Updated injury situation: Centers returning to health

With the team’s final preseason game looming, head coach Andy Reid has updated the Eagles’ injury situation. While he has previously provided news about tight end Cornelius Ingram and rookie defensive end Ricky Sapp, who each underwent MRI tests because of knee problems, Reid had some encouraging words to say about the centers on the roster, most notably Jamaal Jackson, who is the usual starter at the position but has spent most of the offseason recovering from a torn ACL.

Activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list toward the end of Training Camp, Jackson has been in participation at practice for some time now but has yet to appear in the preseason. And while it’s unlikely he will make his 2010 exhibition debut on Thursday night against the Jets, Jackson was receiving a lot of reps at the NovaCare Complex today and on Sunday; the seven-year veteran continues to prepare for the regular season and his goal is to be back in the lineup by the time the team kicks off the year on September 12. "He worked ones and got in there and had a couple snaps that were just a little bit off and we’ll get that worked out," Reid said. "We’re going to work him in there with the ones and let him get some reps and see how he feels and push him a little bit there and see how he responds. He says he feels well and the doctors have given him the clear, so we’ll give him a little work."

Jackson’s primary backup at the center position, Nick Cole (pictured), also appears to be returning to health. Projected as the replacement first-stringer for the regular season heading into Camp, he missed quite a bit of time with recurring knee pain and lost out on some opportunities to impress in the first few games of the preseason, as third-year man Mike McGlynn was given the temporary starting role. Cole, who finished the 2009 campaign as a member of the starting lineup, was not a full participant in the day’s practice but received some looks as the leading right guard and definitely seems to be on the right track to making a complete return to the field.

As for other injuries that Reid addressed, wide receiver DeSean Jackson (upper back/neck) and defensive end Trent Cole (ankle), who were both forced to leave the third preseason game and underwent examinations, have not been practicing as of late but are fully expected to be ready for the team’s regular season opener. Outside linebacker Ernie Sims was also held out of practice with what the Eagles are calling a mild forearm strain, while DE Victor Abiamiri continued to sit out as the lone member of the PUP list.

(picture source)