Even if Weaver can get ready to play, he would face a challenge from fullback Owen Schmitt, who had a decent season in Weaver's place and has a far less expensive contract. Weaver would have to be not just ready to run but recovered enough to win a competition for a job. Weaver, having signed the richest fullback contract in NFL history last year, is owed nearly $2 million more in base salary in 2011 than Schmitt.
If training camp is canceled by a lockout, Weaver would have more time to recover, but the Eagles would have less time to gauge his readiness to play.
Weaver, a leader on the team and hailed for his local charitable work, still has months of rehabilitation before the season begins. But Lewis did not soft-pedal the extent of the damage.
"It was a horrible injury, actually," Lewis said. "This wasn't just a typical ACL or an MCL. This was pretty much major." Still, he was bullish on Weaver's return.
"He's working his butt off," Lewis said.
Weaver tore his anterior cruciate ligament and posterior lateral corner in his left knee on Sept. 12. He also suffered nerve damage on the gruesome hit. He had surgery in September to repair the knee and then a follow-up to clean out scar tissue in November. He had tendon surgery on his left foot last week.
Weaver knew the foot surgery would be needed when the injury was first diagnosed, Lewis said. Renowned orthopedist James Andrews performed all three surgeries and has been pleased with Weaver's progress, according to the agent.
Weaver, ever-cheerful, has used Twitter to give out regular, hopeful updates on his two-a-day rehabilitation sessions.
