PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Veteran tight end Richard Rodgers has been cleared to return to practice and designated to return from injured reserve by the Eagles.

The procedural move opens up a 21-day window in which Philadelphia can allow Rodgers to practice without him counting against the 53-man roster limit. Once that period is up the Eagles must add Rodgers to the roster or put him on IR again for the entire season.

He's the first of two potential players the Eagles can designate to return from IR, meaning that the team will have to decide whether they want Mike Wallace or Mack Hollins to return to the roster at some point.

Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, suffered a knee injury in the August 16 preseason game against the New England Patriots and was placed on IR Sept. 4. A former third-round pick in Green Bay, Rodgers has 120 career receptions for 1,166 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 63 regular-season games.

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds Rodgers will offer the offense more of an in-line presence at tight end and potentially better blocking schemes. None of the Eagles active TEs -- Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, and Joshua Parkins -- are known for their blocking skills.

Philadelphia made another move at the position on the practice squad as well, signing former New York Giants TE Will Tye and releasing Billy Brown.

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

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