John Smallwood: Eagles' Reynolds: This Dallas doesn't suck

THIS WAS different for Dallas Reynolds.

As a reserve offensive lineman who had never played a regular-season NFL down, he was not used to being asked to do an interview session.

When Reynolds first walked into the Eagles' media-relations office at the NovaCare Center on Monday, there were only a handful of reporters. But that was because coach Andy Reid had just wrapped up his day-after-game press conference and reporters were filing back to the work area.

The crowd around Reynolds began to grow. The media-relations staff suggested taking it outside to the front of the building. By then, Reynolds was surrounded as if he were a starting quarterback, not a guy who had finally made the Eagles' 53-man roster after three seasons on the practice squad.

Things tend to change fast in the NFL.

This summer, Reynolds, who started 51 games at Brigham Young University, came to training camp for one last attempt to have an NFL career at the age of 28.

Now, with Eagles center Jason Kelce out for the season after suffering an MCL tear and a partial ACL tear in Sunday's victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Reynolds will be making the first start of his NFL career when the Eagles play at Arizona.

Reynolds had just seen his first NFL action on the offensive line against Baltimore after Kelce was hurt in the third quarter.

"I've been working hard the last few years, trying to get myself prepared for this moment," said Reynolds, who was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2009. "It's sad that it's come in the situation it has [Kelce's injury], but I feel like I have to get a good week of work in and be ready to go on Sunday."

Reynolds is a testament to perseverance.

Making a NFL roster is a daunting task, and for some, the road is quite a bit tougher. There's no telling how many times in his private thoughts Reynolds questioned why he was still doing this. Three years of training camps, OTAs and practices is a long time without any guarantee that your dream will ultimately be fulfilled.

The truth is that the NFL guidelines were going to make the final decision for Reynolds this summer.

Three years on a practice squad is all a player is allowed.

Reynolds had to make a roster this year or his NFL dreams were all but over.

"It played in the back of your mind," he said, "but when you start practicing, things just kind of go. Every day you're just working to do your best. It wasn't something I was thinking about on every single play. The first year I understood what it would take to play [in the NFL]. I took that into the offseason each year and tried to improve.

"Each offseason, I just kept working - working in the weight room, working on film to learn the offense. I wanted to get stronger and faster. I think every year I've been able to improve in those areas."

The test came under the fire of NFL action.

When Kelce went down with 11 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Eagles trailed by 17-7 but were driving.

"You don't have time to think about anything," Reynolds said. "I took some practice steps with [quarterback Michael Vick] and then it was time to play.

"[Vick] just looked at me and said, 'OK, let's keep this rolling.' "

On Reynolds' second play, Vick threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin.

Reynolds made the protection calls during the Birds' rally to a win.

"[Reynolds] did everything that [Kelce] was doing with the calls," Reid said Monday. "He's a smart kid. He's able to handle all of that. He had a big challenge, literally physically and mentally. He had a couple of big men on him, but he held his own there.

"There are good stories in this game. [Reynolds] has an opportunity now and he has to make sure he handles it the right way and continues to work hard. You don't forget what got you there. Prepare yourself right during the week. You have to be ready to go."

Preparing for Arizona might actually be a bigger task for Reynolds than stepping in cold against Baltimore.

Things happened so fast against Baltimore, Reynolds didn't have time to assess the situation before he was snapping the ball to Vick and fending off Ravens rushers.

"It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be because I didn't really have time to think," he said. "Suddenly, you're snapping the ball and playing. It was kind of nice that I didn't get to think about anything. You just go in, make the calls and start playing."

Now he has a week to think about what it's like to be a starter in the NFL and how he doesn't want to become the weak link on a team that is off to a 2-0 start.

"The only thing that changes this week is that you're taking more snaps during practice," Reynolds said. "You have to prepare mentally. You have to do all the things you need to do in the classroom. I think the biggest change will be coming on the field for practice. [As a reserve], you don't get a ton of snaps during practice.

"I've been looking forward to this for a long time - first to be active and now to get a chance to play and start. I'm excited about this opportunity."