Eagles Notes: Vick looks rusty running Wildcat

The Wildcat is back - at least for a day.

For the first time since minicamp, the Eagles practiced some of their spread option plays. And, of course, Michael Vick was involved.

The Eagles quarterback showed some rust, however. On one play, Vick took a direct snap and started to run up the middle. But just before he got to the line, he slipped and fell straight down.

Vick, who has spent the last month mostly under center learning the finer points of the Eagles' West Coast offense, said that returning to the "Spread Eagle" package didn't take much adjustment.

"It's not really odd," Vick said Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex. "This is my role and this is what I'm going to be doing pretty much the majority of the season. Who knows, the role could expand a little bit, but if this is what it's going to be, then I'm going to have fun doing it."

The Eagles have spent part of this week's workouts practicing against scout team versions of their NFC East opponents. On another spread option play, Vick was split wide, ran in motion toward Kevin Kolb, and took a pitch from the quarterback. Vick then circled back and elected to run up field.

While Vick's Wildcat role could remain the same as it was a year ago, it is different in the fact that he's now the backup as opposed to the third-string quarterback.

"I know I can run the offense if anything were to happen to Kevin," Vick said. "God forbid."

The Eagles' casualty list grew by one when Jeremy Maclin sat out Tuesday's practice.

The wide receiver was sidelined by a "tight" hamstring, the team said.

Maclin joined the rest of the Eagles' walking wounded in an outdoor workout with the strength and conditioning trainers as the rest of the team practiced.

The other injured players were guard Todd Herremans (foot), linebacker Stewart Bradley (calf), running back LeSean McCoy (ankle), center Jamaal Jackson (knee), guard Fenuki Tupou (chest), and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee).

The only other missing veterans were receiver DeSean Jackson and cornerback Asante Samuel, who have elected to skip voluntary workouts this week.

With Jackson and Maclin both out, several receivers further down the depth chart took advantage of their opportunities. Hank Baskett, for instance, had a strong outing, making several nice grabs.

The Eagles signed linebacker Simoni Lawrence, an undrafted rookie whom the Rams released last month. The Minnesota product previously played at Valley Forge Military Academy and before that at Upper Darby High School. Lawrence did not grow up an Eagles fan, however. The Cowboys were his team. "It was the '90s," he said. "They won a lot." . . . Defensive end/linebacker Ricky Sapp signed a four-year contract with the Eagles. A fifth-round draft pick, Sapp became the sixth of the team's 13 draft picks to ink a deal.