Eagles Notes: LeSean McCoy is cleared to return for Eagles

LeSean McCoy, who missed four games with a concussion, has been cleared by an independent neurologist and could play Sunday against the Redskins, Andy Reid said Monday.

"There's a chance he ends up playing for us this week," Reid said during his radio show on WIP-AM. "We'll see how it goes with practices this week. He practiced today and did well."

In McCoy's absence, Bryce Brown has had his ups and downs. The rookie running back ran for 347 yards and four touchdowns on 43 carries in his first two starts, but was held to 40 yards on 28 carries in the next two games.

Brown also fumbled three times in his first two starts. Even though he wasn't charged with a fumble against the Bengals on Thursday night, the botched handoff from quarterback Nick Foles was mostly Brown's fault.

"He'll correct the fumbling," Reid said. "With time here that will get taken care of. And if it doesn't then you can't play."

Kurt Coleman said that he split first-team repetitions at safety with Nate Allen and Colt Anderson at practice.

The Eagles, of course, can only start two, so one of the three will be out for Sunday. Coleman missed the last two games with a chest bruise and was ably replaced by Anderson.

"Colt's been playing well these past two games," Coleman said.

The Eagles recently scrapped the wide-nine scheme on the defensive line and that, in turn, has changed the run-stopping responsibilities for the linebackers and safeties.

"It's a more true defense when you're not asked to fill holes as fast," Coleman said. "You can be a little more patient, which helps us out and helps the corners because they know they can have . . . safety help."

Defensive tackle Mike Patterson said he understood why the Eagles placed him on the non-football injury list last week, which would have cut $150,000 from his salary. The defensive tackle contacted viral pneumonia two weeks ago. A few days after he was released from the hospital, the Eagles ended his season by placing him on the NFI List. His agents, however, blasted the Eagles and said they planned to file a grievance. "He was just doing his job," Patterson said of agent Peter Schaffer. The next day, the Eagles agreed to pay the remainder of Patterson's salary. . . . Tight end Clay Harbor (back) and fullback Stanley Havili (hamstring) did not practice. . . . Cornerback Brandon Hughes, who was rushed to the hospital last week after he suffered a bruised lung, said that he was all right.