Darby Expects to be Back in 4-to-6 Weeks

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Ronald Darby was pretty pragmatic about his dislocated ankle on Wednesday afternoon.

"It's good. It ain't bad," the Eagles' speedy CB1 said in the team's locker room.

What the Florida State product was trying to say is things could have been much worse after rolling his right ankle while getting tangled up with Jordan Reed in Sunday's season-opening win at Washington.

The 4.3 speed, however, will be on the shelf for four-to-six weeks and Darby was in a boot and getting around on a scooter-like, Roll-A-Bout device to keep all the weight off his ankle.

But watching Darby infirmed does not paint the whole picture. The injury was a clean dislocation, meaning no ligament or tendon damage and most importantly, no surgery.

"For sure," Darby said when asked if he would play again this season.

The reported timetable has been four-to-six weeks and Darby said that is the plan moving forward.

NEW KICKER STARTS IN PERFECT FASHION

New Eagles kicker Jake Elliott, wearing No. 4, took part in his first practice with the team Wednesday, one day after the Eagles signed him off Cincinnati's practice squad to replace veteran Caleb Sturgis, who suffered a torn hip-flexor muscle against Washington on Sunday.

With his new battery of long snapper Rick Lovato and holder Donnie Jones, the strong-legged Elliott connected on all eight of his kicks in the open portion of practice.

A fifth-round pick back in April, Elliott lost out to veteran Randy Bullock with the Bengals but the organization thought enough of him to keep him around on the PS, a rarity or kickers.

Because Elliott was with the Bengals he couldn't actually work out for the Eagles so it's obvious the organization zoned in on him pretty quickly.

"It's the next man mentality," coach Doug Pederson said Monday. "We brought him in here, he is very accurate, very strong leg. Young, but at the same time, we are moving forward. We'll get him ready to play."

PETERS PRACTICES

Jason Peters said he was going to play on Sunday in Kansas City despite tapping out early against the Redskins with a groin injury and the veteran left tackle was a full go in practice on Wednesday.

That's big for Philadelphia because the strength of Bob Sutton's defense in Kansas City is edge rushers Justin Houston and Dee Ford. Typically Houston lines up on the left side so he will be Lane Johnson's main responsibility but the underrated Ford is very good as well and the Eagles will feel much more comfortable with Peters drawing that assignment.

Other than Darby the only player who was unable to practice Wednesday was backup defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao, who sat out with a wrist injury.

Running back Donnel Pumphrey was limited with a hamstring issue and wore a long black sleeve on his right leg. Linebacker Najee Goode (forearm), defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps), safety Corey Graham (hamstring) and cornerback Jalen Mills (thumb) were all full participants despite various bumps and bruises.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen