Eagles' Justice won't discuss injury

AFTER RECEIVING laudatory reviews from his coaches after the win at Washington, Eagles right tackle Winston Justice, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in February, has been relegated to bench duty again.

It sounds as if he is grateful for the chance to let his repaired left knee continue to recover.

Justice started against the Redskins when substitute left tackle King Dunlap was unavailable, which left the Eagles in a lurch. Todd Herremans, a standout left guard, had been playing right tackle in place of Justice. He was forced to move to left tackle against the Redskins, and Justice played on the right side.

When Jason Peters returned to work this week, the Eagles chose to move Herremans back to right tackle and keep Evan Mathis at left guard.

Justice pleasantly but enigmatically addressed the situation; he has been instructed by the team to not discuss his injury. He is not listed on the injury report and has not complained about the knee, but he seems unperturbed by returning to a support role.

Is he physically able to play?

"If they really needed me to go, I'd be ready to go," Justice said.

Is he upset that he isn't playing?

"No," he said. "I'm part of the team. I'm behind the coaches' decision. I'm just a worker. I do what I'm told."

So, can we assume he is healthy, period?

"I don't want to step on any toes," Justice said. "You can assume anything, but I can't say it."

Brandon Graham's journey back from knee surgery included lots of rehab, lots of ice, and lots of Jim's.

Graham, the Eagles' first-round pick in 2010, said yesterday that he ballooned from 270 pounds to almost 290 during his 2 months on crutches after he tore his ACL in December. Teammates started calling him a defensive tackle.

"You know what got me real big? The Philly cheesesteaks," said Graham, who lives within crutching distance from Jim's Steaks, at 4th and South streets. "Jim's. That's all I eat."

It wasn't all he ate, but whatever he ate - wings, pizza, pasta - he ate a lot of it.

"I'd eat two, three plates," Graham said. "Now, I'll eat 1 1/2."

And how many cheesesteaks?

"One. A whole one. Now, I eat a half one. Then I'll save it," Graham said. "That's my big thing: I can't save anything. When I cook something, I want to eat it all right there."

Graham had been nearly as heavy before. Recruited as a high school linebacker, he showed up for his freshman year at Michigan about 40 pounds overweight. He switched from linebacker to end, but he wasn't about to move to tackle.

As soon as he got off the crutches, he changed his diet. Well, he decreased his intake, anyway.

He also opted for fewer restaurant meals. With limited cooking skills, he has become a connoisseur of the best pasta sauces. He also began substituting turkey for beef and pork.

The weight melted off by training camp, but Graham's knee was far from ready. He was eligible to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Monday, which began a 21-day window in which he must return or be relegated to injured reserve. Graham will remain on the PUP list until the Eagles are convinced he can contribute on game day.

His first practice was yesterday, a test, he said, that made him nervous.

"I'm anxious to see how I feel [today]," Graham said. "I know I'm going to be sore, because I haven't hit anybody. You can't really simulate that."

He said he hopes that his increased physical activity will help him shed at least 10 more pounds. He's got a shot.

As long as he stays away from 400 South St.