Jeffery feels ‘great’ after another limited practice

PHILADELPHIA » No matter how hard the Eagles try, they cannot sweep the inactivity of Alshon Jeffery under the rug.

The mysterious centerpiece of free agency for the Eagles participated in four training camp practices before injuring his shoulder.

Jeffrey since has participated solely in individual work at a grand total of three practices. Somehow the $9.5 million addition is annoyed that anyone could think the lack of availiability is an issue.

Did we mention it’s been three years since Jeffery played a complete NFL season?

“I feel great,” Jeffery said Tuesday. “I think you guys make it a bigger issue and you guys are concerned about it.”

There’s nothing Doug Pederson can do right now to quell the matter other than to put Jeffery in a game. And it sure sounds like that’s not the way Coach Doug will go when the Birds oppose the Green Bay Packers Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

At his press conference Tuesday, Pederson said he wants everyone to play in the preseason opener, including his veterans. Quarterback Carson Wentz will start. Ditto wide receiver Torrey Smith, the other big free agent pickup.

Pederson then said he hadn’t decided if Jeffery would play.

“Yes, he is healthy enough to play,” Pederson said. “It’s my discretion whether or not he plays. There’s nothing other than trying to keep him healthy and keep him focused on Washington. You see him practice. He was there yesterday. It’s with any player. It’s an individual basis.

“I’m not concerned. We don’t play Washington for a few weeks and that’s really the bottom line.”

Washington, of course, is the Eagles’ opponent in the seasonopener. And again, Jeffery didn’t practice in the team sessions. He worked with Wentz after practice in addition to the individual periods.

In essence, the Wentz-Jeffery coupling is a work in progress, and will be for most of September, it appears. Yet Pederson insists the chemistry has been building since last spring.

“It carried over into OTAs and you saw how they worked, those 10 practices that we had,” Pederson said. “And then early here in camp. And you saw them again today working together. So that chemistry is going to be there. It continues to develop. And you know, I’ve got to get both of those guys to Washington and opening day.”

The tap dancing skills of Pederson will be tested until Jeffery shows he’s able to participate in full practices and games. So, too, will the resolve of Jeffery, who seems to have a trust issue with the media that’s bent over backward praising those times he’s put in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

Jeffery was asked if he’d be able to answer the bell for the start of the season.

“I’m a football player,” Jeffrey said. “I play football, man. Like I say I think you guys make a bigger issue out of it, man.”

Will Eagles fans see Jeffery debut with Wentz Thursday? “We’ll see,” Jeffrey said. Jeffery left before clarifying who “we’ll” is.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, seen earlier in training camp, is said to be healthy enough to play in Green Bay Thursday even if his recent participation in practice speaks otherwise.