Eagles Notes: Chip Kelly says he's managing DeMarco Murray's workload

DeMarco Murray's on-again, off-again practice schedule is not his decision. It's Chip Kelly's decision.

Kelly made that clear on Friday, when he said he's trying to manage Murray's workload after the high-priced running back led the NFL in carries last season. Kelly said Murray is not injured.

"He's coming along," Kelly said. "He's done a lot of different things. We're trying to get him acclimated. He also carried the ball more than anybody in the National Football League last year, so we are trying to integrate him into what we are doing."

Murray carried the ball 392 times last season. That's the most of any player since 2006. Kelly said the Eagles take that into consideration with Murray's practice schedule.

"We look at everybody and where they are from a body standpoint," Kelly said. "I think we manage every individual player here in terms of where they are and what they are. And my job and . . . our entire coaching staff, training staff, sports science staff is to get those guys ready to play in Week 1 [of the regular season]."

Kelly has not decided whether Murray will play in the preseason opener on Sunday.

Linebacker Kiko Alonso remains absent because of a concussion, but Kelly didn't seem too concerned even though Alonso has missed eight practices and has not yet cleared the league-mandated concussion protocol.

"Kiko is fine," Kelly said. "We know what type of football player he is, but that's not something you need to rush him back into doing anything. I think his legs are healthy, he can run around, he can do all those other things. But I think when you deal with an injury like that, you're just going to take your time."

Kelly said the game that Alonso must be ready for is the Sept. 14 season opener, although he also said Alonso could return by the next week's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.

"We are just taking him along slowly," Kelly said. "It's just to make sure that he's in meetings, he understands everything and he's doing everything in there and when we get ready, he'll be ready to go play against the Ravens, hopefully."

Linebackers Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans both returned for a Friday walk-through, but Kendricks said he is not playing on Sunday. He would not specify the injury.

The Eagles signed defensive end Alfy Hill and insider linebacker Deontae Skinner on Friday, and they placed linebacker Brandon Hepburn (abdominal injury) and defensive end B.J. McBryde (foot injury) on the waived/injured list.

Hill started his college career at Alabama and finished at Winston-Salem State. He is 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds.

Skinner played seven games with the New England Patriots last season, including one start. The Mississippi State product was on the Patriots' practice squad during the Super Bowl. He is 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds.

- Zach Berman

Kelly: Murray not hurt

The coach says he is trying to manage the running back's workload. C2