Then Abiamiri broke his right wrist.

They expected Chris Clemons, who started out well, to advance on the depth chart as a third-down pass rusher. But Clemons has been bothered for more than a week with a calf injury.

They weren't sure where former first-round pick Jerome McDougle stood, but they liked his attitude in camp. They wanted to see some more from Montae Reagor, but he just had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

You might say the depth chart along the Eagles' defensive line is rather unsettled right now.

Which may be why defensive coordinator Jim Johnson announced yesterday that nine-year veteran end Darren Howard is going to take snaps Friday night in New England on the left side. Just in case another body goes down.

"We're going to let Howard play a little left and right, get him on the field as much as possible. He's having a good camp," Johnson said.

"He's a right end, no question about it. But he's a good pass rusher, and we're going to work him. He's mainly a right end and our inside tackle and nickel guy."

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Howard began his NFL career on the left side with the New Orleans Saints. Parker (formerly Juqua Thomas) is the Eagles' starting left end. Howard has played end and tackle here, even the left side.

For instance, some of Johnson's defensive schemes have Parker moving to linebacker and Howard moving to left end.

"It's a matter of repetitions" for me, the 31-year-old Howard said. "One of my strengths is my versatility. I can play anywhere. It's going to take a couple weeks to get back into it."

Howard compared the move to being a righthanded batter suddenly forced to switch-hit.

"Everything you did with your right hand, you have to learn to do with your left hand," he said. "If you're a guy on the right side and pulling a jersey with your right hand, trying to get around the edge, you got to learn to do it with your left hand."

"It's not a matter of quickness. Once you do something so long, you get muscle memory. Your body does things before you even think about it. When you are not used to doing stuff and you have to think about it and then do it, you might be a little slower."

The focus, he said, begins with putting the correct hand down in your stance, shifting your weight, getting steps down, and learning to change your "power" move on the pass rush. Every pass rusher has a defined technique. Howard has to change his now.

"You are thinking while you're moving and thinking before you put your hand on the ground," Howard said. "You get into your stance and try to remember which hand you put down and which foot you move first.

"It's not just after the snap, but before the snap. It's more rushing the passer and turning the corner. Instead of using your left hand as your power hand on the run on the [offensive] tackle, you now have to use your right hand."

Meanwhile, Johnson didn't mince words about the importance of Clemons' getting healthy. The Eagles don't have a feel for where Clemons fits stacked up against McDougle's strong camp.

"The biggest thing is McDougle and Chris Clemons," Johnson said. "There's a lot of competition there. McDougle is pushing them."

A free agent from the Oakland Raiders who signed a five-year deal in March, Clemons hopes to play against the Patriots.

"It was going well," he said of his camp before the recent injury. "I picked up the defense. I was able to go out and show them some of the things I was able to do. It's the reason they brought me in here. It's unfortunate this injury came up.

"It's very critical [to play]. Each and every week is critical during the preseason. Especially being able to go out and mesh with other guys and play as a unit. It throws you off a lot" missing time.

at 215-854-2847 or tpanaccio@phillynews.com.