Brooks in on o-line, but Peters is still out

THE EAGLES would really like to get their projected starting offensive line off the screen they're projecting it upon and onto the field, but that goal has proved elusive.

Right guard Brandon Brooks practiced, at least a little, for the first time in this training camp Friday, but left tackle Jason Peters remained sidelined with the quadriceps strain he suffered Thursday. Though Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Peters is "day-to-day," he seems likely to miss several more days. Matt Tobin is filling in there.

"We had a lot of work together in OTAs," right tackle Lane Johnson said, when asked how much work he needs next to Brooks. Johnson said preseason game work will help.

Johnson, embarking on his fourth season here, said this is the deepest o-line grouping he has seen.

Brooks also mentioned the OTA work in suggesting he might be more in sync with his new linemates than he would have been otherwise.

"Our chemistry is pretty good right now," Brooks said. "Obviously wishing Jason a speedy recovery, get him back out here, but not too worried about it."

Brooks signed a five-year, $40 million free agent contract to be the key to rejuvenating a line that struggled mightily in 2015.

"From a mental standpoint, I know what I'm doing, so that's not a big deal. It's just conditioning yourself to hitting people every day," he said. "Just keep progressing."

Brooks said he expects to take part in more of Saturday's workout.

He said it was hard to ride the exercise bike or run on the treadmill, looking through the weight room's large windows at teammates on the practice field, "but at the same time, it makes you more hungry when you come out."

Running back Ryan Mathews also practiced for the first time in training camp after reporting with an ankle injury. Like Brooks, Mathews was limited.

* One of Friday's more interesting drills was blitz pickup, running backs one-on-one with linebackers. Joe Walker flat-out ran over his former Oregon teammate, Byron Marshall.

* As full-team, "live" hitting began, a father among the invited fans explained to his preteen son, "This is live." The son got excited. "It's on TV?!"

* Undrafted rookie running back Cedric O'Neal found a hole between Vinny Curry and Bennie Logan, also known as the Vinny-Bennie gap.

* Linebackers worked one-on-one against running backs in a coverage drill. Kenjon Barner pretty much deked Mychal Kendricks onto the Broad Street median, provoking jibes from running backs coach Duce Staley. When Barner and Kendricks faced off again, Kendricks broke up the pass and then cocked his head toward Staley in an exaggerated listening posture.

* Jordan Matthews caught a bomb and kept running past the end zone, delivering the ball to a fan in a wheelchair.

* Later, Vinny Curry somehow ended up in coverage against Matthews, which went about as you'd expect.

* Zach Ertz laid out to make a fine catch against Leodis McKelvin and Ed Reynolds.

* Tight end Chris Pantale had a great spring, moving ahead in the race to secure the roster spot for the guy who can also move over to fullback. But he really doesn't seem to be having a great camp, especially catching the ball. Trey Burton and undrafted rookie M.J. McFarland are more noticeable. Burton had a tremendous week.

Defensive end Marcus Smith, the Eagles' 2014 first-round draft choice, suffered a concussion Friday, the team said. Steven Means, from last year's practice squad, has seemed to make more plays than Smith . . . The Eagles signed wide receiver Deon Long to take the roster spot vacated when DT Connor Wujciak was waived/injured. Long has spent time on the Dolphins and Rams practice squads . . . Cornerback Nolan Carroll sat out Friday to rest his repaired lower right leg, the team said . . . Safety Rodney McLeod was excused to attend a family funeral.

@LesBowen

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