Eagles Getting Healthy Bodies Back on the Practice Field

The Eagles practice field at the Nova Care Center was a little more crowded than it has been the past few weeks.

Back on the practice field today were running back Darren Sproles, center Jason Kelce, left guard Evan Mathis and linebacker Mychal Kendricks.  All four of those birds have missed time with injuries and three of the four have missed multiple games.

(Listen to Eagles reporter Jimmy Kempski from Philly.com discuss the Eagles injury situation)

Kempski Part I:

Kempski Part II:

"Sproles is practicing, Polk is practicing, Kendricks is practicing," explained Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.  "Everybody is practicing everybody for Brad Smith.  Kelce will practice, I don't know much ‑‑ all those guys, I don't know what they'll do and Evan Mathis can't practice until tomorrow."

The one guy who will definitely not play Sunday is Mathis, who is currently on the I.R./return list, and isn't eligible to play until Week 10, but it's sounding good for his chances of hitting the playing field then.

"Yeah, he's not going to get first‑team reps," Kelly said about having Mathis back at practice.  "We've just got to work him back into football shape.  He's got to get himself an opportunity when someone comes off and he is eligible to come off in that situation, I think the rules and the right manner is that he kind of has two weeks to get himself up to speed from a football standpoint because he has missed an extensive period of time."

Sproles is ahead of schedule as he comes off a sprained MCL but remains questionable for Sunday's game at Arizona. Sproles was originally expected to miss 1-2 games but it looks good for him to be out there on Sunday.

"I think everybody wants to make sure Darren wasn't hurt extensively, and obviously the fact that he's back out practicing, it wasn't a real serious injury," Kelly stated.  "It looked a little bit, probably, worse than it was."

As for Kelce, who has been out since week two after sports hernia surgery, he was originally targeting Week 10 for his return, but appears to be ahead of schedule.  While he most likely won't play in Sunday, he should be ready next week in Houston.

"I mean, he hasn't done anything," said Kelly.  "He's just coming off of surgery.  I hope he ties his shoes right, and we're going to put him in some individual drills and see what he can do.  I just said they're all practicing.  That doesn't mean anything more than that they're all practicing."

Then there is Kendricks, who has missed four games with an injured calf, getting him back would be huge for a unit that is gaining confidence.  He is a very good cover linebacker and a very good blitzer.

While none of these players are definitely playing on Sunday, it looks like the Eagles are getting closer and closer to getting back to full strength.