Eagles Notes: Officials expect no problems with offense

The Eagles had league officials at practice the last two days, and those officials did not find any issue with the pace at which the Eagles offense plans to play.

An article in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday suggested that officials might challenge the quick pace expected pace under new coach Chip Kelly. The story quoted the league's vice president of officiating as saying referees would control the pace of the game, not the team.

"What I've seen over the last two days, we didn't have any problem," NFL official Scott Green said. "It didn't seem out of the ordinary, as far as the pace."

Green explained that if the offense sends in new players, the defense must have an opportunity to do the same. If there are no offensive substitutions, then the only hurdle is the spotting of the ball.

When Green spoke to Kelly, the coach told Green he wanted to see how the officiating crew would spot the ball during practice. They had real-time training during the Eagles' 11-on-11 drill. The New England Patriots operated at a fast pace last season, and Green said the officials didn't have a problem.

"There was nothing last year that came out about the Patriots or any other team about how we were spotting the ball," Green said. "So if you want to say the Patriots [as a point of comparison], I guess you could say that. You could probably say 31 other teams, as well."

DeSean Jackson's return to practice was the best news on Friday's injury report. Jackson left Thursday's practice with a minor toe injury.

Eight players missed Friday's practice because of injury: cornerback Bradley Fletcher (groin); wide receiver Arrelious Benn (knee); tight end Derek Carrier (shoulder); defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (hamstring); cornerback Brandon Hughes (hamstring); and tackles Jason Peters (hamstring), Dennis Kelly (back), and Ed Wang (knee).

Peters is the most notable name, but his injury does not appear to be serious.

The only new injury was to wide receiver Dave Ball, who left practice early with a right quad bruise.

Center Jason Kelce also sat out some snaps with a sore quadriceps, but that was called precautionary. Kelce is returning from knee surgery.

"I don't think there is anything to read into that right now," Kelly said. "Every once in a while he'll not take a team period just as we get him back."

With Peters and Kelly missing, rookie Lane Johnson took snaps at left tackle. Todd Herremans played right tackle, and Danny Watkins played right guard. That's a potential lineup if Peters sustains an injury during the season. … Tickets were available for Monday's open practice at Lincoln Financial Field. The team has already distributed more than 40,000 of the available 65,000 tickets.

Contact Zach Berman at zberman@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @ZBerm.