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Eagles Notes: Eagles' McCoy out, likely not for long

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - LeSean McCoy became the latest casualty in the Eagles' running back corps when he missed Monday's practices with a quadriceps bruise.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - LeSean McCoy became the latest casualty in the Eagles' running back corps when he missed Monday's practices with a quadriceps bruise.

The injury is not expected to keep the starting tailback sidelined for very long, but it does put the Eagles in a minor bind with backup Mike Bell also out with a calf strain.

McCoy said he was hurt during Sunday morning's practice when linebacker Ernie Sims hit him. The second-year running back continued to play and even took part in the afternoon session.

"It's just one of those things that happen," McCoy said Monday afternoon after he walked out of the locker room. "It hurt to run, but I'll be OK."

Bell did not practice, either, and with the calf strain coming on the heels of a hamstring injury, he doesn't appear close to a return. For those hoping for the return of Brian Westbrook, that isn't going to happen. The former Eagles great signed with the 49ers Monday, which means he will face his old team Oct. 10, when the Eagles travel to San Francisco.

With McCoy and Bell out, reserves Eldra Buckley and Martell Mallett moved up the depth chart. Mallett even got some repetitions with the first team during a "live" red-zone period.

He caught two passes from quarterback Kevin Kolb and took them in for touchdowns. And when he lined up with the second team on the next set of plays, Mallett scored again when he ran over cornerback Trevard Lindley. Mallett hyperextended his left knee on the play, but he returned for afternoon special-teams practice.

Two weeks ago, the former Canadian Football League player was waived by the Eagles, only to be called back a day later. In Friday's preseason game against the Jaguars, he had 15 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 18 yards. And now he's getting first-team repetitions.

"Sometimes that's how it works in the NFL," Mallett said.

Of course, with McCoy, Bell and Buckley ahead of him on the depth chart, Mallett faces an uphill climb to make the team. He also has to contend with receiver Chad Hall, who continues to occasionally drill with the running backs and has morphed into more of a halfback.

Sims' heavy hits

In roughly his fifth act of overaggressiveness of this training camp, Sims whacked another player Monday when he thumped tight end Brent Celek during a light-contact drill in the morning.

The linebacker received another tongue-lashing from Andy Reid and apparently took his coach's words to heart.

"That all started the play before," Sims said. Fullback Leonard Weaver "came through the hole, and he actually got across the goal line. [Defensive coordinator] Sean McDermott wasn't happy about it, so it put a little fire in us. The next play, I took advantage of the opportunity and I took a shot on Celek. It's something that I've got to probably tone down."

Sims said Reid told him to "take care of your teammates." In the afternoon, he said he had not yet spoken to Celek.

"We're good," Sims said. "We're out here playing football. We're out here working hard. At the end of the day, both of us understand that we've got our goals."

Consider it understood.

"It's not a big deal," Celek said.

Said McDermott about Sims: "I think he wakes up probably mad at his alarm clock."

Extra points

One day after returning to practice after a long layoff, Todd Herremans took part in a few plays during a live period Monday. The guard missed most of camp as he nursed a sore foot, but he is doing more and more every day. Center Jamaal Jackson (knee), who also came back Sunday, did not do as much as Herremans. . . . Center Nick Cole (knee), who returned to practice Sunday for a light session, sat out Monday. Safety Quintin Demps (knee), cornerback Macho Harris (hamstring), and guard Fenuki Tupou (ankle) took part in some of the practice. Running back J.J. Arrington (foot) made a full return. . . . The Eagles placed safety Antoine Harris (foot) on injured reserve and signed former Penn State safety Anthony Scirrotto, a West Deptford native, after working him out. . . . The Eagles re-signed defensive end Eric Moncor, who was released a few weeks ago.