PHILADELPHIA -- Travis Long wants to play football again. That’s what he told Eagles coach Chip Kelly after tearing an ACL in his knee for the third consecutive season.
“I think he knew it when it happened,” Kelly said, “just because it’s happened to him before.”
Last year, Long said he wondered whether he wanted to go through the rehab process again in order to return to football. This time around, Long may do what it takes to play again. But that will still keep him sidelined for the entire 2015 season.
Long appeared well positioned to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster as a backup outside linebacker. With Long out of the picture, 2014 first-round draft pick Marcus Smith becomes the leading candidate for that role.
“Losing a guy like that is really devastating to the outside ‘backer room,” Smith said after Tuesday’s practice session at Lincoln Financial Field. “We wanted him to be here. For now, we’ve just got to keep him in our prayers.”
Smith said he felt “no pressure” by the change in his circumstances.
“I still want to play, still want to do the same things,” Smith said. “It’s no pressure on me. I’m just going to come out here every day and just keep playing.”
Smith was credited with exactly one tackle during his rookie season. He was on the field for 68 defensive plays, or 6 percent of the total defensive plays. Smith was inactive for two games and did not play at all for the last five games of the season.
He came back this year determined to turn things around. Smith is eating healthier and has added more weight and strength. On Tuesday, for the first time, he was able to put the pads on and play something resembling football.
“That was the best thing that could ever happen,” Smith said. “Getting the pads on, being able to hit. I got to show that I can stop the run, I can pass rush, I can jump into coverage. That’s what I did today.”
Kelly said that Brandon Hepburn and Brad Jones will move from inside linebacker to play on the outside. Jones, signed as a free agent after six seasons in Green Bay, has the most experience of those competing for a job.
Having played on a Super Bowl champion, Jones said he has been impressed with the atmosphere around the Eagles.
“The team cohesion is better, honestly,” Jones said. “It’s the same if not better. Guys really like each other. I think guys are just focused on one goal. That’s what it takes, the cohesion to get together and say, 'Let’s go win a championship.'”