Jordan Matthews continues to sit out of Eagles' OTAs with knee injury

Wide receiver Jordan Matthews was again missing from the NovaCare practice field on Thursday. Matthews is dealing with tendinitis in his knee. He has participated in fewer than three of the Eagles' nine OTA workouts this spring.

Matthews dealt with an ankle injury late last season that caused him to miss two of the Eagles' last five games. But he missed most of training camp and the entire preseason last summer after injuring his knee in practice when he was hit by safety Blake Countess.

Matthews returned for the start of the season and had no further problems with the knee, and caught 73 passes for 804 yards and three touchdowns in the 14 games he played.

Coach Doug Pederson said Thursday that Matthews is "fine" and they're just being cautious with him.

"We're taking a one-day-at-a-time approach," Pederson said. "We still have a long way before we play games. He's doing everything in his power [to get healthy] and is working with [director of sports medicine Chris] Peduzzi and our docs to get ready. He'll be fine heading into training camp."

Asked whether Matthews' knee problems are more serious than he initially thought, Pederson said: "If this were the regular season, Jordan would be fine. He'd be ready to go. Like I said, we're not playing games right now. I know what Jordan can do and his impact on the team and [how being out there right now would further help] his relationship with Carson [Wentz]. I get all that."

Pederson continued: "But I want our guys healthy for July and August and obviously September. I'm not concerned with Jordan and where he's at. I just can't wait to get him back out there."

Pederson said there's "a chance" Matthews  will participate in next week's mandatory three-day minicamp, but added that it will depend on "where he's at."

Said Pederson: "Just understand that I don't want to push anybody. I don't want to rush anybody back out there."

Notes

- The Eagles will hold joint practices with the Miami Dolphins at NovaCare before their third preseason game against the Dolphins on Aug. 24. "It's a good thing to do that time of the summer," Pederson said. "You've been beating on each other for a few weeks. It gives you a chance to practice against somebody else in a controlled environment."

- Pederson was asked about his wide receivers before practice. "It's been one of the bright spots of the spring, quite honestly," he said.  "To see these guys, to see Alshon [Jeffery] come in here, to see Torrey [Smith] come in here, to see Nelson [Agholor] progress and DGB [Dorial Green-Beckham progress], it's all coming together. They're rallying around each other in practice. They're encouraging each other in practice. They're challenging each other in practice. It's fun to see."