While Jeremy Maclin returned to practice on Wednesday after missing a day with a tight hamstring, the contingent of players inside the practice bubble was not completely whole.
Safety Quintin Mikell left the practice about mid-way through after tweaking his knee and rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper did not practice because of a hamstring spasm.
"I'm good," Mikell said after practice, warding off concerns.
Also, linebacker Omar Gaither, who is returning from the Lis Franc sprain that ended his season in 2009, was given the day off because of the move inside to the turf.
And there were the previously noted absences of DeSean Jackson, Asante Samuel (personal reasons), Todd Herremans (foot), Stewart Bradley (calf), Fenuki Tupou (chest) and LeSean McCoy (ankle).
As for the action on the field, Quintin Demps stepped in as the first-team safety alongside rookie Nate Allen once Mikell left the field, and seemed to work well with Allen, offering pointers throughout.
After spending the past two days as the Redskins and Giants, the scout teams played the role of the Dallas Cowboys today, with Alex Hall wearing the No. 93 jersey to designate Anthony Spencer, Ricky Sapp playing the role of DeMarcus Ware and Devin Ross donning the No. 43 jersey as Gerald Sensabaugh.
More practice notes ...
- Mike Bell continues to take advantage of his reps with the first team at running back, as he's shown a surprising fluidity in his route running and catching ability. Bell was hit along the sidelines in stride several times during Wednesday's practice on passes from Kevin Kolb.
- Mike McGlynn is still getting some reps with the first-team offense at center, but Nick Cole remains the man in the middle.
- During seven-on-seven drills, rookie defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim got a few looks in coverage as a linebacker of sorts. It's obviously not the strongest part of his game, but he appears to be a willing learner and is athletic enough to make strides.
- Joselio Hanson has been the first-team right cornerback in the base defense all week as Ellis Hobbs continues to sit out team drills. But whenever the defense switches to nickel, Hanson slides back inside and Macho Harris replaces him as the right corner. Dimitri Patterson has also been impressive this week in his stint as the "starting" left cornerback.
- Jason Avant was around the ball all day as the Eagles offense seemed to make a point to feature the slot man in the middle of the field, especially against some of the pressure package looks that the faux Cowboys defense presented.
- Finally, former Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil was seen on the sidelines observing practice.
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 2:20 p.m., June 9
