Brooks stayed up to speed while Eagles practiced

Brandon Brooks and Ryan Mathews participated in practice Friday for the first time during training camp after both players missed a week.

Brooks, the starting right guard, was absent because of a hamstring injury suffered before the first practice. Mathews, the top running back, had an ankle injury that he suffered during offseason training.

Neither player took on his normal workload. Brooks did not practice with the first-team offensive line. Mathews left practice early, coach Doug Pederson said, "just [to] keep the treatment going."

"It's valuable," Pederson said of Mathews' return. "Especially the first part of camp when he hasn't had the exposure to pads yet. . . . It was good to see him put the ball in his hands a little bit, see how he was running around. I thought he did a nice job when he was in there. We'll just keep giving him more and more and more every day."

Mathews was not available for comment.

Brooks said he hurt his hamstring before reporting to camp, but it felt better, and he thought he could go through the conditioning test last week. The hamstring didn't respond how he wanted, so he took the time off.

"I've been chomping at the bit to get out here the past few days," Brooks said. "I've been out here running while they're doing walk-through. I knew today was going to be the day when I get back out, get some individual, some group install, pretty much all the non-contact stuff."

Brooks said he does not feel behind because of the work he had with his linemates during the spring. He also watched film of practice and has been in meetings.

Even with Brooks and Mathews back, the Eagles still missed left tackle Jason Peters and safety Malcolm Jenkins. Peters has a quadriceps injury, and Jenkins has a hamstring injury.

"Those are two guys that are valuable pieces of this football team, and we'll continue to monitor both of them," Pederson said. "But both of them are on track and we'll just monitor it day to day."

Cornerback Nolan Carroll missed practice while the team continues to monitor his ankle. Carroll had ankle soreness earlier in camp and is coming back from a lower leg injury. Also missing for the secondary was safety Rodney McLeod, who was excused from practice to attend a funeral for a family member.

The Eagles will have a lighter practice Saturday before putting the pads back on Sunday and Monday. The players will be off Tuesday, and then practice once before the preseason opener Thursday.

The Eagles signed wide receiver Deon Long to fill the final spot on their roster. Long went undrafted in 2015 out of Maryland and was on the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams last season. Long, 25, is 6-foot and 192 pounds.