Eagles Notebook: JACKSON STILL A CENTERPIECE

JAMAAL JACKSON was right there where we'd left him, along the row of offensive linemen's locker stalls at the back of the NovaCare locker room, when the Eagles convened yesterday for the first time since cutting their roster to the regular-season limit of 53.

If Jackson, the longest-tenured Eagle, was surprised or disappointed not to be somewhere else, somewhere he might be able to return to his accustomed role as a starting center, he wasn't admitting that.

"I love where I'm at, basically," Jackson, 31, said. "Let's just leave it at that."

Jackson's agent, J.R. Rickert, said over the weekend that the Birds had trade offers for Jackson, but did not pursue them. Could the team's reluctance to part with the man who'd been the starter in the middle when healthy since midway through the 2005 season mean Jackson has a chance to reemerge in a starting role at some point?

"You have to ask them that," he said. "I'm just here to work, man. Whatever they ask me to do, I'm going to do it. I just have to come to work every day and be positive about it . . . I'm just thankful to have a job, first and foremost. With my girl being 3 weeks due [with his fourth child], I think this is the place to be for the time being."

Sixth-round rookie Jason Kelce, a smaller, quicker lineman in the Howard Mudd mold, took the starting center job from Jackson - or in Jackson's view, was handed the job - early in training camp. The team's plan is to start Kelce and first-round rookie right guard Danny Watkins in the season opener Sunday at St. Louis. But a source close to the situation acknowledged the coaching staff has some trepidation about the lack of work in the Birds' offense the rookies have had, and with Watkins' preseason struggles, given that the team plays its first two games on the road in domes, against the Rams and Falcons.

Yesterday, Watkins was still a starter, despite the arrival of guard Kyle DeVan, the former Colts starter the Birds picked up over the weekend on waivers.

"This week I feel like I'm going to be a lot more prepared," Watkins told reporters. "I'm already feeling a little better about it."

DeVan said he spent his first day of practice with the scout team.

"All I know that they expect of me is to learn this offense as fast as I can," DeVan, 26, said. "A lot of the techniques [offensive-line coach Mudd) teaches here, we did in Indy."

DeVan said he is eager to contribute in whatever way the Eagles have in mind.

"I'm not worried about where I am in the lineup, in the rotation. It doesn't really matter to me," DeVan said. "I need to learn the playbook as soon as I can and learn all about this offense."

"I've been where Danny was," DeVan said. "I've been the young guy in the group . . . [Mudd] expects a lot from Watkins, being a first-round draft pick, and I think he's a good player. I think Howard will get him right and get him ready to go for Sundays."

DeVan said he has known Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws ever since they wrestled against each other in high school.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was asked about the unstable o-line yesterday.

"I think you just have to keep it simple for the guys and keep them upbeat and confident," Vick said. "Experience is the best teacher, and that's what they're going to get right now."

Safety Nate Allen said he and Jarrad Page split first-team reps yesterday.

Allen is battling tendinitis in the right knee that had patellar tendon surgery last December.

"My tendon's feeling good. It's sore," Allen said. "Just working it every day and getting it back strong."

Backup quarterback Vince Young, who suffered a hamstring strain in the preseason finale at the Jets Thursday, did not practice . . . Winston Justice (knee) and Juqua Parker (calf) did . . . The Eagles added tight end Anthony Hill and wide receiver Ronald Johnson to their practice squad, then filled out the eight-man squad with defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, as expected.