Reid: Mike Patterson Out Indefinitely After AVM Surgery

Eagles DT Mike Patterson put a scare in everyone last training camp when he collapsed with convulsions on the field at Lehigh. It was then discovered that he had what is called an "AVM" on his brain. Doctors decided that it was safe for him to play the season, but he would need surgery to correct the AVM in the offseason.

Patterson had the surgery and was expected to be ready, but Andy Reid revealed today that Patterson will not participate in training camp, will go on the non-football injury list and is out indefinitely. Doctors needed to take off a piece of his skull as part of the procedure and he's still recovering.

Obviously the first thoughts are with Patterson and our wishes certainly go out to him and we hope he gets better, not just for football purposes but for his life. Luckily the prognosis is very good and he'll actually be at Lehigh to work out on the side. Reid said that Patterson personally feels he's ready to go and was surprised by the doctor's decision to hold him out. The feeling is that he will play this season.

The other thought is obviously for what it means to the team. The silver lining here is that defensive tackle is arguably the deepest position on the team. Cullen Jenkins and Derek Landri return from last year, Antonio Dixon is back healthy after missing last season and the biggest addition arguably of the whole offseason was first round pick Fletcher Cox. Between Jenkins, Dixon & Cox you've got two guys who have started and one who was very likely to in the near future anyway. In hindsight, it certainly seems as though the Eagles were planning on the possibility that Patterson may not be ready for the season.

As for other injury news, Colt Anderson (torn ACL) and Jason Peters (achillies) will start on the PUP list. Anderson is "close" according to Reid while Peters is a "long shot" for this season. Still, Reid insisted it was too early to rule him out for the season.

Keenan Clayton missed a good portion of the summer with a sports hernia and Vinny Curry had a high ankle sprain, but both will be back and ready to participate in this camp.