, I went thru achilles surgery and I was completely layed up for 3/4 of a year. A limp? I had a pronounced limp for a year! Now, I'm a bit older than Jason, didn't have 24/7 treatment (but damn good), weigh 150 pounds(!) less, if not more, and I couldn't imagine playing a pro football game after 5 or 6 months - unless you've had achilles aurgery, you've no idea how dehabilitating it is. Forget football/sports...godbless if he can walk with no limp. He's running? I can run now, but I'm still a bit gimpy in the morning and 'running' downhill and/or steps and it's been almost 2 years. The thought of what he has to do on a pro level sport - much less one like football -wow, I am a total Jason fan now (not that I wasn't). Jason, send me your therapists name....a terrible injury and to do it twice?. Damn, I nearly put a bullet in the chamber at one. I highly recommend to anyone - never tear your achilles. Go Birds.
I will wake tomorrow, gimp a bit for a few minutes and get my day on, but to play left tackle with THAT? wow....no way. A new era in achilles therapy is upon Jason. Damn.. ...awesome - beat Pittlesburg.— incog nitto - Peters at less than 100% is still a damn good tackle. They could really use him if they make the playoffs. They could have him play only half the snaps, if necessary.— p-diddy
- Achilles tendon ruptures typically take 9 months to mostly heal and, 12 - 15 months to completely heal. I know this from experience, tore mine 12 months ago. Problem with coming back before 9 months is the tendon is still strengthening so vulnerable to re-injury. And, I'm told it's two years before you really trust your leg again, am still waiting on that one. For non-pro athletes that's an inconvenience, for a pro it's a much bigger issue.— niss
- One more thing about achilles tendon injuries. Don't ever do it. A year after my injury and I am still aware of my repaired leg every moment, and that's with 40 minutes of home rehab every day. I'm running and playing tennis again but slowly and poorly. I do not have the strong push-off that I had before the injury. My repaired leg just does not have the strength the other one does, and it probably never will. It's a debilitating and disabling injury that effects your psyche as much as your leg.— niss
- I am a life long Philly sports fan, and I have to say that so many Eagles fans are dopes. Last year we are 1 - 3 and everyone was saying "jeez, we could have been 3-1 with a few breaks". Now we are 3 -1 and everyone is saying "yeah, but we could easily be 1-3". I went to the Ravens game and was amazed as a few thousand "fans" booed the team running of the field at halftime - nice way to pick your team up. Went to Giants game and listened to relentless heckling of Vick (reminded me of Donovan heckling), as he led us to another win. I get that we haven't won, they are frustrated, whatever - but I'll never understand the things such as those I witnessed at the last two games (and the stuff we see posted on these comment threads). Why do they even bother going to game or reading about the team? Just stay home and watch depressing movies or do whatever it is that makes miserable people happy.— Logical1
