Eagles Notes: Jamaal Jackson possible for opener

Jamaal Jackson delivered some of the snaps for the Eagles' first-team offense Sunday as coach Andy Reid tried to move his top center along, with evident hope that he might be ready by the Sept. 12 season opener.

Reid said Jackson would not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Jets. But he left open the possibility that the center, working back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered Dec. 27, could play in Week 1.

"We're going to work him in there with the ones and let him get some reps, see how he feels and push him a little bit there, and just see how he responds," Reid said. "He said he feels well, and the doctors have given him the clear. So, we'll give him a little work."

Reid said he could wait until the night before his first game to name a starter.

"I just have to make sure I feel comfortable that [Jackson] can play. It's just that," Reid said. "Stamina, obviously, build, stop the bull rush. We'll put him in situations where we give him all of these looks over the next couple of weeks."

Jackson's return, along with the return of center/guard Nick Cole and a new injury to left guard Todd Herremans, made for a shuffle along the struggling offensive line.

Cole ran some plays at right guard in place of Stacy Andrews. On other first-team repetitions, though, Mike McGlynn was back at center with Andrews at guard.

The movement continued when Herremans, who played his first preseason game Friday, left practice after spraining his right ankle. Herremans had missed much of training camp as the team tried to protect the left foot he hurt last year.

Cole filled in at left guard once Herremans left.

Before the practice, Herremans had said he "felt fresh" in Friday's game and "didn't hurt at all."

"I got tired a little bit, because it's the first time I was actually in [a sustained drive], but it happens, and you'll be able to build on it," he said.

After practice, Herremans wrote on his Twitter account: "Today was one of those days where nothing seemed to go right for me . . . thankfully tomorrow is a new day!"

At guard, Reid had previously backed Andrews, but yesterday he hinted that the job could go to Cole.

"That was his spot in there, and you know, with the injury, he went over to the other spot," Reid said. "One of the great things about him is we can put him anywhere and you can plug him in."

Tight end Cornelius Ingram returned to practice Sunday after having fluid drained from a Baker's cyst on the back of his surgically repaired left knee.

He said he hopes to play Thursday.

"I'm already feeling better," Ingram said. "I feel 10 times better than I did the other day."

In other injury news, wide receiver DeSean Jackson sat out practice with an upper-back strain suffered Friday against the Chiefs. He is having his wisdom teeth removed Monday. . . . Linebacker Ernie Sims (forearm strain) was limited in practice. . . . Defensive end Trent Cole (ankle) and cornerback Dimitri Patterson (groin) did not practice. Reid said Cole's sprain "doesn't look to be a major one." . . . Linebacker Ricky Sapp left practice with a knee injury. He could be headed to injured reserve.

Reid said DeSean Jackson and cornerback Ellis Hobbs would return punts and kickoffs, respectively, when the season begins. Others had held those jobs during the preseason. . . . Reid said he "most likely" will play only the second and third teams in Thursday's preseason finale.