This is quite the opportunity for an undersized sixth-round pick, still living in an airport hotel and currently sharing a NovaCare locker with fellow rookie Greg Lloyd. An Eagles spokesman moved in to cut off an extended media scrum around Kelce yesterday because Lloyd, sidelined with a high ankle sprain, needed to get to his stuff.
Kelce is wary of making assumptions.
"I don't think I'm any closer this week than I've been since the first preseason game," Kelce said. "I think it's just, they want to see what they've got. They haven't told me anything other than that."
Jamaal Jackson declined to speak with reporters yesterday. Kelce said the 31-year-old veteran has been helpful.
"Jamaal's a great guy. Jamaal really makes you comfortable," Kelce said. "He wants to be out there, obviously, but he understands they're trying to make the team the best, and he's been hurt the last couple of years, something happens to him again, somebody's got to step in . . . He helps me out whenever I have questions."
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was asked about the possibility of starting two rookies on the offensive line, given that first-round pick Danny Watkins is the first-team right guard.
"We've certainly discussed that," Mornhinweg said. "If they're the right type of players, then there's absolutely no problem at all. [But the Eagles are] on the road in domes the first two games, all those things . . . That's why we're where we are right now. We're getting great evaluations. Jason Kelce has a great opportunity here. Jamaal is playing at a high level."
Getting it right
Winston Justice said he wasn't aware that the return of Reggie Wells had to do with the Eagles wanting Wells to compete for the right tackle spot, until a reporter asked him about that yesterday.
