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Eagles Notes: Mystery deepens as Maclin goes home for more tests

Jeremy Maclin returned to his hometown of St. Louis on Thursday to undergo further testing for the mystery illness that neither the Eagles nor doctors have apparently been able to identify.

Alex Henery kicks off during first-quarter play. The rookie replaces David Akers, who spent 12 seasons with the Eagles.
Alex Henery kicks off during first-quarter play. The rookie replaces David Akers, who spent 12 seasons with the Eagles.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Jeremy Maclin returned to his hometown of St. Louis on Thursday to undergo further testing for the mystery illness that neither the Eagles nor doctors have apparently been able to identify.

Andy Reid was asked if the Eagles knew what Maclin's illness is.

"No, we don't," Reid said following the Eagles' 13-6 preseason win over the Ravens on Thusday night. "That's why we're doing these things. . . .

"But I think he's going to be ready for season. I'm optimistic."

The 23-year-old Maclin is from Kirkwood, Mo., and still lives there with his surrogate parents, Jeff and Cindy Parres. Jeff Parres is a urologist. Parres is part of the St. Louis medical community, so Maclin went there for further evaluation, an Eagles spokesman said.

Maclin had been at training camp in Bethlehem, Pa., for more than a week but had yet to practice. The most he has done is participate in light conditioning drills. He recently said that he was getting better. Reid said last week that he expected the receiver to be back by the start of the season.

The season starts on Sept. 11 when the Eagles visit the St. Louis Rams.

As each day passes and Maclin's illness continues to be unidentified, speculation from fans continues to grow. The Eagles' signing of receiver Steve Smith on Wednesday led some to surmise that the former Giant was brought aboard as an insurance policy in case Maclin wasn't ready for the start of the season.

Eagles sources said the Smith acquisition had nothing to do with Maclin's condition. Smith is coming off microfracture knee surgery and isn't expected to be ready by the start of the season, although the Eagles believe the 26-year-old could be back earlier that initially thought.

Maclin, meanwhile, has exactly one month to get healthy before the start of the regular season. In April, he said he had lost 15 pounds after having "mono-like" symptoms the month before. In May, as he participated in informal team workouts, he said he had gained all the weight back.

When Eagles players reported to camp on July 28, however, Maclin was missing. Reid said the absence was excused and five days later the Eagles' 2009 No. 1 pick showed up at Lehigh University. Reid later revealed that the receiver had been - or was still - ill.

The lack of information has led to Internet rumors that Maclin is suffering from a career-threatening disease. Last week, Maclin said "those crazy reports aren't true."

Last season, Maclin caught 70 passes for 964 yards and ten touchdowns.

Dunlap hurt

Tackles King Dunlap and Fenuki Tupou suffered knee injuries in the second half and did not return.

 Reid said Dunlap twisted his knee and that Tupou has a medial collateral ligament sprain.

Dunlap played most of the game as the second-team right tackle but was still on the field late in the fourth quarter when he went down. He went to the sideline, was looked at by trainers, and soon left for the locker room. The cause of Tupou's injury was unknown.

Both tackles are trying to make the 53-man roster. Dunlap started five games last season - two at left tackle and three at right tackle - and appeared to be making some progress in his third season. But the 6-foot-9, 330-pound Auburn product appears to have fallen out of favor with new offensive line coach Howard Mudd.

Dunlap could be fighting for a fourth and final tackle spot, but it isn't certain that the Eagles will carry four tackles with several of their guards flexible enough to move outside. Jason Peters and Ryan Harris were the starting left and right tackles on Thursday, and Winston Justice will be in the mix once he returns from a knee injury.

 Cornerback Jamar Wall strained his hamstring.

Injury inactives

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson was down on the field before the game running routes and catching passes from Vick, but he did not play last night after reporting to camp Monday. He has told reporters he hopes to practice Saturday and play in the next preseason game, Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Safety Marlin Jackson (sports hernia) and defensive tackles Trevor Laws (hip flexor), Brandon Collier (ankle), and Mike Patterson (arteriovenous malformation) were also inactive.