Celek: Injury was a year or more old

Brent Celek has been playing hurt for a year or more, he said today after taking part in the first day of the Eagles full-team offseason practices.

"I know I've been hurt for awhile. I don't know exactly when it was, but it's been awhile. It could have been two years, it could have been a year, it could have been three years," Celek said after practice. He participated in much of the session, but sat out some of the first team snaps, trying to be careful not to push too far after January surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip and a sports hernia. Celek said he had a double hernia that contributed to back pain that troubled him last season, but feels much better now.

"There's a few things I've got to work on, but overall I feel good. I'm happy with how I feel, I know things are fixed now, finally," Celek said.

Celek's surgery was a surprise. He never mentioned his injury and statisically had the second best season of his career while also contributing as a blocker. An MRI during the season revealed the injury, but he said he didn't want to miss the end of the year.

Celek expects that the repair will help him through the long slog of the season, and that he'll be ready to go all out by training camp.

"It's all on me, coaches know I know how to push myself. I'm not going to take it too far, I've just got to know my body and push it to the point where I don't hurt myself so that's what I'm doing," Celek said.