Eagles Notes: Eagles' Jackson exits with neck injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - DeSean Jackson strained his neck on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage against the Chiefs on Friday night and did not return to the game.

That wasn't the only injury for the Eagles, who have had a relatively injury-free training camp and preseason. Defensive end Trent Cole left in the second quarter with an ankle sprain. X-rays were negative, but he did not return and will have an MRI exam on Saturday. Center Mike McGlynn hobbled off the field just before the half with a left leg injury, but he returned in the second half.

Jackson's early injury looked serious, but coach Andy Reid said after the game that Jackson was kept out of action only as a precaution.

Jackson caught a screen pass from quarterback Kevin Kolb and ran four yards before Kansas City rookie Eric Berry popped him head on. The Eagles' star receiver got up slowly and jogged to the sidelines, never to return.

Jackson was taken into the locker room a moment later.

In each of their three preseason games, the Eagles' first offensive play was a pass designed to go to Jackson. The first was a completion and the second an incompletion. The third was something worse: a completion with an injury to the Eagles' most dangerous player.

The Eagleswere cautious, especially since Jackson suffered a back injury early at training camp.

The initial injury was a lower back strain that occurred on the first day of contact football when Jackson had to contort his body to catch a ball thrown slightly behind him. He missed six days of practice and went the rest of camp without injury.

Jackson did leave Tuesday's practice early after he tweaked his hamstring. But he practiced the next day and said he was fine.

His injury Friday night came a week after Jeremy Maclin left and did not return with a shoulder contusion against the Bengals. Maclin's injury wasn't as serious as first thought, and he was back for the next practice.

Jackson and Maclin's injuries provided opportunities for backups Hank Baskett and Kelley Washington to get snaps with the first team. Baskett and Washington are perceived to be battling for the last receiver spot on the roster.

The Eagles' first-team defense was supposed to play three quarters, but a few of the second-teamers earned some playing time with the first unit during the first half.

Rookie Trevard Lindley played a couple of series at right cornerback in place of starter Ellis Hobbs, and picked off a pass in the first quarter. Whether that had anything to do with giving Hobbs a light evening or Lindley's playing better was not immediately explained.

The second-team defensive line - ends Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Darryl Tapp and tackles Trevor Laws and Antonio Dixon - also played a series in the first half. Tapp became a permanent part of the first group after Cole left.

Rookie Brandon Graham, in his first start at left end, had four tackles in the first half.

Center Jamaal Jackson (knee), defensive end Juqua Parker (ankle), center/guard Nick Cole (knee), tight end Cornelius Ingram (knee), and cornerback David Pender (illness) were inactive.