Eagles Notes: Eagles center Kelce targets Nov. 10 game for his return

Eagles center Jason Kelce is progressing in his recovery from sports hernia surgery and hopes to return for the Monday night game against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10.

"Typically this injury is a six-to-eight-week injury," said Kelce, who suffered the abdominal injury on Sept. 21. "It feels great right now, so hopefully we'll be on the earlier side of that."

Kelce said he first irritated his abdomen in the opener against Jacksonville. He said he has been involved in an "active recovery," including a one-mile walk on the day after the surgery. He expects to be jogging by the end of the week.

"I've been going to all the meetings," Kelce said. "The only thing I'm not out doing right now is out at practice because I'm rehabbing. I will be at the game this week. I wasn't last week because it was so close to the surgery. But in that respect, I'll be able to help guys out."

Guard Evan Mathis (knee) is also eligible to return against the Panthers. If both players recover in time, the Eagles could have their full line healthy for the final eight games of the season.

One day after Josh Huff expressed frustration because he was not playing, Eagles coach Chip Kelly said the receiver "wasn't ready to go physically or mentally last week."

"Last week was his first full week of practice," Kelly said. "We've got to make sure he's 100 percent healthy, physically and mentally."

Huff hurt his shoulder in the second week of the preseason and missed five weeks. Even though he was listed as a full participant, he left practice for a period last week. The mental part that Huff needs to overcome is taking hits on the shoulder, Kelly said.

"I have to show [Kelly], prove to him, that I'm physically and mentally ready, that I can take hits," Huff said. "I don't know what else I can do other than show him."

Austin Davis will start at quarterback for St. Louis on Sunday against the Eagles, Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. Davis replaces Shaun Hill, who struggled as a fill-in for the injured Sam Bradford.

A former walk-on at Southern Miss, Davis has completed 68 of 94 passes for 754 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions this season.

"Davis is getting better and better as he goes, the films I've watched to this point," Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said this week. "It's a quick, rhythmic, accurate, timing passing game that they are moving the sticks with, and they have got some running backs that hit the hole hard."

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks (calf) and cornerback Brandon Boykin (hamstring) missed practice for the Eagles. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hamstring) and tight end James Casey (knee) were full participants after missing Tuesday. . . . Darren Sproles was named NFC special-teams player of the week. It was his second award this season after he won the offensive award for Week 2.