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Eagles Notes: Jackson sits, Samuel returns

DeSean Jackson sat out practice Wednesday, Asante Samuel went through a full workout, and Winston Justice was limited as the Eagles got mixed injury news for two Pro Bowlers and their starting left tackle.

Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel went through full workouts on Wednesday. (Clem Murray/Staff file photo)
Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel went through full workouts on Wednesday. (Clem Murray/Staff file photo)Read more

DeSean Jackson sat out practice Wednesday, Asante Samuel went through a full workout, and Winston Justice was limited as the Eagles got mixed injury news for two Pro Bowlers and their starting left tackle.

Jackson has a sprained foot, coach Andy Reid said.

"It's a day-to-day thing, so I think he's going to be OK, but we'll just see how it goes here," Reid said.

Jackson was injured on a punt return Sunday. He walked with a limp Wednesday and said his foot felt "so-so." Will he play Sunday against the Giants?

"That's the plan," the wide receiver said.

Samuel, meanwhile, went through his first full session since suffering a sprained knee ligament against the Giants on Nov. 21. He wasn't willing to share much with reporters, though.

"Expect 22 to do everything in his power to be out there to make my fans and our fans happy, because I want to take it to the top," the cornerback said, referring to himself by his uniform number.

Justice, out for the last game with a hyperextended knee, said he needed to show himself and coaches that he can move effectively and without pain.

"As much as I want to be out there, it's selfish to go out and play if I'm not 100 percent," Justice said.

Thursday will be an important day for Samuel and Justice as they see how their knees respond to work on Wednesday.

Vick, dog owner?

Michael Vick wants to one day own a dog, he told TheGrio.com.

"I would love to get another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process," Vick said. ". . . If I ever have the opportunity again, I will never take it for granted. I miss having a dog right now. I wish I could. My daughters miss having one, and that's the hardest thing, telling them that we can't have one because of my actions."

Vick served 18 months in prison on a federal dogfighting conviction.

As Vick rehabilitates his image, many fans have embraced him. The Eagles quarterback continued to lead fan voting for the Pro Bowl, with 981,687 votes through Wednesday.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was next at 947,194.

Burgess back

Defensive end Derrick Burgess was back where his career started Wednesday, but the Eagles are waiting to see what shape he is in before they decide whether he will play Sunday against the Giants.

Burgess, who was signed Tuesday, hasn't played this season. New England cut him at the end of the preseason.

He said he has to learn new terminology.

"I felt good [physically]," Burgess said. "I don't know if there's going to be rust here and there, but I'm just trying to learn this defense's verbiage."

Rookie Daniel T'eo-Nesheim is another option to help fill in for the injured Brandon Graham. Darryl Tapp also may play more.

Calvin's jog

Reid said Jorrick Calvin remains his top kick returner, despite a bad penalty Sunday against the Cowboys. Reid also said he told Calvin to jog around the end zone on the return, even though the clock did not run. Reid wanted to force the Cowboys to run the length of the field on kickoff coverage.

"I just wanted to make sure that their players played the whole play," Reid said.

As for the penalty Calvin drew afterward for shoving a Cowboy, Reid said: "That part wasn't planned."

Extra points

Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer was fined $12,500 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Vick, according to multiple news reports. . . . Jackson was named NFC offensive player of the week after his 210-yard receiving day. He said he had not heard of any fines for his end-zone celebration against the Cowboys. . . . Linebacker Keenan Clayton (hamstring) was the only other player to sit out practice.