Eagles Notes: Andrews: Healed knee 'feels good'

A year ago, Stacy Andrews wasn't part of this.

While his teammates went through off-season practices, Andrews was rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It wasn't until partway through training camp that he fully participated in practice, and he started only two games.

This year, Andrews has taken part in the team's off-season practices, which wrap up today. As a result, he said he feels far more confident about his repaired knee. He has shed the brace he wore for reassurance last year.

"I got here early. I feel real comfortable with the offense. The knee's feeling good, and I'm ready to rock," Andrews said Wednesday.

The Eagles hope so, because they already have other questions on the offensive line. Center Jamaal Jackson is expected to miss all of training camp and possibly some game time, and guard Todd Herremans has been sidelined the last two weeks with a foot injury.

Andrews was a disappointment last year after signing a $39 million contract. He had to take a pay cut in March.

"I want to prove to myself, first and foremost, and then to the organization that I'm going to get out here and ball and show them that they didn't waste their money," Andrews said.

Safety Quintin Mikell left practice with a knee "tweak," according to the team. He was seen limping away from the Eagles' indoor facility, the same place where fellow safety Marlin Jackson ruptured his Achilles tendon last week.

The Eagles practiced inside because of Wednesday afternoon's rain.

The team had already taken precautions with linebacker Omar Gaither, holding him out of practice to avoid stress on his foot from the harder indoor surface. He is coming back from a Lisfranc foot sprain that required surgery.

Wide receiver Riley Cooper sat out practice due to a hamstring spasm. Receiver Jeremy Maclin, who sat Tuesday with a "tight" hamstring, was back in action.

As expected, DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel remained absent from the voluntary drills.

Wide receiver Pat Simonds nearly ran over team president Joe Banner, who was watching practice from a sideline. There is little room to maneuver on the tight indoor field, but when a pass brought the 6-foot-5, 229-pound Simonds racing toward the boundary, Banner scooted to his left, telling reporters, "Still got a little quickness."

David Akers had a tough day from long distance, even though he was kicking indoors. He missed at least two 40-yard-plus field goals, and one of his made kicks glanced off the upright on its way in. . . . Team owner Jeffrey Lurie and former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil visited practice.