Demps entered last year's camp as the starting free safety, but eventually lost the job to Macho Harris. He also missed eight games with hamstring and ankle injuries.
Chad Hall became the kick returner when Demps went down. He finished the night with three returns for 63 yards. He also handled punt returns in place of DeSean Jackson. Hall had two punt returns for 14 yards.
With Demps out, Antoine Harris jumped up to second team strong safety alongside rookie Kurt Coleman. Harris suffered a lisfranc injury of his left foot near the end of the third quarter and will have an MRI.
Bradley returns
The Eagles' hopes for a successful season partially rest on the shoulders of two defensive players returning from season-ending injuries a year ago.
Both middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and cornerback Ellis Hobbs passed their first tests, although the starting defense only played six plays in one quarter.
Bradley didn't record a tackle, but he appeared to move without hesitation - as he did during camp - and cleared a hurdle without a recurrence of injury.
"I felt really good out there," said Bradley, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last August.
Hobbs made perhaps the night's best tackle when he came up and tackled receiver Mike Sims-Walker on a screen pass that netted only two yards. Hobbs sprang from the ground and did a dance.
Extra points
Rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper led the Eagles with 3 catches for 61 yards, including a 46-yard reception from quarterback Michael Vick. . . . Martell Mallett, who was released early in training camp only to be called back days later, led the Eagles with 15 carries for 60 yards. The Canadian Football League product also scored from three yards out. . . . Punter Ken Parrish handled kickoff duties in place of regular kicker David Akers. . . . Coleman made a couple nice plays: a big hit to break up a pass on fourth-and-three, and a solid special teams tackle, fighting off a blocked on the kick return after the Vick score.
Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745
or jmclane@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter
at www.twitter.com/Jeff_McLane.
