Kelce Gearing Up For Return

The transition from David Molk back to Jason Kelce is underway.

Kelce received first-team reps at practice Tuesday. And while there are some hurdles he needs to clear between now and Sunday, the goal is to get Kelce ready to play against the Texans.

“From where we’re going and where we’re heading this week, it looks like he’s going to try and be back,” said Molk. “I was borrowing time anyway. This is his team. This is his line. This is his offense. And I’m just glad I got some time to put my plays in.”

Recovery time for sports hernia surgery is typically 5-8 weeks. If all goes according to plan, Kelce will be back on the field five weeks and five days after having the procedure done. He credits Dr. Meyers and the Eagles’ training and sports science staff for getting him back so quickly.

“I still feel pretty agile, we’re just trying to figure out where the strength’s at, where’s the ability to anchor. We’re going to test that out over the next few practices and see where it’s at,” he said.

Assuming he passes those tests, Kelce should be in the lineup Sunday. If he is, he’ll probably have to deal with J.J. Watt some. Watt doesn’t line up over center as much as he does guard and tackle, but he moves up and down the line and will likely end up over Kelce at some point.

“He’s a great player. He’s not as overwhelmingly powerful as I think people make him out to be,” said Kelce. “He’s a very good player, he’s a very smart player, he understands the game, understands angles, understands movements. He’s going to be a tough guy to block, but I don’t think he’s going to be a guy who is really going to be able to take advantage of my injury so to speak.”

Kelce could be back this week and Evan Mathis expects to play the following Monday at home against Carolina. Kelce, though, believes expectations for what he and Mathis will deliver upon return might be a tad out of whack.

“Is it higher than it should be? Yes, I think so. I think Evan and I are good players but I don’t think that it’s going to be some sort of revelation like people are making it out to be,” said Kelce. “Quite frankly, I think the guys who have played have done a very good job and although there might be some difference, I don’t think it’s going to be some sort of all-fixing all the problems that we’re having on offense.”

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Besides Kelce, the Eagles may be getting Darren Sproles back this week.

Darren Sproles said he’ll be ready Sunday. #Eagles

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) October 28, 2014

Brandon Boykin is unsure whether he’ll be able to play against Houston. He originally hurt his hamstring against San Francisco, he said, and re-injured it in the first quarter Sunday in Arizona.

“It’s just one of those nagging injuries,” he said.