Eagles offensive lineman Jamaal Jackson, Herremans return to practice

Jamaal Jackson, Herremans return to practice

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Philadelphia Eagles center Jamaal Jackson and guard Todd Herremans were both taken off the physically unable to perform list as the team returned to practice at Lehigh University on Sunday.

Jackson has been trying to come back from a torn ACL from the 15th game of the 2009 season and Herremans has been dealing with a sore foot.

Jackson and Herremans did limited work in the morning practice and were given the afternoon practice off. It was still a good sign for both players, especially Jackson, to be back on the field.

The Eagles opened the preseason with a 28-27 win over Jacksonville on Friday night.

“It wasn’t a lot, but it was a first step,” Jackson said of practicing on Sunday. “And it was a big step for me.”

Jackson tore the ACL in a 30-27 win over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 27. He missed the final game of the season and the playoff game to Dallas, both losses.

That injury can keep a player out from 10 months to more than a year. Jackson was back on the field in less than eight months.

“I’m not real surprised,” Jackson, who had started 76 straight games before the injury, said. “I haven’t had any setbacks and things have gone well in rehab. Dr. (James) Andrews has a plan in place for me and the plan is to add a little bit more each day and see how it goes. My ultimate goal is still to be ready for opening day.”

All along Eagles coach Andy Reid said it would be a stretch for Jackson to be ready to face the Green Bay Packers in the opener on Sept. 12.

Now, he’s not ruling anything out.

“We’ll have to see how it goes,” Reid said after Sunday’s practice. “We’re only one day, one practice into it. Is (Jackson) ahead of schedule? Yes, I would say that.”

Herremans, who missed the start of the 2009 season with the same injury, was held out of the final minicamp this spring and the first 18 days of training camp, including Friday’s preseason opener against Jacksonville.

“It was tough missing the start of the season last year,” Herremans said. “I’d rather be out now than during the season.”

Reid said he would like Herremans to play in at least one of the three remaining preseason games, most likely at Kansas City on Aug. 27.

But again nothing’s certain.

“We’re going to go nice and easy with Todd,” Reid said. “You would like to get him in a game in preseason. If he didn’t, I’d still think he’d be OK (for the opener). He’s a veteran player, but it would be good just to get him up to speed.”

Herremans is fine however it works out.

“I’d like to get in a game now,” he said. “But if I don’t, it’s not the end of the world.”

For Jackson it’s like a fresh start.

“It’s been a long time,” the center said. “It was good to get out there and move around a little bit, snap a football again, bang around with my teammates and just shake off the rust.

“I still think about the last snap when I got hurt. I think about it every day. At some point I’m going to have to stop and start thinking about this season.”

Notes: Safety Quintin Demps, who hurt his knee in Friday’s game, has a contusion and should be back on the field soon, Reid said. Safety Antoine Harris has a LisFranc sprain in his foot and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.