The Philadelphia Eagles took the practice field at the NovaCare Complex today as they prepare for week 3 of the preseason on Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers.
Prior to practice, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly addressed the media.
Kelly hasn't made a decision yet as to how much quarterback Sam Bradford will play this week. He said there are many variables that lead up to the decision - especially the weather.
"There's rain coming in Green Bay," Kelly said. "The temperature was 54 today. I've been monitoring the weather, so, that's a factor. There are others, but we'll start with the weather."
Kelly acknowledged that he is impressed with Bradford's progression so far. Bradford completed 3 of 5 passes for 35 yards during one possession against the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday.
"I think he's a really coachable guy and he's got a great understanding of the game of football," Kelly said. He's played in a couple of different systems, so I think that benefits him and look at that as a positive. But we continue to see continual growth from him, which is important."
Kelly said he and the rest of the coaching staff will hold a meeting later in the afternoon to determine the availability of every player on the roster.
After the game against Green Bay, the Eagles must cut their roster down to 75 players. Kelly claimed that this year will be the most difficult roster cuts of his coaching career because the team is loaded with quality players – like wide-receiver Miles Austin.
"He's a really skilled route-runner," Kelly said. "That was one thing that stuck out even in Cleveland last year. Whether it's press [coverage,] whether it's off [coverage,] he has a great understanding of concepts. He has a great understanding of techniques as far as how to get himself in and out of breaks. He's unique in that way. He's helped a lot of our younger receivers in terms of that."
The Eagles signed Mychal Kendricks to a four-year contract extension on Monday. The inside linebacker will stay in Philadelphia until 2019. He still had one year remaining on his rookie contact.
"Because he's a really good football player and we like him," Kelly said when asked why the team signed Kendricks at this point in time. "Much to a lot of people's writings. We want to build our team around the guys that we feel fit in terms of what we do."
Kelly noted that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL.
"We have great respect for him," Kelly said. "I think he's the best we have played since I have seen him in person, in terms of the performance he put on us last year."
Last year, Rodgers lead the Packers to a 53 to 20 victory over the Eagles in week 11 of the regular season. According to Brandon Graham, the quarterback was literally laughing at the Eagles defense throughout the course of the game.
Saturday night, the Eagles will remember the embarrassment of last year's defeat.
Michael Malia is a contributing intern for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Facebook (Michael Malia) or Twitter @Michael_Malia.
