Sproles among injured Eagles who return to practice

The Eagles returned to practice after the bye week with a healthier roster. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks, running back Darren Sproles, center Jason Kelce, and running back Chris Polk practiced Tuesday as they recover from injuries.

That doesn't mean all of them will play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals - don't count on seeing Kelce this week - but practicing with 52 of the 53 players on the active roster was a sign of progress for a team that has had injury issues. The only player absent was wide receiver Brad Smith.

"When you get an opportunity to get some of those guys back, I think it's a little bit of a boost to you," coach Chip Kelly said.

There is optimism about Sproles' return, especially considering how serious his injury appeared in the Oct. 12 win over the New York Giants. The diagnosis was a sprained knee ligament, and Sproles faced the possibility of missing the Cardinals game. The coaches limited Sproles on Tuesday, but he is encouraged by his progress.

Sproles was asked whether he thinks he will play Sunday. "The way I'm feeling, yeah," he said.

The halfback wore a knee brace in practice. Sproles never played with a brace before but said it did not hinder him.

Sproles, 31, admitted that he thought the injury was "kind of bad" when it happened and said the MRI results were a major relief. He refused to use the term "ACL," which was the worst fear when he was hurt.

With Sproles' status still in question, Polk's recovery from a hamstring injury becomes even more important. Sproles, Polk, and LeSean McCoy are the three running backs on the roster, and the Eagles have resisted adding another player. They have entered games this season with only two running backs, but never with one.

Polk, 24, missed the Giants game with an injury to the same hamstring that kept him out of the preseason. He said this injury was not as severe, but he also did not know whether he would play against the Cardinals. He is trying to prevent the injury from lingering throughout the season.

"I can't predict the future; I don't know," Polk said. "What I can control is my effort. If it [lingers], I'll deal with it. I've been dealing with it thus far."

If neither Sproles nor Polk can play, the Eagles could promote Matthew Tucker from the practice squad later in the week.

Kendricks, 24, did not speak to reporters Tuesday, but it sounded as if he looked good in his first practice back from a calf injury that has kept him out since Week 2.

Even with Kendricks on the practice field, the Eagles are playing first-round pick Marcus Smith at inside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said it's a "week-to-week thing" while the Eagles see how Kendricks progresses. Smith moved from outside linebacker after Kendricks' injury, and the experiment might be more than just on an interim basis.

"It's all based on depth, where we are," Kelly said.

Smith needed to ask the coaches which position he would play this week. He believes he ultimately will play outside linebacker, though, with the ability to move inside.

"Hopefully, I can go back to outside," the first-round draft pick said. "But if they keep me at inside, that's good, too."

On the offensive line, Kelce is back and Evan Mathis (knee) is eligible to return to practice on Wednesday. Neither will figure into this week's plans.

Mathis cannot return until Nov. 10 against the Carolina Panthers. The guard told Comcast SportsNet on Monday that Kelce could return as soon as Nov. 2 against the Houston Texans after sports hernia surgery last month, although Kelce said Tuesday, "I really wish he wouldn't have said that."

Kelce, 26, had hoped to return by Nov. 10, too, but there is no definite timetable.

"I'm still hesitant to put a date on it, even if Mathis isn't," the center said.

Kelce was a limited participant Tuesday and still is not practicing with the starters. The injury has not affected his mobility or his stance, but it becomes an issue when he elongates his body. He continues to experience tightness in the groin.

"What we're trying to avoid is a setback in the recovery process," Kelce said. "It wouldn't necessarily put me back to a six-to-eight-week recovery. It would set me back two to three weeks. That's what we're trying to avoid, if you come back too soon."

Tuesday was the first chance that Kelly had to see the injured players on the field. But after the Eagles survived the first six games despite major injuries, the positive news is that help is soon on the way.

"I just said they're all practicing," Kelly said. "That doesn't mean anything more than that they're all practicing."