Eagles Notes | Thomas the latest Bird to be slowed by injury
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles' injury du jour?
Hollis Thomas.
The biggest injury concern at the moment?
Corey Simon.
Coach Andy Reid said yesterday that Thomas "woke up [yesterday] with a swollen calf" and was scheduled for an MRI examination. Thomas, who has played in just seven games in the last two seasons because of a fractured foot and a torn triceps tendon, had been one of the few defensive linemen healthy in this training camp.
Simon, on the other hand, has missed significant time with a foot injury and a sore lower back. Reid said last week that the Pro Bowl defensive tackle's back was feeling better, but yesterday the coach said Simon's foot injury is lingering.
"We are going to get his foot checked [today] by a specialist," Reid said.
Reid read another long injury report yesterday, and he has altered his training-camp practice schedule. The Eagles normally would still be going through two-a-day workouts at this point, but the coach has cut back to one practice, making that switch a week earlier than usual.
"We are short a little bit on numbers," Reid said. "But this is also a good change-up for the guys right now. It will be a positive, I think, in the long haul. We had a good practice today. It was very similar to what we do on Wednesdays in season, and we will come back tomorrow with what we do normally in season."
In addition to Thomas and Simon, the coach provided updates on the conditions of linebackers Ike Reese and Jeremiah Trotter, both of whom were injured in Friday's exhibition game with the Baltimore Ravens. Reese sprained a knee ligament and Trotter damaged rib cartilage. Reid said they both would miss the preseason game against Pittsburgh on Thursday.
He described Trotter's injury as being similar to the one that knocked quarterback Donovan McNabb out of the NFC championship game last year. McNabb said at the time that he didn't know if he would have been able to play in the Super Bowl if the Eagles had advanced.
"Trotter's is not quite as bad as what Donovan's was," Reid said. "I think he'll struggle to make the [final preseason] game against the Jets, but he should be ready for the opener" Sept. 12 vs. the New York Giants.
Rookie offensive guard Adrien Clarke has a torn hamstring and is not likely to play in any more preseason games.
Kicker David Akers remained out of practice yesterday with quad spasms after missing Friday's game against the Ravens, and Reid said safety Brian Dawkins will likely remain out when the Eagles play the Steelers.
Also expected to remain out are linebacker Dhani Jones (high ankle sprain), safety Quintin Mikell (sprained knee), linebacker Greg Richmond (sprained knee) and cornerback Matt Ware (sprained knee). Reid said Jones has started running under water and is ahead of schedule.
Linebacker Nate Wayne, defensive tackles Paul Grasmanis and Sam Rayburn, and guard Jermane Mayberry all returned to the practice field yesterday. Backup quarterback Koy Detmer also returned in a limited capacity, and Reid said he has a chance to play this weekend.
Reid believes all of his players who are not on injured reserve will be ready for the opener against the Giants.
"These things do change," he said. "Sam Rayburn was out there today, and I sat here and told you that I thought he was going to be out longer than that. It's not an exact science."
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Trotter hurt already
