Eagles Wake-Up Call: Could Patterson Return?


The Eagles could activate defensive tackle Mike Patterson on Monday, a league source tells CSN’s Derrick Gunn.

However, the source added that Patterson is a “ways off from game ready.”

Patterson suffered a seizure at training camp in 2011 and was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, a tangle of blood vessels in the brain. He played the entire season (and played well) before having offseason brain surgery. Patterson was placed on the non-football illness list back in August, and Andy Reid said he could miss the entire season.

“I think that’s going to be an extended time here,” Reid said. “We’ve just got to see how that goes, if he’s able to go at all this year. We just have to see how that works out. We’ll take checkups in increments here, but right now, it’s going to be awhile.”

The Eagles reportedly cut Patterson’s salary in half.

Patterson was required to miss the first six weeks of the season, but now is allowed to return to practice. The Eagles have a three-week window in which they can either add him to the 53-man roster or place him on injured reserve and end his season.

The Eagles could certainly use a boost at defensive tackle. As I pointed out in Friday’s post, that group is not giving the defense much in terms of a pass-rush, and the Steelers and Lions both had success running the football against the Birds. Among Eagles defensive linemen, only Jason Babin played more snaps than Patterson in 2011.

The Eagles’ current four-man rotation at DT is Fletcher Cox, Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri and Cedric Thornton. Jenkins has played 59.4 percent of the snaps; Cox 55.9; Landri 49.1; and Thornton 37.0.

Obviously, given the nature of the injury, you’d think the wise thing to do for Patterson would be to play it safe. The team returns to Novacare on Monday. We’ll try to get more details on the likelihood of his potential return then.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans has exceeded expectations through the first six games.

Special teams have killed the Eagles so far this season.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson had a touchdown called back last week against the Eagles because of pass interference. He doesn’t think Nnamdi Asomugha should have gotten the call. Per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News:

“There was hardly any contact,” Johnson said. “I was just feeling where I was at. I went back and watched it on film and I was like, ‘Come on, ref.’ The crazy thing was, he was looking at me and didn’t throw the flag until after the dude (Asomugha) said something.”

Johnson was asked what would happen if the NFL had a rule against flopping like the NBA has.

“He would have been fined; that would have been a fine,” he said. “I am glad the NBA is starting that rule. That used to tick me off about the NBA, too.”

Greg Cosell of NFL Films offered his take on Michael Vick in Ashley Fox’s column on ESPN.com:

“If you’re just analyzing Vick, I think he’s not put in a lot of really good positions,” said Greg Cosell, executive producer of ESPN’s “NFL Matchup” show. “I think they run a lot of vertical routes, which requires the offensive line to block and for him to do what he’s not best at, which is be patient in the pocket. Even at his best, I would not describe Michael Vick as a commanding pocket quarterback. Now, oddly enough, in the last three games versus blitz, Vick has been outstanding — he’s 28-of-42, which is almost 67 percent, for 398 yards and four touchdowns.

“Now, the other issues you face with Vick is when you throw an awful lot, your quarterback has to be very, very efficient in the subtle details of the position. You are going to get pressure no matter how good your offensive line is. You are going to have to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage before the snap, and demonstrate pocket movement. You’re going to have to be able to execute the subtle details of the position. My guess is even people who love Michael Vick would say he’s not that kind of quarterback.”

COMING UP

No Eagles game, but it’s Week 7 around the NFL. We’re guessing there will be a few things worth discussing today.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.