After 316 days, defensive end Brandon Graham is back on the football field. The Eagles' first-round pick in 2010, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear last December, practiced with his teammates for the first time Monday after spending the first seven weeks of the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Graham told reporters after practice that he was "full-go" for about 15 plays during the team's 10-10-10 session, splitting time between right and left defensive end.
"I'm feeling good," Graham said. "I feel a lot better than I expected. I was a little bit nervous going out there because I haven't played in a year, so I was a little timid at first. But then I was like, 'Oh, there's nothing wrong with me. Let's go.' I just have to get in game shape.
"I know that I'm going to have to get my wind up a little bit and as I play in games, it'll get better. For now, I'm just focusing on what I need to do and that's getting off the ball."
Per league rules, the Eagles can activate Graham at any point over the next three weeks. The second-year player, who has been itching to play under Jim Washburn's attacking defensive line scheme, believes he can make an impact very soon.
The coaches "are going to watch me this week and hopefully I can get out there this week," he said. "I'm going to push myself, do extra work with coach Wash and hopefully get me up to speed real quick."
Graham notched 3.0 sacks in his rookie season and will be a welcome addition to the ranks at defensive end, where Washburn is fond of rotating the players to keep them fresh. The last few weeks, the defensive end ranks have been dwindled a bit, but that will change with the return of Graham and Pro Bowler Trent Cole, who practice Monday after missing two games with a calf injury. Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters (hamstring) also returned to practice.
For Graham, Monday was the culmination of a lot of hard work, and a sign that he's once again a part of the team.
"It's been hard because you want to be a part of wins or losses, however it goes, be a part of the team," Graham said. "And I haven't felt like that because I haven't been able to be out there and help. Now, it feels a lot better.
"I go back to the day I got hurt, (when I was thinking) 'Man, it's going to be a long road, but I can't wait until the day (I'm back). And look what today is; it's shiny, the breeze out there is good and I'm feeling great."
