Phil Sheridan, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Injured Eagles returning after bye

PHILADELPHIA -- The cavalry rode into town with the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles after the bye week. It will take a day or two for Chip Kelly to figure out which of his injured players is ready to help his team.

Left guard Evan Mathis is the easiest case to figure out. The Eagles placed Mathis on injured reserve with a designation to return. That means he can begin practicing Wednesday and he can play against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10. Mathis, who sprained his medial collateral ligament in the season opener, told CSN Philly that he planned to practice this week.

Center Jason Kelce, who had surgery to repair a sports hernia, also will try to practice this week. Kelly declined to speculate on Kelce’s return until he saw him on the field.

“I hope he ties his shoes right,” Kelly said. “I haven’t seen Jason Kelce do anything since before the surgery.”

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who injured his calf muscle in the Indianapolis game, was on the field for the early part of practice Tuesday. Kendricks wrote on his website last week that he hoped to practice this week.

Running back Darren Sproles, who sprained his MCL in the Giants game, was also taking part in practice Tuesday. Kelly indicated last week that Sproles’ injury was not as serious as it looked.

As always with Kelly, all injury information is filtered through the coach’s evident lack of interest. Unlike Andy Reid, who read from a detailed list of injuries from the training staff, Kelly wants to know only which players are available to practice or play. The specifics don’t interest him and neither does wasting time worrying about what might happen next week.

“We’re on a one-week season,” Kelly said. “We have been. That’s our total focus.”

Bottom line: There is a reasonable chance Kendricks and Sproles will be back for Sunday’s game in Arizona. Kelce could be back for that game or the one in Houston the following week. Mathis appears to be in line to play against the Panthers.

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