Eagles Notes: Star receivers Maclin, Jackson doing the dirty work

Jeremy Maclin's and DeSean Jackson's pass-catching numbers are down this season for various reasons, but the Eagles' top two receivers continue to find other ways to chip in.

Take Maclin's blocking, for instance.

He delivered a number of key blocks Sunday against the New York Jets, two of which led to big plays. Maclin showed hustle on a downfield block during Brent Celek's 73-yard catch-and-run, and he bottled up a defender as LeSean McCoy turned the corner and scored from 33 yards out.

"It's part of being a complete football player, not only being able to make plays but also being able to help your other teammates," said Maclin, who also caught three passes for 59 yards. "And I think guys respect that, guys understand that, and just anything I can do to help my team win."

Because he missed three games with a hamstring injury, Maclin isn't going to put up the kind of career numbers he was on pace to produce after nine games. But he still has 50 catches for 682 yards and four touchdowns with two games to play.

"Points on the board are points on the board, and that's how you have to look at it," Maclin said Tuesday. "Everybody wants personal stats, but at the same time the most important thing is to win the game."

Jackson is catching more passes this season, but he hasn't delivered any of his patented big plays. Some have questioned his effort, but Jackson also had a few helpful downfield blocks Sunday and probably saved a touchdown when he ran down a Jets defender who was returning a McCoy fumble.

"It's contagious," Celek said of his teammates' unglamorous contributions. "That's what a team is all about. When you got guys that don't have the ball in their hands and they're blocking for their teammates."

Asante Samuel said that he practiced Tuesday, although the session was a light one because the team has one less day of rest than usual before Saturday's game at Dallas.

The Eagles cornerback left the Jets game in the second quarter after he suffered a hamstring strain.

"Hammy's good, hammy's good," Samuel said.

Samuel did not offer a prediction on whether he would be able to play Saturday. If he can't go, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will start.

Defensive end Darryl Tapp told reporters that he was definitely playing. He sat out the Jets game with a fractured rib.

The Eagles were not required to release an official practice report, but tackle Todd Herremans (ankle), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (groin), defensive tackle Trevor Laws (knee), and Maclin (hamstring) were expected to participate Tuesday.

Since missing two fourth-quarter field goals against the 49ers in Week 4, Alex Henery has connected on 12 straight field-goal attempts.

The kicker said punter Chas Henry asked him earlier Tuesday if he knew how many he had made in a row and he said that he had no clue.

"It's not letting the last kick get into your next kick," Henery said. "It's just a mind-set thing and you got to have short-term memory, and I think I do that pretty well."

The rookie hasn't attempted a field goal longer than 47 yards over that span, but he's been kicking touchbacks on kickoffs with more frequency.

"I think he's getting stronger as the season goes on," coach Andy Reid said Monday.