Eagles' D prepares for Packers, likely without Aaron Rodgers

EAGLES RADIO VOICE Merrill Reese was disappointed when he entered the NovaCare media room yesterday and heard that Aaron Rodgers isn't expected to play when the Eagles visit Green Bay tomorrow night.

Someone observed that Rodgers, 31, a two-time NFL MVP, probably doesn't need to play the Eagles in the preseason to get ready to lead the Packers into the games that count.

"Yes, but I need him to play!" Reese joked.

Like many fans and media observers, Reese had been looking forward to seeing how the Eagles' much-discussed defensive improvements would stack up, even in a meaningless game, against the NFC's top quarterback. Rodgers led the Pack to a memorable, 53-20 thumping of Bradley Fletcher, Cary Williams, et. al, at Lambeau Field last Nov. 16.

Generally, the third preseason game is when the regulars play the most, but Green Bay lost standout wide receiver Jordy Nelson to an ACL tear this week, and Rodgers subsequently told reporters he thought he'd gotten enough work in the first two preseason games to be ready. Packers coach Mike McCarthy will make the official call, but Rodgers hasn't been taking many practice reps this week. With backup Scott Tolzien sidelined by a concussion, the Eagles' defense probably will end up testing itself against Brett Hundley and Matt Blanchard.

You still might want to tune in to see the other team's quarterback, Sam Bradford, in what almost certainly will be his last action of the preseason. Significant players almost never play the final preseason game, which for the Eagles is next Thursday at the Jets.

Chip Kelly danced around the issue of whether and how much Bradford will play when Kelly met with reporters yesterday, though Kelly said Bradford was "beyond the [being] cautious physically." Bradford, coming back from two successive ACL tears, indicated he will play, and given that he's only seen one series so far with his new team, one might expect he will play several series.

"It would be nice to play enough to get into a rhythm with the guys out there. As far as a number of snaps, it's really hard to put an exact number," Bradford said. "Last week, to play the one drive was great, but it's nice to go on the field multiple times, establish that rhythm . . . work on communication with the line, the receivers, talk about what we're seeing on the field.''

Bradford added that you don't want to be working on those things when the real season starts, Sept. 14 in Atlanta.

Kelly said he won't be disappointed if he doesn't see Rodgers, whom he called "the best we've played."

"That's Mike's decision. We don't get into it. Whoever shows up, shows up," Kelly said.

"We want their best out there," outside linebacker Brandon Graham said. "I understand it's preseason, so if he isn't playing, that's cool, we're still going to go out there with a mindset of, we want to win the game . . . It is kind of a disappointment, a little bit.''

Walter Thurmond, making the case for himself as a starting safety after five NFL seasons as a nickel corner, said: "Most definitely, it would have been a lot of help for us, to see where we're at, but the mission stays the same . . . You still focus on the bigger picture, which is for us to get better, perfect our craft, and go out there and make plays.''

Corner Nolan Carroll will start on the outside as usual but will play the nickel role when Bill Davis goes to that alignment this week, with second-round rookie Eric Rowe moving outside. That might or might not be a glimpse of the future, depending on how confident coaches are in journeyman E.J. Biggers as the No. 1 nickel. Rowe, still much more comfortable outside, seems shaky in the slot.

"It's a different kind of technique, mentality you've got to kind of bring in there, and for me, I really haven't played it since my rookie year," Carroll said. His role last year was as a quasi-linebacker in the dime. "Going in there is going to be fun, actually. I'm kinda looking forward to it."

Carroll hadn't heard he might not see Rodgers, but he said it didn't matter.

Rowe said that as a rookie, his take is that "everybody in the NFL is good. I wouldn't take [facing] the backup quarterback any different" than if he were facing Rodgers.

Defensive end Cedric Thornton said he "would love to have some practice playing against Aaron Rodgers" but "we gotta play the hand we're dealt. I know I'm gonna be playing."

Thornton said this is a big moment for the defense, regardless.

"We've just gotta come out and set the tempo of how the season's going to be," he said. "Be consistent and be efficient in every aspect of the game, everybody just handle their job and let the NFL know - this is our defense, this is how we're coming this season.''