Eagles Notes: Eagles guard Danny Watkins 'a chance' to practice, says Andy Reid

Eagles guard Danny Watkins might return this week after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. Coach Andy Reid said Watkins is "making progress" and "there's a chance" Watkins could practice this week. That is more encouraging than Reid's description of the injury during the last few weeks.

If Watkins returns, Reid might shuffle a struggling offensive line. Dennis Kelly has started in place of Watkins, although Kelly is a natural tackle who could replace King Dunlap at right tackle. Dunlap could either move back to left tackle or move to the bench after committing three penalties on Sunday in a 38-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

"That would be the one that we'd have to see," said Reid, who has not yet decided what changes to make.

Dunlap was twice whistled for illegal hands to the face, including one that nullified a key third-down conversion in the red zone in the third quarter. Tackle Demetress Bell was charged with two penalties.

Dunlap also forced the Eagles to take a timeout when he was not on the field while stewing over a call.

"King's never been a problem that way," Reid said. "He's one of our smarter guys actually on the offensive line. But you can't let your emotions get the best of you. That happens during the game, and you can't let that happen. King and I talked."

The Eagles will be short on wide receivers this week with Jason Avant unlikely to play on Sunday because of a hamstring strain. Jeremy Maclin, who was the Eagles' leading receiver against the Cowboys, has a lower back strain.

Maclin is sore, but Reid has not ruled him out. Reid was pessimistic about Avant. He also said he did not believe wide receiver Mardy Gilyard would return from a hamstring strain. Gilyard has missed two consecutive games.

Running back Chris Polk also remains sidelined with turf toe.

The Eagles signed veteran offensive lineman Jake Scott to a one-year contract and released guard Julian Vandervelde.

The 31-year-old Scott has started 121 career regular season games and nine postseason games with the Indianapolis Colts (2004-07) and Tennessee Titans (2008-11) during his career. He started all 16 games in each of the last seven years and has the ability to play both guard positions and right tackle.