Eagles Notes: Cary Williams says practices are shorter

Cary Williams, who questioned the intensity of Chip Kelly's practices last month, said that some Eagles practices have been shorter in the last few weeks.

"It was shortened. We shortened a couple of days," Williams said Tuesday. "Taken a couple of portions out of practice both days, so we've got a different schedule. We practice three days a week, and everything else is a walk-through."

Williams said he wasn't sure whether his comments after the Redskins game, which caused a brief stir, led to shorter practices on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Kelly spoke before Tuesday's practice and will meet with reporters on Thursday.

"It could have been a situation where, as he says, he individually monitors everybody, everybody's reps and things like that," Williams said. "Maybe he had that already in mind. Maybe he had it all in place."

Most coaches typically lighten the practice load as the season progresses. Williams said he felt as fresh before the Oct. 12 New York Giants game as he had all season.

"I haven't really talked to anybody about the practices, but I've heard in conversations that some guys felt really good last week," Williams said. "Felt the best they've felt, so that's positive."

The Eagles will slowly transition Evan Mathis back into practice when he is eligible to return on Wednesday. Mathis is on injured reserve with the designation to return, so he cannot play until Nov. 10 even if he can practice this week. The guard has been absent since Week 1 with a knee injury.

"He's not going to get first-team reps," Kelly said. "We've just got to work him back into football shape. . . . He kind of has two weeks to get himself up to speed from a football standpoint because has missed an extensive period of time."

The Eagles added Julian Vandervelde last week, but David Molk's spot as Jason Kelce's replacement at center still seems secure. The appeal of Vandervelde was based more on his experience in the offense and his versatility. At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Vandervelde is a better fit as an emergency guard than Molk, who is 6-1 and 290 pounds.

"Julian was an outstanding player for us, plays both guard and [center], has experience in our system," Kelly said. "Got hurt, obviously, had a back injury and has recovered from his back injury, and it was just trying to improve our roster."