Evan Mathis injury: Eagles offensive lineman cleared to return to practice

According to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly, Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis has been cleared to return to practice.

Evan Mathis is cleared to practice. Will practice Wednesday.

— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherCSN) October 20, 2014

Mathis: "I won't jump back into it full speed. There's no rushing into it. I have three weeks of practice before I have to play."

— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherCSN) October 20, 2014

Note that Mathis is still NOT eligible to return to the active 53-man roster until Week 10 when the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football. Mathis still officially resides on the injured reserve/designated to return list.

Mathis has been out of action since suffering a MCL sprain during the team's Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Eagles have had to deal with a number of offensive line change-ups during his absence. Philadelphia's running attack just hasn't been the same without Mathis, though it's rebounded in recent weeks.

Currently filling in at left guard for Mathis is second-year guard Matt Tobin. Tobin will continue to keep the seat warm until Mathis can return in Week 10.

It seems beneficial for both Mathis and the Eagles that the veteran offensive lineman will get time to practice for a few weeks before fully returning to game action. Mathis should be completely ready to go by Week 10, which is also when Eagles starting center Jason Kelce is scheduled to return from a sports hernia injury.

Mathis isn't the only member of the Eagles to return to practice this week. Starting inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks indicated his return to action on Monday morning.

The injury bug hit Philadelphia hard early on in the season, but the team persevered to a 5-1 record anyway. Now the Eagles' key players are returning (or preparing to return) from injury as the team heads into their most crucial stretch of the year.