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Mornhinweg: Other receivers need to help free DeSean

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said quarterback Michael Vick is working to play and will "do a few things" today in practice. Vick was on hand when practice began in the NovaCare bubble, but left fairly early without taking any reps with teammates.

Vick said yesterday that he has begun throwing, as he attempts to recover from a rib cartilage injury.

Mornhinweg said the game plan is "directed toward Kevin (Kolb)" at this point, but there is flexibility and "it's very early in the week for a Sunday game."

As for DeSean Jackson, he said the Eagles have "got to do some damage" with their other receivers to keep teams from being able to attend so closely to Jackson. He once again termed the attention that Jackson is receiving "the Jerry Rice treatment."

On the trade yesterday of Mike Bell to Cleveland for Jerome Harrison, Mornhinweg said he had not yet met Harrison and "we'll see (how quickly before he plays)." Eldra Buckley is taking the snaps behind LeSean McCoy.

On Bell, he said, "I was hoping to get him going just a little bit better. That would have happened (eventually)."

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Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was asked about the rallies by the Niners and Detroit in the fourth quarter. He said the bottom line is the Eagles won those games, but conceded that communication is an issue for a defense in those situations.

Overall, he said, "I thought we played better up front" against Niners' run game. The tackles stepped up and played well."

With the high-powered Falcons running game the play inside will be important. McDermott said the Falcons "wear you down inside."

He also mentioned his confidence in Jeff Owens, which might indicate Owens is indeed coming up from the practice squad. Owens said he doesn't know yet, but said he did get a few non-scout team reps in Wednesday's practice.

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Special teams coordinator Bobby April is still trying to improve his units in the early going in his first season with the Eagles. He said he sees progress even though "we do have our moments" to the contrary.

April has been very successful with other teams, but he said that doesn't mean there haven't been periods of struggle. "As a coach, you are always putting out fires," he said.

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On the injury front, along with Vick, wide receiver Riley Cooper and Brodrick Bunkley did not participate in practice.

Listed as full participants were: TE Brent Celek (wrist), G Nick Cole (knee), DE Trent Cole (hamstring), G Todd Herremans (knee), T Austin Howard (back), RB LeSean McCoy (rib), CB Dimitri Patterson (back)

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More to come ...

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To read our earlier post, click here.