"I don't want to talk about that," Cole said.
Does Jackson help you out in any way?
"Nah."
Is it because he's trying to keep the secrets of the trade to himself?
"We don't really talk about it," said Cole, who added that he wants to make coach Andy Reid's choice of a starter "a harder decision" when Jackson returns.
Jackson, through a team spokesman, was asked if he helps instruct his backup.
"Me and the other centers talk all the time in meetings and on the field during practice and have a great relationship," Jackson responded.
There is no date for when Jackson can start practicing, but Reid has said that the center, who is rehabbing with the training staff, is unlikely to return by the season opener.
So that leaves the job for Cole - for now.
On Monday, Cole's shotgun snaps went low, high and one time led to a fumble. In the afternoon, he and quarterback Kevin Kolb worked overtime on the exchange.
"There's so many things being thrown at Nick right now," Kolb said. "He's got a lot of stuff going through his mind and sometimes more than we normally have."
And that is just one of the line's issues.
The foot injury that has sidelined starting left guard Todd Herremans has been deemed a minor by Reid. But Herremans has yet to practice with the team since minicamp in early May.
The line suffered another casualty Monday when starting right guard Stacy Andrews missed the afternoon session with an unspecified shoulder injury.
That's three regular interior line starters out of action. But Reid was not alarmed.
"I'm good with the [backups] we have," Reid said. "Whoever is there we're good with. We're lucky to have depth there."
