PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Now that Donovan McNabb has taken some snaps and thrown a few passes, he believes he’s ready for training camp.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed his first week of practice since tearing a knee ligament in his right knee on Nov. 19 and expects to be on the field when the Philadelphia Eagles reconvene next month at Lehigh University.
“I got an opportunity to get a great feel of how my knee will respond when taking reps and dropping back consistently, moving around in the pocket, carrying the ball out of the pocket and running,” McNabb said Thursday. “Fatigue hasn’t really kicked in, the strength is definitely there and we’re going to continue to work on that and push it each day.”
McNabb worked in noncontact and team passing drills in the final minicamp. He wasn’t expected to do more than individual drills at this point.
“He looks very good, has worked very hard to get himself to this position and is progressing a little bit ahead of schedule of what we anticipated,” coach Andy Reid said.
McNabb felt no swelling nor discomfort in his knee while working with the team and spent virtually the entire final day on the field.
“I definitely thought about (coming back too early),” McNabb said. “You have to be able to weigh a lot of options. You have to think of how your body will respond to different workouts and rehab sessions.”
McNabb isn’t ready to declare himself ready for the season opener or even preseason games.
“We have to stick to reality,” he said. “We never know what may happen. You’re trying to eliminate as many setbacks as possible, if any, and you just want to continue to be smart with it. If that means me coming into training camp and the leg is not where I want it to be, then that means I may not practice. Or, the exhibition games come around and I’m not ready, I will not play.”
McNabb will continue his rehabilitation at his home in Arizona.
Notes: Reid said TE L.J. Smith is up and around after surgery to repair a sports hernia. “He’s walking and making progress and things are moving very well for him right now,” Reid said. … OT William Thomas’ knee is doing well and TE Matt Schobel also is recovering from a hamstring injury. … FS Brian Dawkins, who missed all of the offseason minicamps because of personal reasons, is expected to be at the start of training camp.
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