Eagles Notebook: 'Precautionary' MRI for Eagles' Ingram

It wasn't a shocker when Eagles coach Andy Reid announced yesterday that tight end Cornelius Ingram was undergoing an MRI on his twice-repaired left knee.

Ingram has been practicing, but his left calf has been swollen with fluid draining out of his knee. Ingram hasn't been able to make a serious impact on a tight-end corps led by Brent Celek, with a sharp-looking rookie contributor in Clay Harbor.

"Normally with those, you just work it and it works its way out. It's bothering him, so we're going to get it checked out," said Reid, who labeled the MRI "precautionary."

Reid said his starters will play three quarters in tomorrow night's preseason game at Kansas City. That group will include left guard Todd Herremans, who hasn't played in the preseason. The Eagles have been cautious with Herremans since he experienced soreness in his repaired left foot back in OTAs. Reid said he doesn't know whether Herremans will stay in as long as the other starters.

Also taking the field for the first time in a preseason game will be running back Mike Bell, a touted offseason acquisition from New Orleans who has been bothered by hamstring and calf injuries. Bell was brought in to help in short yardage, but he feels he can do more.

"I'm going to find out this week what I bring," Bell said. "I can do more than just run people over, but the proof is in the pudding, I guess. I gotta show it first."

Bell said camp has not been frustrating, "just anxious."

DeSean Jackson is the most famous player on the Eagles now, and he hasn't spoken much with reporters since he reported to Lehigh, so when Jackson deigns to stand in front of his locker stall and answer a few questions, it's a big deal.

Even if he says absolutely nothing of any interest.

The third-year wideout is "just here to play football" and not to talk about the contract revision that he wants but the team has not provided, citing difficulties under the current collective bargaining agreement setup.

Someone asked about goals. Last year, a more communicative DJax wanted to catch 100 passes.

"I'm not doing that this year. I could care less about all of that," he said. "I'm here to win games and to be a team player and to do everything I can to encourage my guys, go out there and just be successful and win games, that's all I care about."

Jackson, wearing a pale blue Kansas City cap the day before the Eagles were to fly to that city for tomorrow night's preseason game, said the Birds "haven't lost a step" since Kevin Kolb replaced Donovan McNabb at quarterback.

Mike McGlynn again will start at center . . . Defensive end Juqua Parker again missed practice with a sprained ankle. He will not play tomorrow, but rookie Brandon Graham already had been named to Parker's starting spot, before Parker got hurt. "I'm good with it. Why wouldn't I be?" Parker asked. "You know how business goes . . . I think he'll do pretty good there." Andy Reid was asked about the move. He said: "Listen, all of those guys are going to play. We need all of them. I'm not going to sit here and slight [Parker], because he's had a very good camp, but Graham's playing well so we're giving him the opportunity to step in and play, and start, and then [Parker] will spot him there" . . . Kicker David Akers (heel) did not practice this week, but Reid said he would be available to play in Kansas City.