Eagles Notes: Sam Bradford Returns To Practice
Chip Kelly didn’t provide reporters with health updates on his players, after getting Jason Peters‘ status wrong last week, so we were left to our own devices.
T-Mac brings us video of Sam Bradford warming up with his teammates, who was later seen throwing with the Eagles’ quarterbacks.
This means he has progressed through the concussion protocol at least to the point where he can wear a helmet in practice and throw a football, but does not inherently indicate that he is completely cleared for contact just yet.
Bradford stretching with team as practice begins pic.twitter.com/0n67BLTzQN
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) November 23, 2015
Sam Bradford is participating in QB individual drills. Obviously much father along in concussion protocol. Will see if completely cleared. — Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 23, 2015
Meanwhile, Ryan Mathews remains in the concussion protocol, as does tight end Zach Ertz, who Chip Kelly said had progressed to the point in the protocol where could attend meetings.
Zach Ertz and Ryan Mathews still going through concussion protocol and aren’t at practice. #Eagles
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 23, 2015
Kelly said he is unsure if Ertz, who suffered his concussion in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, will be able to play against Detroit on Thanksgiving. Cedric Thornton warmed up with the team, but was not dressed in uniform.
Cedric Thornton is not practicing. — Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 23, 2015
Here are some more highlights from Kelly’s day-after press conference.
— On the health status of his inside linebackers, specifically Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans.
“I still think we’re bringing [Alonso] along in terms of him progressing,” Kelly said. “Same thing with DeMeco; I don’t think DeMeco can play a full game right now.”
Kelly said there has been no thought or discussion of shutting Alonso, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the season, down for the season.
— When asked about why Jason Peters started against Tampa Bay, Kelly said Peters was cleared by doctors after testing things out pre-game. Kelly said he ultimately makes the final decision on who the Eagles’ inactives and actives are.
Peters said after the game that he had made the decision to take himself out of the game in the fourth quarter, with the game out of reach.
Kelly characterized it as a group decision.
“I get input from him on how he feels. We have a discussion on how he feels,” Kelly said. “I’m not going to make a player go play if he tells me he’s hurt.”
— On his confidence level in defensive coordinator Billy Davis.
“I’ve got tremendous confidence in Billy Davis,” Kelly said. “I think he’s a hell of a football coach.”
— Kelly said he isn’t thinking of making any changes to his lineup before Thursday’s game.
“I think, with the short week, we’re going to go with what we had last week,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to prepare and get ready to play a game against Detroit, so we’re not making any lineup moves at this time.”
— On whether he thinks his relationship with his players has become strained in recent weeks, in light of poor performances.
“We’re with our players consistently. We spend a lot of time with our players in individual player meetings, group settings, all those things,” Kelly said. “I think we lost a football game. I don’t think it’s time to say, hey, we don’t believe this is this.
“We got out-played, out-coached, didn’t do a good job coaching in that football game, and that’s what it is. But that’s all it is. We need to move forward. It’s not, we need to change how we set up our day or anything like that.”
— Kelly says that he has not contemplated making personnel changes.
“We lost two games. I think sometimes people panic and throw the baby out with the bath water. I think we have a really good football team, and I’m very confident in those football players.”