From a personal standpoint, reserve defensive back Dimitri Patterson hopes the second half of the season is decidedly better than the first.
Patterson, a gunner on coach Ted Daisher's coverage teams, has missed all but three games with injuries. Fortunately, all signs point to a return to the lineup Sunday in San Diego.
"Where I'm at right now, just to play in a game period would be great," said Patterson, who is credited with three special teams tackles and six blocks. "I'm just ready to get back. I'm as close as I'm going to get (to being fully healthy). At this point in time, I'm comfortable enough to go out there and be very productive. I'm at peace with that."
Patterson acknowledges that injuries are part of the weekly battles in the NFL, but he was sorry to see the season end for kick returner and fellow defensive back Ellis Hobbs.
"It's always tough (having guys get injured), because these are guys you've been with since OTAs," Patterson said. "No one wants to see anybody go down for the rest of the season. It's just one of those things that comes with the territory, it's part of the business. Injury is something that comes with the game, something that you really can't control.
"You just have to move forward and wish for the best."
Hobbs' injury certainly impacts Philadelphia's return game, and it could have a ripple effect on Patterson's role in the secondary.
Whatever the role, Patterson says he's ready.
"Just to be back on the field, I'm excited," he said.
Patterson signed with the Eagles back on Jan. 7 after spending the previous two seasons with the Chiefs. The veteran proved himself in the spring and summer and in the preseason and earned himself a roster spot.
Patterson broke his left hand in the first quarter of the Saints game back on Sept. 20. A day later, he underwent successful surgery to repair a third metacarpal fracture in the hand. The injury subsequently sidelined him the following week against the Chiefs. Following the bye week, Patterson returned for the Buccaneers game. Unfortunately, he exited that contest after suffering a quad strain in the first quarter. That injury has kept him out of the lineup the last four weeks.
"It has (been tough)," Patterson said. "Just sitting there watching, that's tough alone. Then, not being healthy on top of that. It was tough to deal with, very frustrating.
"You come into a season with expectations and you deal with some injuries, and they can kind of be frustrating at times. But I try to keep an open mind. It was something I had to deal with. Now I'm healthy. That was the past, and we're ready to move forward."
-- Posted by Bob Kent, 2:54 p.m., November 11
