The training camp, the Eagles appear to be marked by injuries: two new players have suffered setbacks. In a recent practice, reserve QB Kevin Kolb twisted his left knee, and defensive end Trent Cole injured his left shoulder. Kolb was the first to fall for the rugged session. He began walking from side to side, so he was taken to the dressing room in the medical car. Shortly after Kolb left the field, Cole went down.
The Eagles, who come with high expectations in 2009 after reaching the championship game of the NFC last year, had lost supporting LB Stewart Bradley and rookie TE Cornelius Ingram for the rest of the season.
As if that weren’t enough, receiver DeSean Jackson hurt his knee during a practice days before, but Reid said the injury was not serious. Reserve OT Shawn Andrews hasn’t trained yet due to some back complications.
Bradley’s Injury
At the start of camp, Bradley was damaged ligaments in his knee. The linebacker had the unfortunate accident whilst making a tackle during a night exhibition game in Lincoln Financial field.
Selected in the third round of the 2007 draft, Bradley has put together 151 tackles last season, his first full season as a starting linebacker.
Within the field, Bradley was the main voice command of a defense that this year had already lost veteran safety Brian Dawkins to free agency.
Behind Bradley in the list of MLB is rookie recruit Joe Mays, picked in the sixth round of the 2008 draft.
The two other defenders planned to start in 2009 in front of the 4-3 Eagles, are Chris Gocong and Akeem Jordan.
Ingram’s Injury
The fifth round recruit had torn a ligament in left knee. He had missed his last season at the University of Florida after tearing the same ligament almost a year ago. “He’s a great kid and his leg had been doing so well,” said head coach Andy Reid.
The Eagles signed rookie tight end Rob Myers to provide depth behind starter Brent Celek. Veteran Matt Schobel and the rookie Eugene Bright are the other tight ends in the camp closed.
Myers missed out on his last season at Utah State after undergoing surgery on his foot. He originally signed with the Jets after the draft, but was cut on May 29.
Ingram had appeared impressive in offseason training and the Eagles had high expectations for him.
“He was doing some good things,” said Reid. “He was working his way in. The other guys just have to step up, that’s all.”