Lost in the shuffle of quarterback Michael Vick coming in and out of Thursday night's game against the Jaguars was the return of guard Stacy Andrews. After suffering a torn ACL in December, one of the Eagles' newest additions to the offensive line made his debut. Andrews said that he played "20-something snaps" and came out in the second quarter for purely precautionary reasons.
"I feel alright. There are a few things I need to touch up on, but with everything else I felt pretty good," Andrews said. "I felt like I got good work. I wasn't ready to come out, but the big guy (head coach Andy Reid) said it was (time). It felt good to be back out there, full-go."
Andrews was signed on the second day of free agency to join his brother, Shawn, on the offensive line. When Stacy signed, he didn't know whether he would be a right guard or a right tackle. He previously played for the Bengals and was their starting right tackle last season. The Eagles traded for Jason Peters just before the draft to fill the left tackle vacancy. The Eagles decided to slide Shawn Andrews from right guard, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler, to right tackle.
For the first time in the preseason, a majority of the projected opening day starters lined up Thursday. Peters returned from a quad injury and Jamaal Jackson has remained the rock at center. Shawn Andrews has been sidelined with a back injury and Todd Herremans was out with a stress reaction. Stacy was confident that any issues the line has can be fixed before the Sept. 13 date with the Panthers.
"We still have a few things we need to iron out as a whole. Once we get that, we'll be smoking," Andrews said.
The offensive line received some good news and not-so-good news after Thursday night's game. Shawn Andrews will practice for the first time this Saturday. However, Herremans' injury requires surgery that will keep him out of the season opener. In reality, the offensive line saw four of its opening day starters together against Jacksonville. Is there a concern, especially with Herremans' excellent season a year ago?
"We don't have a problem," Andrews said. "We're out there in practice every day and it carries over to the game."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 9:47 a.m., August 28
