Eagles Notes: Concussed Eagles meet the press and say they feel fine

Stewart Bradley and Kevin Kolb met reporters Monday for the first time since their concussions on Sept. 12, and each recounted the experiences that drew national criticism when the Eagles reinserted both after their injuries.

Both Bradley and Kolb said that they did not have a problem with how the Eagles and their medical staff handled the situation because, they said, they each passed the initial sideline test.

The decision to let Bradley reenter the game only four plays after he took a dizzying fall to the ground, however, has been criticized by a number of brain-injury specialists.

"I never really felt that bad, really," Bradley said. "I always felt lucid and always felt like, other than that initial stumble, that my balance was good and I was mentally with it."

Both were cleared to return Friday afternoon, the Eagles said, and both will play Sunday at Jacksonville, "unless something crazy comes up," coach Andy Reid said.

After he got off the turf and went to the sideline, Bradley said he passed seven or eight tests before he was permitted back onto the field. After playing several downs and jumping in on a few tackles, however, the middle linebacker failed another test in which he was to remember the words boat, apple, and pear.

He was then pulled from the game just before the half. He said he saw replays of his drunken-like tumble - which was repeatedly broadcast across the country - and that his mother, a nurse, was initially concerned.

"Your mom never wants to see any collisions ever," Bradley said. "After she knew I was OK and talked to me, I think she was fine."

Bradley, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, did not travel to Detroit for Sunday's win. With backup Omar Gaither filling in, the Eagles' defense surrendered 32 points against Detroit and has given up 46 points in the last six quarters without Bradley.

"You can't say Stewart's the savior in this whole deal," Reid said about his middle linebacker's impending return.

Kolb's replacement, Michael Vick, fared better than Bradley's.

Kolb said that he, too, passed the first test after his concussion, but that when he went out for the next offensive series he forgot the snap count a couple of times.

"I think a lot of the teammates went over to [trainer Rick Buckholder] then and said, 'Yeah, no matter what he's telling you I think something's wrong,' " Kolb said.

The Eagles worked out running back Joique Bell, a Buffalo Bills practice squad player, and pending a physical, he is expected to sign a contract, a team source said.

If the Eagles sign the 5-foot-11, 220-pound rookie they must add him to the 53-man roster and subtract another player. Bell is an undrafted rookie out of Division II Wayne State. He fared well in the Bills' first two preseason games, running for a combined 100-plus yards.

The Eagles' run game was dealt a blow when fullback Leonard Weaver tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the opener. Aside from starter LeSean McCoy, the Eagles have received little production from their running backs.

Backup tailback Mike Bell ran four times Sunday without gaining a yard. Eldra Buckley fumbled after a catch in the first game and is primarily a special-teams contributor. Fullback Owen Schmitt, whom the team added Sept. 13, had two catches against Detroit.

Defensive end Brandon Graham, who recorded the first sack of his NFL career Sunday, has a shoulder strain and "should be OK," Reid said. . . . Tackle Austin Howard, who has yet to dress this season, has a lower-back strain.