PFT: T.O. shows off his new, improved ACL

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He?s been dealing with a mysterious illness for months, but coach Andy Reid nevertheless believes that receiver Jeremy Maclin will be ready to play in less than a month.

?I think he?s going to be ready,? Reid said after Thursday night?s preseason game, via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com.? ?I guess I?m optimistic.? I?m waiting to hear the results, but I?m optimistic.?

We hope he?s right, but it?s hard to envision Maclin playing on September 11 against the Rams, given that Maclin has yet to practice at all in 2011.

For now, Maclin is back in St. Louis for further evaluation.? ?He has to have some tests done,? Reid said.? ?His [surrogate] father is a doctor, so that is actually a comforting feeling.? He has someone there that he is very close to, and his dad has a good pulse on things, which we encourage, so that?s where he had some of the tests done.?

Reid said that the acquisition of Steve Smith has no bearing on Maclin?s situation.? As to Smith, Reid is (you guessed it) optimistic.

?He had a small microfracture, but all of his ligaments and cartilage was intact,? Reid said of Smith.? ?His knee is very stable, and he?s had no swelling in his knee throughout the whole process.? He?s been running, and he starting running routes this past week.

?We?re just going to bring him back slowly and see what he can do.? We?ll get him in a formal rehab with [trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and see exactly where he?s at.? It could be three weeks, I don?t know.? I have to see how he does here.? We know he?s a fine football player, and we just need to get his leg where it needs to be.?

If Maclin and Smith can get back to 100 percent, the Eagles will have even more fine football players ? and possibly too many weapons for one of the finest (on paper) teams in the NFL.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/12/t-o-shows-off-his-new-acl/related/

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